CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

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

Dan McQuade

The 76ers arena with the Sixers up 23-6 early in a playoff game. It's full and looks loud. It's a wide shot, with a wide angle lense

It Got So Loud

David Roth

Kevin Durant warms up before Tuesday's game against the Timberwolves in a meaningful t-shirt.

Podcasts

Activism, Branding, And Writing While Black, With Tyler R. Tynes

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

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after hitting a three-point basket in the final seconds of their 123-115 win over the Detroit Pistons during overtime at State Farm Arena on January 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Funbag

How To Fix The NBA’s Three-Point “Crisis”

Maitreyi Anantharaman

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver waits to speak at the Los Angeles Lakers championship ring ceremony before the season opening game against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on December 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

The NBA’s Vaccine Decision-Making Doesn’t Need To Be So Complicated

Head coach Doc Rivers speaks to players during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center on January 09, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The NBA Season Is Well Into The Shit

Patrick Redford

A trader walks past a screen during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 17, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City. - Wall Street stocks rallied Tuesday on expectations for massive federal stimulus to address the economic hit from the coronavirus, partially recovering some of their losses from the prior session. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP) (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

Journalismism

I Hope Your Brain Is Big Enough To Make Sense Of This ESPN Blog About How The NBA Is Like Finance

<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteCroatto" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/PeteCroatto&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664986664225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1IOCSnf8b8k47CXUQY8Wml">Pete Croatto </a>is the author of <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/From-Hang-Time-to-Prime-Time/Pete-Croatto/9781982103958" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/From-Hang-Time-to-Prime-Time/Pete-Croatto/9781982103958&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664986664225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0qtPVCYdWjoWnj-HRERk_r">From Hang Time to Prime Time: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-day NBA</a>. His sportswriting has appeared in many outlets, including The New York Times, The Athletic, The Toronto Star, Andscape, Shondaland, and SLAM.

Pete Croatto

Walt Clyde Frazier the man, left, holds Walt Clyde Frazier the sneaker, right.

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Walt “Clyde” Frazier, The Clydes, And The Invention Of NBA Cool

James Harden tells a referee what seems like a very interesting story.

Talking About The Daryl Morey Legacy And The Unripe Fruit Lifestyle, With Isaac Chotiner

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

Kelsey McKinney

Justin Ellis

People cast their vote on the first day of early voting at the Vote Center at Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, California