What Bill Simmons has said about 2026 NBA Finals
8 quotes · 6 episodes · May 27, 2026 – Jun 15, 2026
Bill Simmons, Sportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast, has been quoted on 2026 NBA Finals 8 times in 6 episodes of The Bill Simmons Podcast, most recently on June 15, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Simmons says his biggest handicapping mistake was discounting that the Spurs felt they had already peaked by beating OKC.
“But what I discounted was they'd kind of already climbed the mountain”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Why Brunson Is Top 50 All Time, a Finals Mega-Mailbag, and NBA Fake Trade Season With Joe House (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:34:53
Simmons says Brunson has the rare trait of getting better when his team needs it.
“there's been very few guys since I've known you and very few guys since I've followed the league that seem to get better We need them to get better”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: New York Wins the Title, Brunson Wins Immortality, and Knicks Fans Have a Zihuatanejo Moment With Zach Lowe (Jun 14, 2026) · Listen from 12:42
Simmons calls the Spurs' Game 4 collapse the biggest choke he has ever witnessed in an important NBA game.
“That is the single biggest choke job I've ever witnessed in an NBA, important NBA game, combined with one of the best comebacks I've ever seen in an NBA game”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 0:06
- Came true
Simmons predicts the Knicks will not lose three straight games and will win the series if healthy.
“If these are the teams and everyone's healthy, I don't see the Knicks losing three times in a row”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 38:40
Simmons argued the NBA has a genuine face of the league again in Victor Wembanyama, for the first time since LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
“And we have just not had this since LeBron and Curry. And we definitely have it now with Wemby”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Knicks Land a Haymaker, With Doc Rivers. Plus, a Mini-Mailbag, the End of 'Euphoria,' and a Movies Resurgence With Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan. (Jun 4, 2026) · Listen from 1:14:00
- Didn’t happen
Simmons picks the Spurs to win the Finals in six games and names Wembanyama as the likely Finals MVP.
“I like the Spurs to win the series. I like the Spurs in six, which is five to one odds”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 27:36
Simmons argues the long layoffs between Finals games will help Wembanyama and hurt the Knicks.
“Here's what I think really hurts the Knicks in this series is all the layoffs between the games”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 32:06
Simmons believes the Knicks can beat either Western Conference finalist, calling it roughly a 50-50 proposition.
“I just, I think the Knicks can beat either of these teams. I really do”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 29:34
Predictions
- Came true
Simmons predicts the Knicks will not lose three straight games and will win the series if healthy.
“If these are the teams and everyone's healthy, I don't see the Knicks losing three times in a row”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 38:40 · 2026 NBA Finals
The Knicks led the Spurs 3–1 when the June 11 episode aired. They then won Game 5 94–90 in San Antonio on June 13, 2026, taking the series 4–1 for their first title since 1973, so they never lost three straight. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5 and was named Finals MVP.
Sources: Recap: Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship, defeating Spurs in five games · Knicks win first NBA title in 53 years: Jalen Brunson scores 45 as New York clinches Finals vs. Spurs - CBS Sports · Knicks clinch first NBA title in 53 years, as Brunson shines against Spurs · 2026 NBA Finals
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Didn’t happen
Simmons picks the Spurs to win the Finals in six games and names Wembanyama as the likely Finals MVP.
“I like the Spurs to win the series. I like the Spurs in six, which is five to one odds”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 27:36 · 2026 NBA Finals
Simmons picked the Spurs in six with Wembanyama as Finals MVP, but the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 in the 2026 NBA Finals, which ran June 3–13, 2026. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the Game 5 clincher.
Sources: 2026 NBA Finals - Wikipedia · Recap: Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship, defeating Spurs in five games
Checked Oct 7, 2026
Episodes
Why Brunson Is Top 50 All Time, a Finals Mega-Mailbag, and NBA Fake Trade Season With Joe HouseThe Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 15, 2026 · 2 h 4 min
Bill Simmons and Joe House debate Jalen Brunson's all-time standing after the Knicks' 2026 title, NBA draft and trade scenarios, and a Finals mailbag.
- New York Wins the Title, Brunson Wins Immortality, and Knicks Fans Have a Zihuatanejo Moment With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 14, 2026 · 1 h 41 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react live to the Knicks winning the 2026 NBA Finals in Game 5, Jalen Brunson's 45 points, the Spurs' fallout, and offseason storylines.
- A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 11, 2026 · 2 h 1 min
Bill Simmons, Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House dissect the Knicks' 29-point Game 4 comeback over the Spurs, Simmons answers mailbag questions, and Anthony Dabbundo and Cousin Sal preview World Cup bets.
- The Knicks Land a Haymaker, With Doc Rivers. Plus, a Mini-Mailbag, the End of 'Euphoria,' and a Movies Resurgence With Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan.
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 4, 2026 · 2 h 5 min
Bill Simmons and Doc Rivers break down the Knicks' Game 1 NBA Finals win over the Spurs, then Simmons answers mailbag questions and discusses Euphoria's finale and TV versus movies with Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan.
- A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 2, 2026 · 2 h 8 min
Bill Simmons and Max Kellerman discuss the Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown trades, preview the Knicks–Spurs NBA Finals, rank the greatest Knicks, and weigh OKC's future.
- A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 27, 2026 · 1 h 45 min
Bill Simmons and Tim Legler break down Thunder-Spurs Game 5 and the Knicks' Finals run, then Brian Koppelman reflects on the Knicks reaching the NBA Finals.
Others on 2026 NBA Finals
- Doc Rivers · 6 quotes
- Ben Soffer · 5 quotes
- Joe House · 5 quotes
- Zach Lowe · 4 quotes
- Jackie Oshry · 3 quotes
- Memes · 2 quotes
- Claudia Oshry · 2 quotes
- PFT Commenter · 2 quotes
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