What Bill Simmons has said about Oklahoma City Thunder
11 quotes · 9 episodes · Mar 26, 2026 – Jun 2, 2026
Bill Simmons, Sportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast, has been quoted on Oklahoma City Thunder 11 times in 9 episodes of The Bill Simmons Podcast, most recently on June 2, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Simmons argues the Thunder should ride it out rather than overreact after losing to the Spurs.
“The move is just to ride it out. You won the title last year. You went against a crazy freak”
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 1:40:14
Simmons contends that Chet Holmgren was the reason the Thunder lost Game 7.
“but ultimately Chet's why they lost. I don't want to do the Monday morning, you know, first take, just blame a guy”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Down Goes OKC! Spurs-Knicks is Here! What the Hell Just Happened? And What Does OKC Do Now? | With Zach Lowe (May 31, 2026) · Listen from 8:34
Simmons expects the Thunder to get creative with their surplus picks instead of standing pat, to avoid wasting SGA's prime.
“I'm just not wasting this SGA window when he's this good”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Down Goes OKC! Spurs-Knicks is Here! What the Hell Just Happened? And What Does OKC Do Now? | With Zach Lowe (May 31, 2026) · Listen from 50:39
Simmons favors a Thunder trade for Trey Murphy built around the 12th and 17th picks, citing their lack of three-point shooting.
“If I'm them, I'm tired of not quite having enough three-point shooting”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Down Goes OKC! Spurs-Knicks is Here! What the Hell Just Happened? And What Does OKC Do Now? | With Zach Lowe (May 31, 2026) · Listen from 1:10:17
- Didn’t happen
Simmons also leans toward the Thunder in Game 7, noting it would be unusual for a young team to win on the road.
“I'm leaning OKC as well. It would be unusual for a team this young to come back from 3-2”
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 31:00
Simmons argues that the Thunder cannot afford to let Isaiah Hartenstein leave despite luxury-tax concerns.
“I don't see how you let Hartenstein, I don't see how you let him leave”
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 18:43
Simmons says Chet Holmgren has underperformed his expectations in the series.
“I honestly just thought he would have more of an impact than I'm from watching him this season”
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 25:10
- Came true
Simmons predicted the Thunder would complete a sweep of the Lakers in the next game.
“It's going to be really interesting to see who's at that game tomorrow because it's clearly going to be a sweep”
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 1:26:20
- Came true
Simmons predicts the Lakers will be swept by Oklahoma City unless the Thunder have a very poor shooting game.
“And they're going to get swept unless, okay. See just has a game where they shoot like 30%, which I don't see it happening”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Five NBA Playoff Takes, Plus David Letterman’s First-Ever BS Pod Appearance (We Did It!!!) (May 8, 2026) · Listen from 3:49
Simmons argued the Thunder have reinvented themselves as villains this season, which he thinks helps their identity.
“roedd rhywbeth fel re-inventiwn o gerdder mewn ffordd hwyl lle maen nhw'n dod yn fwy villain”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe (Mar 30, 2026) · Listen from 9:22
- Came true
Simmons said if Jalen Williams does not return to last year's form, San Antonio could beat Oklahoma City in a playoff series.
“If they don't get J-Dub back the way he was last year, I think they're really vulnerable against San Antonio. I think San Antonio could absolutely beat them”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 14:39
Predictions
- Didn’t happen
Simmons also leans toward the Thunder in Game 7, noting it would be unusual for a young team to win on the road.
“I'm leaning OKC as well. It would be unusual for a team this young to come back from 3-2”
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 31:00 · Oklahoma City Thunder
Simmons leaned toward Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the 2026 Western Conference finals, but the San Antonio Spurs won 111-103 in Oklahoma City on May 30, 2026, taking the series 4-3. That sent the Spurs to their first NBA Finals since 2014.
Sources: 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 7: Spurs vs Thunder, May 30, 2026 · As it happened: Spurs beat Thunder in Game 7 of Western Conference finals · Who Won the 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals? Everything to Know
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Came true
Simmons predicted the Thunder would complete a sweep of the Lakers in the next game.
“It's going to be really interesting to see who's at that game tomorrow because it's clearly going to be a sweep”
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 1:26:20 · Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder beat the Lakers 115-110 in Game 4 to sweep the Western Conference semifinal series 4-0. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and Chet Holmgren hit a go-ahead dunk with 32.8 seconds left. The game was dated Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Philippine time, which means it was played on the evening of May 11 in the US.
