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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

The Indiana Fever flag waves during a WNBA game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever on May 20, 20, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, IN.

WNBA

Indiana Fever Revoke Beat Writer’s Press Credentials Over Caitlin Clark Injury Report

Giri Nathan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Tyson Etienne #10 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jalen Slawson #18 of the Indiana Pacers battle for possession during the second half at Barclays Center on April 09, 2026 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images)

Do You Know These Men?

Tom Ley

Women's Basketball

“Disgusted” Breanna Stewart Holds Up “Abolish ICE” Sign Before Unrivaled Game

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 12: &lt;&gt;at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on January 12, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Joe Mazzulla Reacts To Celtics Loss By Only Repeating Two Words: “Illegal Screen”

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers looks on in street clothes during player introductions before a game against the Detroit Pistons

Following The Damned Pacers Through The Pits Of Hell

Albert Burneko

T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Five of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Fine, To Hell With It: A T.J. McConnell Appreciation Blog

David Roth

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.

Podcasts

The Agony Of Victory, With Ray Ratto

Patrick Redford

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 13: Andrew Nembhard #2 celebrates with Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of game five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 13, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pacers defeated the Pacers 114-105. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Pacers Were Too Cool To Make Sense

Ray Ratto

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

“Deserve” Has Nothing To Do With It

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

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

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Finals Have Given Us Everything But An Ending

The Thunder Are Sharpening Their Knives

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 13: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a layup against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Finals Good As Hell

Rachelle Hampton

Josh Hart #3 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talk against the Indiana Pacers

Thank God Jalen Brunson And Josh Hart Are Kind Of Boring

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball against Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.

Not So Funny When Someone’s Doing That Shit To You, Is It?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals

If I Were The Oklahoma City Thunder, I Would Simply Sustain A Lead All The Way To The End Of Game 2

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers scores a basket with .3 seconds remaining during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.

We Must Consider Whether The Pacers Have A Pact With Beelzebub Himself

Luis Paez-Pumar

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks reacts against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Knicks Decide They Are Too Good For Tom Thibodeau

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers grabs the ball against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Pacers Were Just Too Much To Handle

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a pass against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

They Can’t All Be Thrillers

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

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a jump shot against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Faster Is Better

The Pacers celebrate Tyrese Haliburton's buzzer-beater.

What The Hell Is Going On Here?

Tyrese Haliburton greets fans after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.