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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.

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Defector

New Defector Merch For Your Baby

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Merch v3

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

Jayson Tatum not playing in the Olympics.

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Steve Kerr Needs Some Better Excuses

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Kareem Maddox of the USA throws during the mens pool play match between Austria and the USA on Day 4 of the FIBA 3x3 World cup at Rathausplatz on June 2, 2023 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Andrea Kareth /SEPA.Media /Getty Images)

FIBA 3×3 World Cup

Olympics

How Kareem Maddox Went From Public Radio To The Olympic Stage

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Tom Ley

Jayson Tatum #0 high fives Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

2024 NBA Finals – Game Five

Wings Week

When Did Basketball Get Wings?

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Lauren Theisen

Cameron Brink assisted off the court after an injury

WNBA: JUN 08 Los Angeles Sparks at Connecticut Sun

Team USA’s 3×3 Hoops Is Unmissable No Matter Who’s In Paris

WNBA: JUN 02 Indiana Fever at New York Liberty

WNBA

A Sunday Night With The Caitlin Casuals

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Anoint Yourself, Dammit!

Tyrese Haliburton is hounded on the sideline by Jayson Tatum.

The Silly Pacers Handed It To The Celtics, Over And Over Again

Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu high five during a game

Seattle Storm v New York Liberty

It’s A Long, Long Road To Las Vegas For The Liberty

Anthony Edwards holds up seven fingers to indicate a Game 7.

Anthony Edwards Game 7

That Was Violence!

Joel Embiid and Isaiah Hartenstein

Joel Embiid Is Persevering, For Good And Ill

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Ray Ratto

CANADA-TORONTO-NBA-THUNDER VS RAPTORS

Jontay Porter Is The NBA’s Collateral Damage

Klay Thompson reacts after missing a shot

Golden State Warriors v Sacramento Kings – Play-In Tournament

Kings, Inevitable Passing Of Time End The Warriors

Doug McDermott of the Indiana Pacers dunks during a game against the Atlanta Hawks

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Pacers Escape The Play-In, Reaffirm That The Hawks Are A 10th-Place Team

Katie Britt is not actually Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama.

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Katie Britt

Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, delivering her floridly bizarre response to the State of the Union speech on Fox News on Thursday, Mar. 7 2024

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This Is So Stupid

The Nets, Of The Great State Of Brooklyn, Have Lost, I Fear, For The Children! Of America. To The Detroit Pistons—Of. This. Great. Na. Tion. Tonight. Last Night.

Boston Celtics center Al Horford (second from left) and the bench react to a slam dunk by Boston Celtics guard Svi Mykhailiuk (not pictured) in the fourth quarter. The Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors, 140-88.

Golden State Warriors (88) Vs. Boston Celtics (140) At TD Garden

The Celtics Served The Warriors A Beating, And The NBA A Message

Think Your Rinky-Dink Three-Horse Flyover Burg Can Host An NBA All-Star Weekend? Think Again

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Patrick Redford

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 29: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings looks for a rebound during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 29, 2024 at FedExForum 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings v Memphis Grizzlies

An Ode To The Modern Rebounder

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla points in two directions while looking in a third.

Do You Have What It Takes To Put Two On The Ball?

The Detroit Pistons huddle before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 16, 2023.

The Pee Stains Alone

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ja Morant demonstrates check ball situation for his attorney.

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“Is A Basketball A Lethal Weapon?” And “Is Pulling Up Your Shorts A Fighting Stance?” Among Stupid Questions At Issue In Ja Morant Hearing

Rafi Kohan is an Atlanta-based writer and editor. His first book, The Arena, 
was a finalist for the 2018 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. 
Previously, he has served as deputy editor at the New York Observer and as 
executive editorial director for the Atlantic’s creative studio, Re:think. His 
writing has appeared in numerous publications, including GQ, Men’s 
Journal, Rolling Stone, The Ringer, and the Wall Street Journal.

Rafi Kohan headshot

Rafi Kohan

Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics sneering disdainfully at Jerry Stackhouse, who is trying to guard him in 2002. The cover of Rafi Kohan's book "Trash Talk" is at upper left.

Gary Payton posts up Stackhouse

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Gary Payton And The Art And Strategy Of “Talking Crazy”

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Giri Nathan

Pat McAfee conducts an interview with Adam Silver

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Media Meltdowns

Adam Silver Can’t Resist Praising Henry Kissinger On ‘The Pat McAfee Show’

Now Is The Season Of Noticing The Indiana Pacers

Draymond Green talks to a teammate during a timeout.

Draymond Green Remains In Pursuit Of Method For Attacking Opponents That Won’t Get Him Suspended

The Wizards Are Exploring New Horizons Of Permanent Suckitude

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