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

Giri Nathan

Journalismism

Suns Reporter Describes Death Threats And Moving His Family Out Of Phoenix After Charlie Kirk Tweets

Patrick Redford

BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1984: Referee Earl Strom #12 looks on prior to the start of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics circa 1984 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Strom was an NBA referee for 29 years. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Earl Strom

Podcasts

The Ray Ratto Guide To Officiating

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after a no foul call during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

The Clippers Are Circling The Toilet

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks attempts a layup against John Collins #20 and Nicolas Batum #33 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Intuit Dome on November 29, 2025 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Cooper Flagg Makes History Against The Ancient Clippers

Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass the ball against Saddiq Bey #41 of the New Orleans Pelicans

The Warriors Without Steph Curry Are Bad, But The Pelicans Are Still Worse

Ray Ratto

Cason Wallace #22, Isaiah Hartenstein #55, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2, Chet Holmgren #7, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 23, 2025.

Are The Thunder Too Good?

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 24: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors waves to the crowd as he walks off the court after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)

Welcome To The ‘Nothing But Respect’ Media Hour

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 17: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after he dunks in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena on November 17, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Rick Osentoski/Getty Images)

Jalen Duren, Phenomenal Leaper, Has Made The Leap

Can Anything Make The Hornets Make Sense?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on from the bench in the second half during timeout against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on November 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

Even In Street Clothes, Ja Morant Is The Drama

Victor Wembanyama sits court-side in street clothes.

Basketball Is Too Hard For All This Soft Tissue

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket after being fouled by Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) in the first half

LeBron James Embraces His Version Of An Old-Man Game

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 29: Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics watches warmups before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Garden on October 29, 2025 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Which NBA Teams Are Cool?

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 16: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors gets into a verbal altercation with a fan during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on November 16, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

A Brand-New Draymond Green Incident Cycle Has Arrived Right On Schedule

Boston, MA - November 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla high fives guard Payton Pritchard in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on November 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Boston Sports Franchise Removes The Phrase “White Power” From Its Website

Even By His Lofty Standards, Nikola Jokic Is On One

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Center on November 10, 2025 in Dallas, 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

This Is Not The Start Cooper Flagg Wanted

A Brief Tour Through The Bad Parts Of The NBA, With Ock Sportello

Tom Ley

Am I A Bug To You?

Nico Harrison Is Toast

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball in overtime to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on November 10, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

The Heat And Cavs Played The Wildest Eight Seconds Of The Season

Kings head coach Doug Christie looking confused.

The Kings Are An Abomination

Tech leaders, including Sam Altman (C), CEO of OpenAI, and Tim Cook (2nd L), CEO of Apple, attend a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump with tech leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 4, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Capital

An Evening With Sam Altman And Steve Kerr

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 03: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at FedExForum on November 03, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Ja Morant’s Melodrama Tips Into Tedium