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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

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Tom Ley

Jokic bird

Wings Week

Nikola Met A Bird

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Karl-Anthony Towns (32) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

DENVER NUGGETS VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, NBA

Minnesota Has The Bedrock

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

No Weapon Formed Against Nikola Jokic Shall Prosper

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The Timberwolves Had A Very Bad 20 Seconds

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets attempts to pass over Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 06, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets – Game Two

The Nuggets Have Been Exposed For All To See

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets scores game winning basket against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 22, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets

Jamal Murray Has Never Missed A Jump Shot In His Entire Life

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David Roth

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on April 9, 2024. I put the little Distraction logo at upper right so it looks like he's glowering at it.

Denver Nuggets v Utah Jazz

Podcasts

We’re All Lifelong Nuggets Fans Here, With Patrick Redford

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs poses for a portrait during 2023-24 NBA Media Day on October 2, 2023 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

2023-24 San Antonio Spurs Media Day

This Fucking Guy Is Going To Ruin My Life

Nikola Jokic #15 high fives Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 8, 2024 NBAE at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers

Nikola Jokic And Aaron Gordon Are In Space

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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

Serbian NBA basketball player Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets attends a horse race in his hometown of Sombor in native Serbia, on June 18, 2023. Jokic and his team the Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Oliver Bunic / AFP)

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Defector Up All Night

Unforgiving. The Lightning Is Coming.

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the game winner three point basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on January 4, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. J

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Nikola Jokic Is In One Of His Can’t-Miss Moods

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Justin Ellis

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets stands under the Jumbotron, which says "Howl-o-meter" during a stop in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 1, 2023 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nikola Jokic’s Shoddy Work Ethic And Horse-Gazing Tendencies Have Clearly Cost Him A Shot At Greatness

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Aaron Gordon And Nikola Jokic Are Having A Good Fellas’ Trip

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Patrick Redford

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 12: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with his daughter Ognjena after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 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)

2023 NBA Finals – Game Five

Nikola Jokic’s Tiny Adorable Daughter Is Now An NBA Champion

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates as he leaves the court after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 94-89 NBA Finals clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, June 12, 2023.

DENVER NUGGETS VS MIAMI HEAT, NBA PLAYOFFS

Nikola Jokic Just Wants To Go Home

DENVER, CO - JUNE 12: A overall view of the Denver Nuggets team during the post-game celebration during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

2023 NBA Finals – Miami Heat v Denver Nuggets

A Championship Deciphers The Past

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets grabs the rebound during Game Three of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on June 7, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

2023 NBA Finals – Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat

The Nuggets Were Just Too Damn Big

DENVER, CO - JUNE 4: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets on June 4, 2023 at the Ball Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Punches Back

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a 104-93 victory against the Miami Heat in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 01, 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)

2023 NBA Finals – Game One

The Two Plays That Defined Nikola Jokic’s Brilliant Finals Debut

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Chris Thompson

Nikola Jokic defends against Bam Adebayo.

The Heat Forgot Which Direction The Rim Is In

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Israel Daramola

2023 NBA Playoffs – Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers

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.

Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 during game 3 of a Western Conference finals NBA playoff basketball game.

Nikola Jokic Was There When It Mattered Most

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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)

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The Lakers Better Hope Their Jokic-Stopper Is For Real

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 09: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks for a call while being guarded by Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter during Game Five of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena on May 09, 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.

Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets – Game Five

Can You Guess The Lone MVP Voter Who Left Nikola Jokic Off His Ballot?

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