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Patrick Redford

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 25: Shaedon Sharpe #21 of the Kentucky Wildcats against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Rupp Arena on January 25, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

What Is Mystery Man Shaedon Sharpe’s Deal?

Ray Ratto

Assistant coach Kenny Atkinson reacts to a play in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Seven Totally Baseless Guesses Why Warriors Assistant Kenny Atkinson Snubbed The Hornets

Giri Nathan

Andrew Wiggins cradles the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Andrew Wiggins Inspired Underachievers Everywhere

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after defeating the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Gary Payton II Traversed Basketball Purgatory On His Way To A Championship

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Real Champion Is You, Who Gets To Look At These Sad Boston Fans

Albert Burneko

Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber hoist the Larry O'Brien NBA championship trophy

Get The Owner Out Of My Face

Luis Paez-Pumar

Stephen Curry #30 and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate after defeating the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Klay Thompson Is Just Happy To Be Here Again

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after defeating the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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)

The Warriors Answered Every Question

David Roth

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera staring very intensely at new quarterback Carson Wentz, but The Distraction logo has been superimposed over Wentz's face.

Podcasts

Endurance Basketball, Dystopian Golf, And The Plight Of The Sacrificial Mensch

Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors) wrestle Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) for the ball

What’s Up With Jayson Tatum?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors brings the ball up court against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 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)

The Warriors Are One Win Away Thanks To Andrew Wiggins

Draymond Green in his postgame press conference after the Warriors beat the Pistons 118-91 on Saturday, January 30.

Draymond Green Podcasted Beyond The Point Of Shame

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

Dan McQuade

Workers look at the rim with a big ladder

The Rim Wasn’t The Correct Height!

of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals, Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in Boston. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)

Robert Williams Was Everywhere

<a href="http://www.ddavisla.com">David Davis </a>is the author of Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans From World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation and Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku. He lives in Los Angeles.
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David Davis

How They Shot “The Last Shot”

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 27: Referee Scott Foster #48 during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on March 27, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the 76ers 114-104. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Actual Ref Problem, Explained

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 05, 2022 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)

That Was A Hell Of A Defensive Performance

Stephen Curry shoots against Al Horford and Robert Williams in Game 2 of the NBA Finals

The Warriors Warriored All Over The Celtics

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: (L to R) Kevon Looney #5, Klay Thompson #11, Andrew Wiggins #22, Jordan Poole #3, and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 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)

What The Hell Happened To The Warriors There?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 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)

The Celtics Sprung A Trap On The Warriors

A bunch of old-timey basketball players from an Olympics in the black-and-white era

A Sophisticated And Punctual Preview Of The 2022 NBA Finals, For Basketball Idiots

These NBA Finals Don’t Need To Be About Anything More Than Who Gets A Parade

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 29: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with his teammates and the Eastern Conference Bob Cousy champions trophy after defeating the Miami Heat in Game Seven to win the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 29, 2022 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The Celtics Fought Like Hell For This

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: The Golden State Warriors hold the Western Conference Champion trophy after the 120-110 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at Chase Center on May 26, 2022 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Warriors’ Path Back To The Finals Was Never Guaranteed

Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich putting a mask on after getting pardoned for his many obvious crimes.

NBA