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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

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

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

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

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

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?

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.

Let's Remember Some Guys

Who Gets Remembered? Crunching The Numbers From 36,000 Immaculate Grids

The Defector Era Of ‘Nothing But Respect’ Is Here, With Maitreyi Anantharaman And David Roth

Isabelle Harrison and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty making some fantastic What Can You Do faces on the bench during a July 25 game against the Phoenix Mercury.

A Huge W, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Defector Staff

Announcements

In Paradigm-Shifting Business Maneuver, Defector Acquires Basketball Podcast

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - JUNE 22: Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate with the Larry O'Brien trophy after winning Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Thunder Finished The Job

The Thunder Are Sharpening Their Knives

New York Knicks owner James Dolan attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

The Whole NBA Is Telling James Dolan To Piss Off

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is defended by Andrew Nembhard.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Can Make Anyone Look Bad

Lauren Theisen

Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty mascot, performs before the game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun

WNBA

The Liberty Are Godzilla And The WNBA Is A Bunch Of Tall Buildings

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to his right, seemingly at The Distraction logo, with a towel over his shoulder, after the team's Game 4 loss in the Western Conference Finals.

Activating The Dunk Machine

Thunder players smile on the sideline during their victory.