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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.

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Defector

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Patrick Dumont smiles that awful fucking smile of his.

Patrick Dumont smiles

The Goddamn Mavericks Won The Goddamn Draft Lottery

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Patrick Redford

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils looks over the court during the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean E. Smith Center on March 08, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Duke v North Carolina

Where Should Cooper Flagg End Up?

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 03: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 03, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Wake Forest v Duke

College Basketball

Cooper Flagg Has Had A Season For The Ages

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 30: Dylan Harper #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs out the court before their game against the Texas A&amp;M Aggies during the Players Era Festival basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aggies defeated the Scarlet Knights 81-77. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Players Era Festival: Texas A&M v Rutgers

Dylan Harper Is Big-Time

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Rob Dillingham arrives prior to the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

2024 NBA Draft – Round One

The New CBA Is Already Making NBA Teams Squirm

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans looks on in the second half of a quarterfinal game against the Arizona Wildcats during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats defeated the Trojans 70-49. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

USC v Arizona

Bronny James Can’t Be Much Worse Than The Rest Of These Guys

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Scoot Henderson celebrates after being drafted third overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

2023 NBA Draft

The Blazers Are At A Fascinating Crossroads

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Giri Nathan

Seattle Mariners v New York Yankees

Wemby Takes New York

CHICAGO,IL - MAY 16: Managing Partner Peter J. Holt of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates receiving the 1st Pick during the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place on May 16, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

2023 NBA Draft Lottery

San Antonio Is The Perfect Spot For Victor Wembanyama

LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 reacts to a play during the match between Boulogne-Levallois and JDA Dijon at Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan on February 10, 2023 in Levallois-Perret, France. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Boulogne-Levallois v JDA Dijon – LNB Pro A

Where Should Victor Wembanyama End Up?

HENDERSON, NEVADA - OCTOBER 04: Scoot Henderson #0 of G League Ignite runs back on defense after Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 grabbed a rebound in the third quarter of their exhibition game at The Dollar Loan Center on October 04, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. Ignite defeated Metropolitans 92 122-115. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Metropolitans 92 v G League Ignite

Prepare Yourself For Some Shameless NBA Tanking

2022 NBA Draft

The Knicks Are Proud Of Their Confusing, Crummy Draft Night

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Paolo Banchero pose for photos after Banchero was drafted with the 1st overall pick by the Orlando Magic during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Magic Shocked Everyone By Selecting Paolo Banchero First Overall

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 25: Shaedon Sharpe #21 of the Kentucky Wildcats against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Rupp Arena on January 25, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Mississippi State v Kentucky

What Is Mystery Man Shaedon Sharpe’s Deal?

PROVO, UT - FEBRUARY 5: Chet Holmgren #34 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs slam dunks the ball against the BYU Cougars during the first half of their game February 5, 2022 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Gonzaga v Brigham Young

It’s Just Too Bad Chet Holmgren Will Be Forbidden From Entering An NBA Weight Room

ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne's French player Victor Wembanyama looks on prior to the Euroleague basketball match between ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne and Zalgiris Kaunas at the Astroballe arena in Villeurbanne, near Lyon, on October 1, 2021. (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP) (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images)

BASKET-EUR-EUROLEAGUE-LYON-VILLEURBANNE-KAUNAS

Victor Wembanyama, The World’s Best Basketball Prospect, Looms

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.

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Drew Magary

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver prepares to announce the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

2019 NBA Draft

Funbag

The NBA Draft Lottery Is Garbage

dribbles the ball against the Boston Celtics at the Barclays Center on November 15, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of 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. The Nets defeated the Celtics 102-97.

Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets

Report: It’s Just The Preseason, But Man, It Looks Like Our Team Got The Best Player In The Draft

James Dolan sits next to a big Knicks logo.

The Knicks Did Something Cool That Probably Will Not Ever Matter, But Still

during the 2013 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 27, 2013 in in the Brooklyn Bourough of 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.

2013 NBA Draft

Defector Up All Night

With The First Pick, Defector Selects … An NBA Draft Live Blog!

Projected 2020 lottery pick James Wiseman looks up.

Jordan Brand Classic

Does James Wiseman Envision Himself Blocking Shots, Rebounding, Running The Floor, And Guarding His Position For The Warriors, If Selected?

Deni Avdija of Maccabi Tel Aviv prepares to dunk the basketball.

nba draft