Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

An annual Reader plan costs $6.58 per month.

Hark! It is time to subscribe.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just sign in to read the site!

We have taken down our paywall this month.

Defector

Dave McKenna

The Case For Elgin Baylor High School

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat and the Miami Heat bench react during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals

The Miami Heat Now Have Actual Expectations

Albert Burneko

Anthony Davis reaches from behind to block Tyler Herro

Anthony Davis Is The Best Defender In The World

Ray Ratto

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Quinn Cook #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers and teammates after winning the 2020 NBA Championship in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

It Won’t Happen This Way Ever Again

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat reacts during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals

Jimmy Butler Had All The Juice

Giri Nathan

Anthony Davis is unconvincingly sentient on the sideline.

This Is So Stupid

Anthony Davis Is LeBron James’s Best Mecha

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Concern Trolling About NBA Ratings Has Always Been The Loudest Dog Whistle

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Two random Knicks players, doing random basketball stuff, forgettably.

Can You Name 10 Non-Random Knicks Players? You Cannot

Patrick Redford

Former Kings Announcer Grant Napear Attempts A Comeback, But Shows He’s Learned Nothing

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter in Game Four of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

If There’s Going To Be A Rockfight, Have The Biggest Rock

Masai Ujiri pulling out his credentials before being shoved.

Lawyers For Cop Who Shoved Masai Ujiri Claim He Was Trying To Stop Another Munich Massacre

Isaiah Thomas of the Washington Wizards reacts after being ejected during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Capital One Arena on January 03, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Isaiah Thomas Is Pain-Free For The First Time In Three Years, For The Fourth Time In Three Years

Jimmy Butler And The Heat Were Too Stubborn To Lose Game 3

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving look in the same direction.

Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving’s Vision Of Collaborative Coaching Isn’t That Out There

Several Heat players ineffectually harass LeBron James.

The Lakers Made The Heat Look Like Helpless Little Babies

Deni Avdija of Maccabi Tel Aviv prepares to dunk the basketball.

Potential Lottery Pick Acknowledges Existence Of New York Knicks

An Extremely Timely And Thorough NBA Finals Preview

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Doc Rivers and Al Michaels calling Game 1 of the 2004 NBA Finals

Doc Rivers Should Make A Triumphant Return To The Booth

David Roth

James Dolan, in a velvet blazer and a dumb hat, singing his heart out.

James Dolan To Rep. Max Rose: Keep My Team’s Humiliating Failure Out Of Your Mouth

Doc Rivers looks amused on the sidelines of a Clippers playoff game.

Maybe It’s Not A Great Idea To Fire Coaches Based On The Results Of A Historically Strange Season

Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum greet each other on the sideline of a Celtics playoff game.

Gordon Hayward Was A Butt Sandwich Against The Heat

LeBron James mean-mugs while his Lakers teammates celebrate

And Now, A Trenchant LeBron James Infographic

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 26, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

History May Not Be Kind To The Nuggets’ Future

Tom Ley

Jamal Murray Found Out Just How Much It Sucks To Run Into LeBron James

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat and Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat react after their win over the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals.

NBA