defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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-no-empty-space

Defector

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

let-drew-cook-final

tip jar sweepstakes

Dave McKenna

LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1992: Jerrod Mustaf #0 of the Phoenix Suns warms up prior to playing the Washington Bullets in an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Mustaf played for the Suns from 1991-94.

Phoenix Suns  v Washington Bullets

Sadly, Jerrod Mustaf Was More Than A Basketball Player


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

Bradley Beal #3, Josh Okogie #2, Isaiah Thomas #4 and Thaddeus Young #30 of the Phoenix Suns react on the bench during the second half of game four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 28, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. They all look very sad.

Sad Phoenix Suns

A Post-Season Debrief With The World’s (Still) Most Pessimistic Suns Fan

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

Minnesota Timberwolves v Phoenix Suns – Game Four

The Timberwolves Are The Big Dogs Now

Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves fouls Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter of game two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Target Center on April 23, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Phoenix Suns v Minnesota Timberwolves – Game Two

The Suns Are Two Losses From Organizational Disaster

IMG_6025-800

Albert Burneko

Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns goes up amid a forest of Minnesota Timberwolves arms in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs.

Wolves Suns

The Timberwolves Are So Big And Strong

headshot1

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)

Los Angeles Clippers v Phoenix Suns

Enter The Western Conference Anxiety Vortex

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 7: Mat Ishbia speaks during a press conference announcing Phoenix as the host of the NBA All-Star 2027 on March 7, 2024 at Footprint Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

2027 All-Star Announcement

Mat Ishbia Revealed To Be Familiar Kind Of Asshole

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.

Los Angeles Lakers v Orlando Magic

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

IMG_5859

Giri Nathan

Two Mavericks fans interact with Kevin Durant

kevin-durant-mavericks-fans

Savor The Discomfort Of Kevin Durant Confronting A Mavs Fan Who Called Him A “Bitch”

Isaiah Stewart of the Pistons dribbles the basketball

isaiah-stewart-pistons

Isaiah Stewart Punches Suns Opponent In Parking Lot Hours Before Grotesque Pistons Loss

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

Jusuf Nurkic and Draymond Green fall together.

Jusuf Nurkic And Draymond Green Might Never Be Pals

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat rebounds the ball against Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 29, 2024 in Miami,

Phoenix Suns v Miami Heat

My Bad: I Cursed The Miami Heat

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being ejected for a flagrant foul during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 12, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Golden State Warriors v Phoenix Suns

Draymond Green Delivers Spinning Backfist, Innovates In The Ejection Space

Devin Booker of the Suns celebrates on the floor against the Knicks

Phoenix Suns v New York Knicks

It’s Nothing But Bad News For Devin Booker Haters

Kevin Durant is swarmed by the Spurs defense

San Antonio Spurs v Phoenix Suns

The Spurs Stole A Win From Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant (35) stretches during warmups before their season opener against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

Kevin Durant as a Phoenix Sun

A Brief Q&A With The World’s Most Pessimistic Phoenix Suns Fan

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in a game between the Bucks and Blazers

Milwaukee Bucks v Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard Becomes A Milwaukee Buck In A Wild Three-Team Trade

Cameron Payne walks onto the court during his final appearance for the Phoenix Suns, during the 2023 playoffs.

Phoenix’s Title Push Has Maximums, Minimums, And Nothing In Between

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 07: Former NBA athlete Isiah Thomas and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia attend Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 129-124. 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.

Denver Nuggets v Phoenix Suns – Game Four

Isiah Thomas Will Always Find A New Situation To Fuck Up

image0 (5)

Israel Daramola

Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards watches during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 17, 2023.

Washington Wizards v Cleveland Cavaliers

Bradley Beal Is A Wizard No More And The Suns Are Going For It

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 11: Devin Booker #1 stands with head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 11, 2023 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)

Denver Nuggets v Phoenix Suns – Game Six

The Suns Did It Again

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

Screen Shot 2023-05-10 at 9.11.29 AM

The Nuggets Need Jamal Murray Pulling Face

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 7: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets slightly stares at Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia before would Ishbia theatrically fall back into his seat after Suns player Josh Okogie (2) flew into the stands during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

DENVER NUGGETS VS PHOENIX SUNS, NBA PLAYOFFS

Let’s All Agree That Nikola Jokic Shoving Mat Ishbia Was Good Fun

Russell Westbrook Is Just The Man To Salvage Dignity In Defeat

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 16: Russell Westbrook #0 of the LA Clippers blocks the shot by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns, winning Round One Game One of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2023 at Footprint Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

2023 NBA Playoffs – Los Angeles Clippers v Phoenix Suns

Russell Westbrook Is Always Himself

phoenix suns