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Samer Kalaf

James Dolan at the Knicks' championship ceremony

James Dolan Finds Innovative New Way To Be Cruel And Cheap

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


Harry Krinsky

Giri Nathan

Defector’s Completely Decentralized NBA Season Preview Has Now Been Recentralized

Guard Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reqacts after a foul by forward Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors as guard Brandon Williams #12 of the Golden State Warriors tries seperate in the first half of a NBA playoff basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Basketball Game Interrupts Shit-Talk Session Between Luka Doncic And Yaxel Lendeborg

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Podcasts

A Review Of All The Stuff That Happened Last NBA Season

<div>Corban Goble is a writer based in New Orleans. He writes the Kansas Jayhawks basketball newsletter <a href="https://buttondown.com/streaktalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://buttondown.com/streaktalk&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1792591500521000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZZVLbxl-W6fPpdIGBSM2H">Streak Talk</a>.</div>


Corban Goble

The Pelicans Broke How I Understand Pro Basketball

Ben Simmons #25 of the Sacramento Kings poses for a picture during the Kings Media Day at Sacramento Kings Practice Facility on September 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

Tiny Flame Of Joy Extinguished In Sacramento

Michael Porter Jr. Again Stands Athwart History, Saying “Damn, That’s Crazy”

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Better Hate An Owner

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New York Knicks owner James Dolan is interviewed by Ernie Johnson Jr. after his team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Punch Bowl Now More Turd Than Punch

What The Steve Ballmer Scandal Says About Sports Media

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


Chris Thompson

LeBron James dressed in Philly gear at a preseason NBA game.

LeBron James Is Commuting In A Fanatics Helicopter

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrate with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the Bob Cousy Trophy during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)

Knicks And Nets Give Me High Fives, With Hell Gate

Ray Ratto

Stephen Curry attends the Guangdong City Basketball League All-Star Game event on September 12, 2026 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China.

Stephen Curry Leaves $20 Million In His Work Clothes

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Conservative YouTuber and influencer Nick Shirley records during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on exposing fraud in Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. CEO of O’Keefe Media Group James O'Keefe and Acting Vice-President of Policy and Government Affairs at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette also testified about various fraud schemes uncovered across the U.S. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

Government By Influencer, With Eamon Whalen

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 28: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 134-109. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Zoomer Cultural Exchange Hour, With ‘State Of The League’

LeBron James smiles and gestures from the stage of some dumb event.

Life's Rich Pageant

LeBron James Wants Your Paycheck To Become His Paycheck, By Way Of Polymarket

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Balmer before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California.

Steve Ballmer Is Just Going To Have To Take It

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Fans cheer after Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated Yibing Wu of China in their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Honey Deuce McBride, With Giri Nathan

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Nets 123-117. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Perfect Spiritual Fit Between NBA Player And NBA City Achieved

LA Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer at the Intuit Dome Steel Topping Out,

Journalismism

When All You Have Is A Hammer, Every Headline Looks Like A Nail