CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

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 register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

Lauren Theisen

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket over LeBron James

Joel Embiid Says LeBron Should Have Gotten Ejected, Is Immediately Undermined By His Own Coach

Albert Burneko

Not That The Wizards Needed The Help, But John Wall Made Them Look Like Idiots

LeBron James shoots over a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Do Not Root Against LeBron James If He Can See It

Patrick Redford

Everyone’s Sick Of Shaq

Tom Ley

Jamal Murray Tried So Hard To Act Like He Didn’t Bonk A Guy’s Balls

Go To A Miami Heat Game If You Want A Dog To Tell You Whether You’ve Contracted A Deadly Virus

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets in action against the Golden State Warriors during their NBA preseason game at Chase Center on December 12, 2020 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Jamal Murray Once Again Has The Juice

Maitreyi Anantharaman

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver waits to speak at the Los Angeles Lakers championship ring ceremony before the season opening game against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on December 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

The NBA’s Vaccine Decision-Making Doesn’t Need To Be So Complicated

Giri Nathan

Zion Williamson Should Not Rest Until He Has Bowled Over Everything In His Path

Ray Ratto

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors brings the ball up court during a 115-113 Warrior win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Staples Center on January 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

For The First Time, Andrew Wiggins Is Fitting In

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver prepares to announce the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Funbag

The NBA Draft Lottery Is Garbage

James Harden #13, Kevin Durant #7, Joe Harris #12, and Jeff Green #8 of the Brooklyn Nets walk onto the court during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center on January 16, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 122-115. James Harden #13, Kevin Durant #7, Joe Harris #12, and Jeff Green #8 of the Brooklyn Nets walk onto the court during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center on January 16, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

The Nets Are Trying To De-Knick New York

Nikola Jokic Has The Pull

Media Meltdowns

We Have To Shut Down New England Basketball Punditry Until We Figure Out What’s Going On

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets leaves the court following the 120 -102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center on January 10, 2021 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

James Harden Is A Net, No Matter How Kyrie Irving Fits The Plan

The James Harden Situation Is Coming To A Head Very Quickly [UPDATE: It Did]

The Lakers Live In An Alternate Dimension

Luis Paez-Pumar

Gabe Vincent #2 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 and Dwight Howard #39 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter during their game at the Wells Fargo Center on January 12, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Random Crappy NBA Games Have Lost Their Thrill

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers wears a face mask on the bench in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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 aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Bold New Plan To Deal With Increasing COVID-19 Cases Is Seating Chart Theater And No Hugging

Kyrie Irving has the look of disappointment on court.

What Is Kyrie Irving Doing?

D’Angelo Russell Turned His Presser Into A Thoughtful Roundtable Discussion

Head coach Doc Rivers speaks to players during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center on January 09, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The NBA Season Is Well Into The Shit

Marv Albert and Chris Webber at halftime during the Jan. 7 Sixers-Nets game on TNT

The Marv Albert-Chris Webber Situation Has Reached A Dismal Low

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 04: Andre Drummond #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on January 04, 2021 in Orlando, 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)

See If You Can Figure Out What Andre Drummond Was Trying To Accomplish Here

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

K.C. Jones Always Owned The Room