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Defector

Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands next to Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game one of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Everyone Thinks They Have A Shot

Samer Kalaf

D'Angelo Russell celebrates after hitting a game-winner

Nets Sabotage Their Own Tank With Thrilling Upset Of Rockets

Giri Nathan

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates a call in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on February 03, 2025 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson Plays Like A Rolling Rock

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard look discouraged.

The Celtics Can Afford To Wait For Math To Come Back Around

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 13: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against Zach Edey #14 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Toyota Center on January 13, 2025 in Houston, 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The Basketball Is Really Good Right Now

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half of a quarterfinal game against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Emirates Cup at Toyota Center on December 11, 2024 in Houston, 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Steve Kerr Flips Out After Latest Warriors Meltdown

Tari Eason and Amen Thompson defend a shot in a Rockets game against the Clippers.

Hell Is Being Defended By Tari Eason And Amen Thompson

Tom Ley

Boban Marjanovic #51 of the Houston Rockets smiles before the game against the LA Clippers on April 14, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Boban Delivered The Chicken

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 20, 2023 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Kevin Porter Jr. Accepts Plea Deal, Will Avoid Jail Time

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets watches as his team plays the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Ball Arena on November 29, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Ime Udoka Got Ejected For Being A Weird Asshole To LeBron James

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets poses for a photo during media day on October 02, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Dillon Brooks Believes He’s Being Targeted And Victimized For Punching People In The Balls

Ray Ratto

There’s A Reason The Rockets Think They Can Trade Kevin Porter Jr.

Luis Paez-Pumar

Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on March 20, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Rockets Guard Kevin Porter Jr. Charged With Assaulting And Strangling His Girlfriend

The Houston Rockets introduce Ice Udoka as the next head coach during a press conference on April 26, 2023 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. All three men are sitting at a table. Udoka is in the center, with the team owner on the left and the team GM on the right.

Ime Udoka Is Not Here To Talk About The Past

A four-square of Brian Windhorst talking, with a little Windy in the middle as well

Media Meltdowns

Brian Windhorst’s ESPN Article Wipes Detail About Stephen Silas Weeping After A Game

James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on February 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Report: James Harden Pines For The Days Of Mailing It In With The Rockets

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 26: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers scores career-high 71 points during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 26, 2023 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2023 NBAE

Damian Lillard Put Up The Purest 71 Points Ever Scored

Stephen Silas May Not Be Getting A Callback

Let’s Take Stock Of The Horrors Of The Brick For Vic Campaign

John Wall Will Finally Get Another Chance To Be A Basketball Player

Laura Wagner

Helpful Kevin Porter Jr. Nudges Steph Curry Out Of His Slump

Lunkhead Broadcaster Chooses Exact Wrong Sequence Of Words To Describe Game-Winning Shot

Jalen Green #0 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center on December 28, 2021 in Houston, Texas.