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

Patrick Redford

Podcasts

We Can’t Grow The Game Like This, With Danny Of Who’s Next

David Roth

Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway (L) watches New York Knicks' center Charles Oakley (C) and Miami Heat center PJ Brown (R) go for a rebound in second period action of their game 12 April at the Miami Arena.

Getting Kicked In The Back By P.J. Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to an apparent injury against the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

Breaking Down The NBA’s Injury And Jeffrey Epstein Issues, With Henry Abbott

Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers prepares to take the snap of the ball at the line of scrimmage during the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Making Noises At Jim Nantz, With Aaron Schatz

Micro Aura Transgressions, With Giri Nathan

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets reacts after flying out against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citi Field on April 12, 2026 in New York City.

A New Space In Which To Be Stupid, With Michael Schur

Inglewood, CA - February 15: NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver announces the MVP of the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday, February 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Behold! The ‘Nothing But Respect’ NBA Playoffs Mega-Preview

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC.

A Feast Of Sludge, With Ed Zitron

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

A Post-Tournament Prospect Prospectus, With David Roth

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

of the New York Knicks of the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 9, 2009 in New York, New York.

Critical New Jersey Hoops Survey, With Papo2oo4

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman women's basketball team in the gymnasium of Ladies Hall (now Chadbourne Hall), Madison, Wisconsin, 1900.

Please, Mr. Pibb Is My Father, With Emma Baccellieri

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holds a Golden State Valkyries jersey after announcing their fifth overall pick of Juste Joyce during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in 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 Elsa/Getty Images)

Welcome To The Craziest Possible WNBA Offseason, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Oscar Cluff #45 of the Purdue Boilermakers looks for a shot against Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game on March 15, 2026.

Let’s Get Upset, With Ken Pomeroy

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 is interviewed with teammates Chet Holmgren #7 and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder after beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Why The Thunder Have Been Cast As The NBA’s Villains, With Tyler Parker

A kebab is prepared in the Elbis-Döner restaurant at Berliner Straße 2 in Wilmersdorf. It looks good as hell.

Kebab Juice On The Windowpane, With Rohan Nadkarni

Rodman and TOni Braxton at the MTV Music Awards

Associated “Association Update” Update, With Will Anderson Of Hotline TNT

Justin Agu #13 of the Louisville Cardinals catches the ball against the Toledo Rockets during the first half of the 2025 Bush's Boca Raton Bowl of Beans at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on December 23, 2025.

Imagining The End Of College Sports, With Spencer Hall

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)

New York Or Nowhere, With Will Menaker

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?

<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

Fixing Tanking By Making Everything More Confusing, With Tom Ley

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

Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert of Team Canada compete during Men's Round Robin between Team Canada and Team Great Britain on day eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on February 17, 2026.

Across The Hog Line, With John Cullen

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

A Pomeranian is groomed backstage during the Group Judging (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding) at 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2025.