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

Ray Ratto

Taylor Hendricks of the Utah Jazz talks with team owner Ryan Smith during warmups before their game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026. Smith has a backwards baseball cap on, as always.

The Utah Jazz Got Fined For Losing Too Oafishly

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the pre-game press conference in Berlin.

The NBA Could Really Use A Break

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate, and Jalen Duren brawl

Pistons Pissed, Hornets Stung, Beef Stew Beefs, Too

Giannis Antetokounmpo looks bummed on the sideline.

Make Hay While The Sun Is Shining, By Losing In Earnest While Giannis Is Injured

Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga L competes during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season basketball game between Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2026.

The Jonathan Kuminga Saga Swings Towards Tragicomedy

Jimmy Butler’s Injury Thrusts Steve Kerr And Jonathan Kuminga Once More Into The Hell Of Working Together

Jonathan Kuminga, at left, of the Golden State Warriors sit with fans before their game against the New York Knicks at Chase Center on January 15, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

Jonathan Kuminga Is In Basketball Purgatory

Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Curdling

Bill Kennedy explaining, to the NBC cameras, that a play was called correctly. He is making "the Bill Kennedy face."

Everybody Loves Bill Kennedy

Rachelle Hampton

A man is asleep on a couch in front of a television.

An Ode To Falling Asleep In Front Of A Basketball Game

David Roth

Victor Wembanyama and his long ass arms grab a rebound over Jaylen Williams of the Thunder during the fourth quarter of a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 13, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Spurs Showed How To Beat The Thunder

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

Dan McQuade

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 13: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines handles the ball in the second half against David Coit #8 of the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 13, 2025 in College Park, Maryland.

College Basketball

Michigan Is Routing Everyone

Exhaust fumes adding to the air pollution in Santiago, Chile, in 1962.

Podcasts

Another Side Of Carbon Dioxide, With Peter Brannen

The Clippers Checked Out Early From Chris Paul’s Retirement Tour

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

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?

Can Anything Make The Hornets Make Sense?

Victor Wembanyama sits court-side in street clothes.

Basketball Is Too Hard For All This Soft Tissue

Even By His Lofty Standards, Nikola Jokic Is On One

Patrick Redford

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

Nico Harrison Is Toast

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks onstage at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 at The Plaza Hotel on September 24, 2025 in New York City.

Adam Silver’s Job Is About To Get So Much Harder

Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers at the media day before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game on April 3, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

Bruce Pearl Always Knew What He Could Get Away With

Sean Kuhn

An Immaculate Grid filled in with the most-remembered people from the Defector/Immaculate Grid collaboration week.