Welcome to the 5th annual SHAMSYS!!!! AKA the Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many.

Every year Defector hosts a livestream where Defector staff members Patrick, Samer and Giri break down the year's nominees. This year Harry joined the Shamsy committee and we are running the livestream on the NBR feed. If you want to WATCH the Shamsys stream, you can find it on twitch here or on youtube here

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We are joined by sports media legend defector, Ray Ratto, to discuss the world of NBA Refereeing. Ray walks us through how NBA refereeing has changed, the impact of Darell Garretson, and how refs used to have personalities. We also discuss the legacy of Tim Donaghy, and how Wilt Chamberlain was actually really, truly, actually a bucket.

LINKS

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Check out the NBA Refs' personalities

NBR HOF Guest Owen Phillips Ref Database

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Lots of MEIDA talk this week. First, we discuss a strange hole in the NBA media apparatus, then we discuss the rise of the SportsCenter-style tech show TBPN. Finally, we play a game of My Business or None of My Business.

LINKS:

Great profile on TBPN by Mike Isaac

Another great TBPN profile by Julia Hornstein

The TBPN Media Map

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We are joined by Sam Sheehan and @TrillBroDude of the excellent You Know Ball podcast for a special Home and Home series this week. Patrick and Harry will be on an episode of YKB this week, coming out Tuesday night. On THIS episode, we discuss Luka Garza's dad, the Pelicans being broke, and the VJ Edgecomb experience. Then we talk about some of the cool teams this year, including the Rockets, Pistons, Hawks (with no Trae Young), and the Kings (JK).

LINKS

ONLY IF YOU GET CAUGHT EPISODE 3 OUT NOW!

Noa Dalzell's Feature on Luka Garza

SFGate investigation on Frank Graza

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Subscribe to YKB

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We are joined by blogger extraordinaire Ock Sportello to talk Nico Harrison, Cam Thomas, Cooper Flag propping up the economy, possible false flag operations, Nets nihilism, and MUCH MORE

P.S. As we mentioned in the intro, any rating, reviewing, sending to friends who may dig the pod, etc. is so helpful and really helps the show grow!

LINKS

Patrick's recent piece about the Kings

Ock's Nets Season Preview Piece

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Follow Ock Sportello on Twitter, Subscribe to Ock's blog Never Hungover

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We are joined by NBC's Rohan Nadkarni to discuss some early-season trends. Included are: NBR's official Deep State nominee Noah LaRoche, this disappointing #Pelicans start, the Thunder's dominance, Ketamine Kuminga, and sandwhiches in Chicago

LINKS

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We are joined by Liz Franczak of the esteemed TrueAnon podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about gambling, gooning, Austin Reeves, Lebron as epic bacon guy, hoops on NBC, Haliburton, the warriors, and so much more!

LINKS

TrueAnon

Patrick on the media's coverage of the gambling scandal

Daniel Kolitz's Harper's piece on Gooning

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First, we talk to Tom Krell (also known by his stage name, How To Dress Well) about the Nuggets, agentic hoops, why the Thunder represent late capitalism, fading Sabonis, Donovan Mitchell as a cop, Cooper Flag's frame, and his high hopes for the Bulls this year. Then we talk to famously fly white boy Michael Centola about growing up with Anthony Edwards.

P.S. Patrick's new podcast "Only If You Get Caught" is out TODAY!! Go check it out!

LINKS

The Believe That Awards

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This is part two of our NBA Season preview! This one is mostly reviewing what happened the playoffs last year + some existential questions for the upcoming season.

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To preview the 2025–2026 NBA season, we went back through the 2024–2025 season and picked out the key moments — and what they might tell us about the year ahead. Topics include Ball Brothers lore, Bernie Lee and doublespeak, the Thompson Twinification of the NBA, Hyperball, Unc Ball, Boston exceptionalism, 16 teams passing on Dalton Knecht, and much more.

This is Part 1 of our season preview! Part 2 drops Thursday.

LINKS

Joel Embiid Hears You by Dotun Akintoye

Alan Chazaro on Tweaker

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