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Defector

Ray Ratto

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 9: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors &amp; LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers embrace before the game on April 9, 2024 at Cryto.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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images)

Eventually, Expectations Become The Fiercest Opponent

Patrick Redford

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 09: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the LA Clippers at Footprint Center on April 09, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Enter The Western Conference Anxiety Vortex

Albert Burneko

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a timeout as officials attempt to fix the shot clock during the second half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Hey, Does Anybody Know If The Warriors-Lakers Game Is Over Yet?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 2, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

The Nuggets Own The Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a116-112 win against the LA Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 28, 2024 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

LeBron James Might Just Keep Doing This Forever

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the referee against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center on November 04, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

If A Ninth-Place Team Complains About Officiating, Does It Make Any Sound At All?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Darko Rajakovic Gets His Money’s Worth In Postgame Rant

LeBron James and Anthony Davis cross paths.

The Lakers Are Too Healthy To Be This Grumpy

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - DECEMBER 21: Vinicius Junior attends the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the LA Clippers on December 21, 2023 at Paycom Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Soccer

Vinicius Jr. Pays Visit To Best Cities In America, Also Los Angeles

Dante Exum #0 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 12, 2023 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas,

The Dream Of Dante Exum Is Alive Once Again

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Anthony Davis celebrates a basket during the Lakers' win over the Pacers in the final of the NBA's In-Season Tournament.

Can Anthony Davis Just Do That, Like, Every Game?

Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns in the second half during the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals at Crypto.com Arena on December 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

In-Season Tournament Gets Everyone’s Attention With A Glaring Officiating Fuck-Up

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

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

Center Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards reacts at the courtside during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.

A Timeline Of The Sexual Assault Allegations Against Dwight Howard

LeBron James powers through three Suns defenders in the fourth quarter of Thursday's game.

LeBron James Advanced The Lakers A Few Of His Precious Minutes

Israel Daramola

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson next to each other in season two of HBO's series "Winning Time."

Arts And Culture

‘Winning Time’ Is Back And Still Ridiculous

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Christian Wood looks on during the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic during the 2023 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2023 at the Thomas &amp; Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)

Surely Christian Wood Still Has Something To Offer

Giri Nathan

LeBron James talks to press after the Lakers' Western Conference Finals loss to the Nuggets

LeBron Compliments Nikola Jokic’s Big Basketball Brain And Contemplates Retirement

Nikola Jokic Is The Best And Everyone Will Just Have To Accept It

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

LeBron Cost The Lakers

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

Los Angeles, CA - May 08: Lakers forward LeBron James forces Warriors guard Stephen Curry to turn over the ball with less than tweo seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, May 8,, 2023. Los Angeles on Monday, May 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)