Ryan Smith
Qualtrics co-founder and owner of the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth
Ryan Smith (Qualtrics co-founder and owner of the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Utah Jazz, NBA expansion, Tanking in the NBA.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Utah Jazz
Smith argued rising franchise prices mean principal owners will now be heavily involved in running teams.
“I think long gone are the days where the principle, or the main principle, is not heavily involved”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:30:04
Smith said he had long considered Austin Ainge his preferred choice to run the basketball operation.
“You call Austin Ainge. And you tell him to come out, you're going to run it. Cause Austin's an absolute star”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:17:06
Smith argued Utah is not a small market, citing its young, fast-growing population.
“But we're the fastest growing, youngest demographic in the country”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:10:15
Smith disclosed he had been pursuing the Minnesota Timberwolves before buying the Jazz.
“I mean, there's no secret. I was looking at Minnesota”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:58:23
Smith said the Jazz's goal is Utah's first championship and that it requires a bold rebuild rather than incremental steps.
“our goals are win a championship in Utah. It's never happened as well. And I just don't think we're going to tiptoe into that”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:48:32
NBA expansion
Smith said he would support expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas as part of the NBA's broader global strategy despite concerns about Vegas's proximity to Utah.
“if Seattle and, and Vegas are part of that bigger picture, like I'll do it”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:38:55
Tanking in the NBA
Smith said he would accept a lottery rule barring his team from a top-five pick next year and favored unprotecting restricted picks.
“I'd be okay now that we're the second pick. Like, okay, great. You can't come in the top five next year. Solves a lot of problems”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:27:07
Appearances
Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan SmithThe Bill Simmons Podcast · May 15, 2026 · 2 h 54 min
Bill Simmons previews NBA Game 6s, discusses sports schedule glut with Bryan Curtis, Boston sports with his dad, and Jazz rebuilding with owner Ryan Smith.
Often appears with
- Bill Simmons · 1 shared episode
- Bryan Curtis · 1 shared episode
- Bill Simmons's father · 1 shared episode