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Defector

Patrick Redford

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a shot on Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks on November 12, 2024 in San Francisco, California.

The NBA In-Season Tournament Will Be A Referendum On The Regular Season

Tom Ley

Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Celtics Were Built To Shine

Rachel is a writer, performer and improv instructor from Boston, Massachusetts. She has written for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Reductress, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. She thinks the sports horror novel she is working on could be her <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1325514-max-landis" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1325514-max-landis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1718077591839000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0XT84xOkGfzjDGoFo6dhG7">Bright</a>.

Rachel Andelman

Luka Doncic does kind of a weird follow-through as he watches a shot against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 13, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

A Field Guide To Luka Doncic’s Many Busted Sports-Watching Setups

DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 12: Luka Dončić #77 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, 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 Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Luka Doncic Embarrassed Himself

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

The Celtics Keep It Simple

David Roth

Luka Doncic exults/leers in the direction of Minnesota center Rudy Gobert after hitting the game three-pointer over him in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Luka's really wet-looking.

Deal With It

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts to officials for a LA Clippers foul during a 96-93 Mavericks win in game two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 23, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Luka Doncic Is Unshakeable

The Mavericks Are Huge, Healthy, And On A Roll

Ray Ratto

Joel Embiid with 70 paper; Luka Doncic with 73 paper

The NBA’s Tribute To Minimalist Art

Giri Nathan

The NBA Doesn’t Like The Way The Mavericks Tanked

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Mark Cuban Is In Loser Mode Showing Texts

This Luka Doncic Dime Emits The Stench Of Life

The Dallas Mavericks Now Emit The Stench Of Death

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 13: (L-R) Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving watch first-half play against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center on March 13, 2023 in Dallas, 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

The Mavericks Are Running Out Of Time To Become Normal

Kyrie Irving And Luka Doncic Are Still Figuring It Out

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons in the second half at American Airlines Center on January 30, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 111-105. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Best Not To Provoke Luka Doncic

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after making the game tying basket against the New York Knicks with one second left in regulation to send the game to overtime at American Airlines Center on December 27, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.

Luka Doncic Did A Funny Little Dance And Scored A 60-Point Triple-Double

Andrew Wiggins Is Still Andrew Wiggins, Kind Of

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being fouled by Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2022 in Dallas, 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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

How The West Wasn’t One-On-One

Luka Doncic Will Laugh At Your Pain

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts on the court during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on May 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 121-114.

Luka Doncic Is Going It Alone

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on March 01, 2022 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)

Luka Doncic Went Out Of His Way To Cook LeBron James

A New York Legend Gets A New Start In Dallas

NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 04: Jason Terry #31, Shawn Marion #0, Jason Kidd #2 congratulate Jose Barea #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena on November 4, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Good Luck To The Mavs With All This

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball against Dorian Finney-Smith #10 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of Game Seven of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.