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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

Ray Ratto

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) screams out after dunking during the first half of a NBA game at the TD Garden.

No, Seriously, Pay Attention To The Charlotte Hornets

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 29: New York Knicks fans react after game five in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers after the Knicks win at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kent J. Edwards/Getty Images)

Podcasts

New York Or Nowhere, With Will Menaker

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Nikola Jokic Is A Mountain Of Angst

Trae Young of the Washington Wizards looks on as a tribute was shown during the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 24, 2026.

Trae Young Got Ejected From A Wizards Game Before He Ever Played In One

Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley raises his fist as the Lakers take the lead and go on to win game 4 in the final seconds to defeat Boston, 107-106. Photo is from June of 1987 and Riley's suit is immaculate.

Pat Riley To NBA Coaches: Would It Kill You To Put On A Nice Suit For Once?

Samer Kalaf

Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder gets in between Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets

Enough Of Lu Dort’s Little Leg Bullshit

Steve Kerr Remembers Too Late That He Is Not A Doctor

This Is So Stupid

Victor Wembanyama Sighting Confirmed In Brooklyn

Victor Wembanyama celebrates while headed to the bench.

Wait, Whoa, The Spurs Are Way Ahead Of Schedule

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: (L-R) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, IOC President Thomas Bach, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani and President Gianni Infantino attend the Men's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

What Sort Of NBA Does Adam Silver Want To Build In Europe?

Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls reacts after dunking the ball in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

Jeffrey Epstein Appeared To Be A Big Joakim Noah Fan

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 12: Dallas Mavericks have officially won the in NBA Draft Lottery with 1.8% pre-lottery chance to win the pick in Chicago, Illinois, United States on May 12, 2025. San Antonio Spurs got the second pick, Philadelphia 76ers got 3rd and Charlotte Hornets got the 4th pick in the lottery. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Tank Me Later, With Ock Sportello And Sam Sheehan

Harry Krinsky is a producer and media consultant living in Brooklyn. He is the cohost of <a href="https://defector.com/tag/nothing-but-respect">Nothing But Respect</a>.

Harry Krinsky

Rich Paul stands in front of a white board

Media Meltdowns

Rich Paul’s Podcast Was Built To Be Useless

Giri Nathan

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 11: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center on February 11, 2026 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 Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

Kevin Durant Neither Confirms Nor Denies The Latest Burner Allegations

Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls NBA Basketball

Maybe LaMelo Ball Shouldn’t Have A Driver’s License

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Team USA Stripes walks onto the court before the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Peeking Into The Durant Files, With Eamon Whalen

Casey Wasserman at the Vogue World: Hollywood Announcement at Chateau Marmont on March 26, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Olympics

Casey Wasserman, Radioactive With Epstein Fallout, Says He Will Sell His Agency

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Chicago Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Become Exhausting

Taylor Hendricks of the Utah Jazz talks with team owner Ryan Smith during warmups before their game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026. Smith has a backwards baseball cap on, as always.

The Utah Jazz Got Fined For Losing Too Oafishly

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the pre-game press conference in Berlin.

The NBA Could Really Use A Break

CHONGQING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 8: In this photo illustration, a person holds a smartphone displaying the Kalshi app page on the Apple App Store, with the Kalshi branding visible in the background, on February 8, 2026, in Chongqing, China. Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated prediction market platform that allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, has surged in popularity and recently climbed to second place on the Apple App Store’s U.S. free apps ranking, highlighting growing public interest in event-based financial markets and outcome forecasting. (Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

On The Breathtakingly Cynical Giannis Antetokounmpo Kalshi Investment

Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate, and Jalen Duren brawl

Pistons Pissed, Hornets Stung, Beef Stew Beefs, Too

Giannis Antetokounmpo Jumps In Bed With Sleazy Prediction Market

Head coach Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on January 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

The Sacramento Kings Are Dedicated To Dignified Losing

Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during a NBA game

NBA