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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.

Defector

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

Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 10: Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets walks on the court during halftime against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 129-100.

For Ben Simmons’s Return, Philadelphia Was Ready But The Sixers Weren’t

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Welcome To Obscurity, Kristaps

Dave McKenna

at El Camino College on March 14, 2017 in Torrance, California.

High School Sports

D.C. Considers Granting High School Athletes NIL Rights

Here Come The Celtics

College Basketball

Georgetown Basketball Is The Most Depressing Thing On Earth

WNBA

WNBA Team Fined $500K For Not Making Its Players Fly Next To Schmucks Like You In Commercial

Maybe Now Markelle Fultz Can Finally Just Play Some Basketball

Ja Morant and teammates celebrate after his buzzer beater to end the first. half

Ja Morant Is An Unhuman Highlight Reel Right Now

D’Angelo Russell And The Timberwolves Might Be—Could Be! Possibly!—Good Now

John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and Maclean’s.

John Loeppky

Parasports

Inside The Athlete Uprising That Brought Down A Wheelchair Hoops Legend

The Knicks Not Fit For Viewing

Take A Moment To Appreciate Cam Thomas Before He Returns To The Vault

Remade Blazers Rub Knicks’ Noses In Their Own Mess

Joel Embiid Dunked The Cavaliers Straight To Hell

Let There Be Trades!

For The Love Of God, Trade This Man

The Nets’ Problems Are Multiplying

It Is Terrifying When Joel Embiid Falls Over

You Will Simply Never Guess Which NBA Goon Wrought Bodily Destruction From A Routine Play

Russell Westbrook Identifies An Area Of Concern: “I Can’t Make A Fucking Shot”