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<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Nico Harrison Is Toast

Luis Paez-Pumar

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball in overtime to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on November 10, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

The Heat And Cavs Played The Wildest Eight Seconds Of The Season

Patrick Redford

Kings head coach Doug Christie looking confused.

The Kings Are An Abomination

Tech leaders, including Sam Altman (C), CEO of OpenAI, and Tim Cook (2nd L), CEO of Apple, attend a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump with tech leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 4, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Capital

An Evening With Sam Altman And Steve Kerr

Giri Nathan

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 03: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at FedExForum on November 03, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Ja Morant’s Melodrama Tips Into Tedium

Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans Are Already Deeply Alarming

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 25: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Rookie Class Is Getting Straight To Work

A detailed view of a hand holding a Fanduel Sports Network–branded microphone during an interview after the Detroit Pistons defeated the Boston Celtics on February 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

The NBA Media Is Not Built To Cover A Gambling Scandal

A circle around the mark Jaylen Brown left on OG Anunoby's jersey during a game

Jaylen Brown’s Really Leaving His Mark On Opponents

Nico Harrison, Mavericks Fans, And Rooting Against Your Guys

Shams Charania Tries Out Legal Commentary, With Perplexing Results

Ray Ratto

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks onstage at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 at The Plaza Hotel on September 24, 2025 in New York City.

Adam Silver’s Job Is About To Get So Much Harder

Terry Rozier #2 of the Miami Heat looks on against the New York Knicks during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on March 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Chauncey Billips of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center on October 22, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Chauncey Billups And Terry Rozier Arrested In Connection With Federal Gambling Investigations

Tom Ley

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to a score during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Wemby’s Going To Make Things Ugly For These Guys

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 21: Steven Adams #12 of the Houston Rockets keeps control of the ball from Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on October 21, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)

Being Huge Is Cool Again

KINGS03E-C-03JUN02-SP-CG --- Kings's Vlade Divac, lays on the floor as he fouls out in the final minutes of regulation. The Kings lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the final seconds of overtime at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Ca. The Sacramento Kings played the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Arco Arena in Sacramento, Ca., on Tuesday, May 28, 2002.

Podcasts

Were The 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals Really Fixed?

Albert Burneko

Israel Daramola

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Male students playing basketball, Western High School, Washington, D.C., circa 1899

Harken Ye Unto The 2025–26 NBA Season Preview, Which Stands Before You

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 6: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Paycom Center on April 6, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)

The 2024–25 NBA Season, Reviewed

Kawhi Leonard answers questions at a Clippers media day presser

Kawhi Leonard Breaks His Silence, Sort Of

A Dissection Of The Kawhi Leonard Scandal, With Noah Kulwin

Journalismism

NBA Reporter Fired After Accurately Describing Charlie Kirk’s Beliefs

Steve Ballmer Pleads Ignorance About Kawhi Leonard’s Outside Money

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers attends a press conference at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Center Gymnasium during his 2025 Asia Tour on August 23, 2025.

Kawhi Leonard And Los Angeles Clippers Implicated In Low-Effort Tree-Planting Scheme

ESPN Demotes Wrong Culprit From Lousy NBA Finals Commentary Team

Media Meltdowns

The Feds, Unlike Shams Charania, Have Not Cleared Malik Beasley’s Gambling Case