What Bill Simmons has said about New York Knicks

Simmons notes that players who sacrificed to win a title tend to sacrifice less the following year, a concern for Karl-Anthony Towns.

“Usually the history of the NBA is when you sacrifice to win a title. The year after. Probably less prone to sacrifice”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA One Guy (the East!), a Man City Punishment Primer, and Tom Cruise’s Bomb With J. Kyle Mann, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 51:35

Simmons ranks the league's five best players as Jokić, Gilgeous-Alexander, Brunson, Wembanyama and Dončić.

“But I think Brunson, it's Joker, SGA, Brunson, Wemby, and Luka, probably in that order”

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 1:16:22

Simmons says the key lesson from the Knicks' build is that front offices should be willing to take bold swings.

“And then my biggest lesson for them is don't be afraid to take a couple swings”

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 1:41:05

Simmons argues the Knicks' title was the greatest team-building championship since the Isiah Thomas Pistons.

“I think this was the greatest team-building title that we've seen since the two Isaiah Pistons teams”

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 6:43

Simmons predicts Mitchell Robinson will leave the Knicks next year because they cannot afford to pay him $20–25 million.

“You're probably not going to have Mitch next year. He's going to leave because I just don't think they can pay him 20 to 25 million bucks”

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 2:01:17

Simmons argues James Dolan no longer belongs among the worst NBA owners of the century after the Knicks' success.

“I think Dolan's out of the Mount Rushmore now”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 1:04:27

Simmons calls the Knicks' acquisition of Brunson one of the best free-agent signings in NBA history.

“It's one of the great free agent signings in the history of the league”

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 45:23

Simmons warns that calling Brunson the best Knick ever after a title would be recency bias, though he could become the most beloved.

“I want to pour some settle down juice on everyone who says Brunson, if they win the title, is the best Nick ever”

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 1:27:16

Simmons argues that other owners should emulate the Knicks by hiring former player agents who evaluate character and relationships.

“So if I was an owner, I would be like, who are the other agents we can get?”

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 1:34:31

Simmons credits James Dolan with becoming a good owner after two decades of dysfunction, including pushing to fire Thibodeau.

“And Dolan's been a good owner. He's let those guys do their thing”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: OKC Gets Wobbled, Cleveland’s Done, and Knicks Nirvana Is Here (Maybe) With Zach Lowe and Sean Fennessey (May 25, 2026) · Listen from 1:18:50

Simmons said the Knicks twice humiliated opponents who faced elimination and should have produced maximum effort.

“A team with, theoretically, their backs against the wall should have a grand slam effort, and they just humiliated them”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Wizards Win (Something!) and More Lottery Reactions, Plus the Juggernaut Knicks With Joe House, Tate Frazier, and Chris Vernon (May 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:13:34

Simmons argues this is the Knicks' best chance to win the East because Detroit and Cleveland look vulnerable and Boston is out.

“This is the best chance I think they're ever going to have in the East to win this year, right now, next four weeks”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston,  and Atlanta With Zach Lowe (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 41:40

Simmons argued the Knicks should be considered the Eastern Conference favorite based on the playoffs so far.

“If your life depended on it, the Knicks have to be the pick from what we've seen so far”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Joker’s Out, and Boston Might Be Next. Plus, an MLB Cocktail Party and 'Survivor 50' With Rob Mahoney, Billy Gil, and Jason Concepcion. (May 1, 2026) · Listen from 50:18