Kirk Goldsberry

Goldsberry argues Wembanyama has a conditioning problem that shows late in games.

“it does look like it to me that Victor has a conditioning challenge ahead of him too. And these late games kind of prove it”

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 29:00

Goldsberry criticizes De'Aaron Fox's late-game play, questioning his Clutch Player of the Year award.

“I can't believe that guy won Clutch Player of the Year watching him down the stretch in this 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 4:58

Goldsberry states that opponents have posted an offensive rating of 99.2 when Wembanyama is on the court in the playoffs, which would rank as the league's worst offense.

“in these playoffs, when he's on the court, the opponents have an offensive rating of 99.2”

Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:20:45

Goldsberry argues the Spurs have the league's best young trio in Wembanyama, Castle and Harper.

“I think the San Antonio Spurs now have the best young trio in the league by far with Wemby, Castle, and Harper”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 4:25

Goldsberry credits the hiring of Mike Brown as a key reason the Knicks reached this level.

“I think the Knicks are at this level because they made Mike Brown the head coach, and I think that deserves a little respect here right now, too”

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 19:43

Goldsberry says a Knicks title would elevate Jalen Brunson to Derek Jeter-like folklore status in New York.

“He would be elevated to folklore status immediately because this would be the most important championship in New York in a very, very long time”

Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:43:44

Goldsberry says Karl-Anthony Towns avoiding foul trouble is the key X-factor for the Knicks.

“If cat has the series of his life and is not getting in foul trouble, that's going to be really, really important”

Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:37:23

Goldsberry argues that shooting threes is the best way to attack Wembanyama, which favors the Knicks' five-out offense.

“You know, I think the best thing you can do is shoot threes. I mean, it's that basic”

Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:24:19

Goldsberry reported hearing that Orlando has been active in pursuing Giannis, though they lack picks after the Desmond Bane trade.

“somebody who knows stuff told me that Orlando has actually been very active in seeking out Giannis Antetokounmpo services”

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 1:11:50

Goldsberry predicted some team will overpay for Giannis relative to the risk involved.

“I think that somebody will probably overpay for the amount of risk they'll have to absorb to add Giannis Antetokounmpo to their roster”

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 1:18:57

Goldsberry cited that Giannis has been fouled more than 6,500 times in the player-tracking era, more than any other player.

“he's been fouled 6,500 times. He's the only player that has been fouled more than 6,000 times”

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 1:05:04

Goldsberry compared the aging bet on Giannis to Rob Gronkowski rather than Tom Brady and said history warns against paying a big man into his mid-30s.

“this isn't Tom Brady at 32. This is Gronk at 32. And it's not just the miles on the car”

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 1:04:33

Goldsberry predicts the San Antonio Spurs will win the NBA Finals in seven games.

“I am picking the San Antonio Spurs in seven games”

Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:48:53

Goldsberry contends officials allow far more contact on interior players like Wembanyama than on attacking guards.

“Like, you cannot lay a finger on an attacking guard in this league”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 26:33

Goldsberry considers Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander the two best players in the world.

“Wemby and Shea, to me, they're the two best players in the world right now”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 23:34

Goldsberry says no GM should trade for Embiid given his age and contract, setting his games-played line for next season at 43.5.

“no GM should be trading for Joel Embiid at this phase of his career with the amount of money that is owed”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 1:25:18

Goldsberry credits Morey and Mike D'Antoni's Houston teams with changing the league through the three-point shot.

“it was Mike and Daryl building that whole team around the three-point shot that changed this league forever”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 35:51

Goldsberry blames Morey's firing primarily on the Paul George and Joel Embiid contracts.

“if I had to hang it on something bill i would say those two contracts the paul george and joelle mb that's what got it done”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 31:36

Goldsberry observes Gilgeous-Alexander's popularity outside Oklahoma City is unusually low for so dominant a player.

“his approval rating outside of his home market seems to be the lowest we've seen for a player who is that dominant”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 1:41:31

Goldsberry argued the Thunder's biggest playoff red flag is Jalen Williams not performing at his prior level as the clear number two option.

“I think one of the reasons they didn't win last night is because J-Dub wasn't simply at the level we expect him to be at”

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 5:20

Goldsberry said Gilgeous-Alexander's mid-range and three-level scoring make him the best guard of his generation, though he dislikes the foul baiting.

“his ability to score at all three levels as a guard is the best in class by far of his generation at the rim, in the mid-range, and beyond the arc”

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 58:50

Goldsberry argued Victor Wembanyama is the most impactful player in the NBA and therefore the MVP.

“This is the most impactful player in the NBA right now is Victor Wemby Yama”

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 45:42

Goldsberry said Amen Thompson has regressed and currently ranks last among 216 high-volume jump shooters in the NBA.

“he's arguably the worst shooter in the NBA right now. He has the worst jump shooting efficiency and the worst shot-making impact in the entire NBA”

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 42:01

Goldsberry noted Houston has ranked 22nd in offense since January 1 despite having Kevin Durant.

“they've ranked 22nd in the NBA in offense for half the season, Bill”

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 32:28

Goldsberry recommends the Spurs aggressively target Jalen Brunson on defense with their attacking guards.

“I would isolate and attack Jalen Brunson in drive situations”

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 31:37

Goldsberry says NBA teams' statistical draft models rank Cameron Boozer first.

“When you look at the draft models, PFT, that all the stats dudes are building at these NBA teams, Boozer comes up number one”

Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:47:40

Goldsberry predicts the Spurs will trade De'Aaron Fox for a younger, stronger wing.

“the Spurs are going to trade De'Aaron Fox. And I think they are going to get another younger wing strong player”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 1:52:37

Goldsberry calls Durant the best scorer the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan.

“he's the best scorer, in my opinion, the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 1:37:52

Goldsberry, drawing on small-market experience, says he would not have made the Pacers' Zubac trade risking a lottery pick.

“Don't give up a lottery pick if you're the Indiana Pacers”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 57:31

Goldsberry said Purdue is probably the safer bet over Texas in their Sweet 16 matchup.

“As much as I'd love to pick the Longhorns, I think the Boilermakers are probably a safe bet tonight”

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 1:27:17

Goldsberry said his plotting of aging curves shows the best modern big men all peak at age 30 and decline quickly.

“They all peak at 30. They all peak at 30. It's apex mountain at age 30. And not only that, the second biggest feature of these curves is they go down fast”

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 1:06:30