Sources: Thunder sweep Lakers (SunStar) · Thunder vs Lakers Game 4: live score updates, highlights, 2026 NBA playoffs 2nd round series (Yahoo Sports/The Sporting News)
Checked Sep 30, 2026
- Came true
Simmons predicts the Lakers will be swept by Oklahoma City unless the Thunder have a very poor shooting game.
“And they're going to get swept unless, okay. See just has a game where they shoot like 30%, which I don't see it happening”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Five NBA Playoff Takes, Plus David Letterman’s First-Ever BS Pod Appearance (We Did It!!!) (May 8, 2026) · Listen from 3:49 · Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City swept the Lakers 4-0 in the 2026 Western Conference second round. The series ended with a 115-110 Thunder win in Game 4 in Los Angeles on May 11, 2026, well before the May 31 deadline.
Sources: Thunder 115-110 Lakers (May 11, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · Thunder 115-110 Lakers (May 11, 2026) Final Score - ESPN
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Came true
Simmons said if Jalen Williams does not return to last year's form, San Antonio could beat Oklahoma City in a playoff series.
“If they don't get J-Dub back the way he was last year, I think they're really vulnerable against San Antonio. I think San Antonio could absolutely beat them”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 14:39 · Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams, slowed all season by a recurring hamstring injury that cost him 49 games, missed three conference-finals games, played 10 minutes in Game 6 and was ruled out of Game 7. San Antonio then beat Oklahoma City 4–3 in the 2026 Western Conference finals, winning Game 7 111–103 on May 30, 2026.
Sources: Who Won the 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals? Everything to Know · As it happened: Spurs beat Thunder in Game 7 of Western Conference finals · 2026 NBA Finals · Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, SF - News, Stats, Bio - CBS Sports · 2025–26 Oklahoma City Thunder season
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Episodes
A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max KellermanThe 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.
- Down Goes OKC! Spurs-Knicks is Here! What the Hell Just Happened? And What Does OKC Do Now? | With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 31, 2026 · 1 h 37 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react live to the Spurs beating the Thunder in Game 7 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals and preview Spurs-Knicks.
- Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 29, 2026 · 1 h 51 min
Bill Simmons and Rob Mahoney react to the Spurs forcing Game 7 against the Thunder, then Simmons, David Jacoby and Joe House discuss NBA lottery reform, Cavs losers and a mailbag.
- 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.
- OKC Gets Wobbled, Cleveland’s Done, and Knicks Nirvana Is Here (Maybe) With Zach Lowe and Sean Fennessey
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 25, 2026 · 1 h 40 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe break down Thunder–Spurs Game 4 and rank pressure on players, then Sean Fennessey joins to celebrate the Knicks' dominant playoff run.
- The Wizards Win (Something!) and More Lottery Reactions, Plus the Juggernaut Knicks With Joe House, Tate Frazier, and Chris Vernon
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 11, 2026 · 1 h 46 min
Bill Simmons, Joe House, Tate Frazier and Chris Vernon react to the 2026 NBA draft lottery won by the Wizards, preview top picks, and discuss the playoffs.
- Five NBA Playoff Takes, Plus David Letterman’s First-Ever BS Pod Appearance (We Did It!!!)
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 8, 2026 · 1 h 57 min
Bill Simmons shares NBA second-round playoff takes, then interviews David Letterman about retirement, late-night TV, yacht rock, comedy peers, sports rule ideas and Netflix.
- UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Mar 30, 2026 · 1 h 45 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to UConn's buzzer beater over Duke, draft the scariest NBA playoff teams, and question the league's expansion plan.
- NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Mar 26, 2026 · 1 h 36 min
Bill Simmons, Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House debate OKC's vulnerabilities, All-NBA cases, Houston's bad vibes and whether any team should trade for Giannis.
Others on Oklahoma City Thunder
- Zach Lowe · 6 quotes
- Dan Katz · 3 quotes
- Doc Rivers · 2 quotes
- Max Kellerman · 2 quotes
- Rob Mahoney · 2 quotes
- Ryen Russillo · 2 quotes
- Kirk Goldsberry · 2 quotes
- Zach · 1 quote
Bill Simmons on other topics
- Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation · 17 quotes
- 2026 NBA draft · 14 quotes
- New York Knicks · 13 quotes
- Boston Celtics · 13 quotes
- 2026 NBA playoffs · 10 quotes
- San Antonio Spurs · 9 quotes
- 2026 NBA Finals · 8 quotes
- Cleveland Cavaliers · 8 quotes