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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets react after a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of game 3 of a Western Conference finals NBA playoff basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 20, 2023.

Nikola Jokic Was There When It Mattered Most

Israel Daramola

LeBron Cost The Lakers

Ray Ratto

DENVER, CO - MAY 16 : Rui Hachimura (28) of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during 1st game of Western Conference Final at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

The Lakers Better Hope Their Jokic-Stopper Is For Real

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 10: LeBron James #6 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors on May 10, 2023 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

Lakers-Warriors Is A Series Searching For A Story

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Eating Some Shit Might Be Just What The Grizzlies Need

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 19: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at FedExForum on April 16, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. at FedExForum on April 19, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dillon Brooks’s Wings Have Melted

LeBron James celebrates after scoring the decisive overtime basket.

LeBron James Sure Knows How To Pick His Spots

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 24, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

Playoff Jimmy Has No Equal

Dillon Brooks pulls a face after being ejected.

Dillon Brooks Was Humiliating Himself Well Before He Made Contact With The Balls

Patrick Redford

Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during Round 1 Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 16, 2023 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James Got Some Help From His Secondary Buddies

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers react from the bench during a 125-118 LA Clippers win at Crypto.com Arena on April 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, 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.

Getting Old Sucks

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: Patrick Beverley #21 of the Chicago Bulls touches the Los Angeles Lakers basketball court as he celebrates after scoring a basket against LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the closing minute of the game at Crypto.com Arena on March 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

LeBron James Of Feet Not Quite Enough To Push LeBron James Of Basketball To Return Win

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Brice James, Bronny James and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Dad Scouting Report On Bronny James Has Arrived

The NBA All-Star Game Was What It Always Is

LeBron James breaks the all-time scoring record

LeBron James Is All That Matters In Los Angeles

Albert Burneko

LeBron James looking up at what's probably a rebound

LeBron James’s Former Colleagues Laud His Greatness, Incredibly Rudely

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving shake hands.

For The Lakers, Kyrie Irving Would Be A Risk Worth Taking

David Roth

Patrick Beverley and LeBron James look upset during a Los Angeles Lakers game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Defector logo is in the corner.

Podcasts

New Frontiers In Loser Shit, With Patrick Redford

LeBron James Is Next In A Long Line

Boston, MA - January 28: Los Angeles Lakers SF LeBron James falls to his knees in frustration after the final play of regulation. The Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, 125-121, in overtime. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

There’s No Sense In The Lakers Crying Over The Unavoidable

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on January 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

LeBron James Makes History, Looks Miserable Doing It

LeBron James Still Rules

Giri Nathan

Russell Westbrook bricks a jumper late in Lakers-Blazers as teammates Anthony Davis and LeBron James wave their hands in frustration.

LeBron James “Not Up Here” To Talk About Russell Westbrook After Lakers Loss

The Lakers try to huddle with Russell Westbrook