Zach Lowe
Ringer NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
Zach Lowe (Ringer NBA analyst referenced repeatedly) has appeared as a guest on 9 episodes in TMT. Topics they speak about most include New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
New York Knicks6 of 8
Lowe argued the Knicks' 2026 title deserved the highest tier of impressiveness, citing their record, point differential, and ending a 53-year drought.
“And first title in 53 years for the biggest market and one of the most historic franchises in the sport. I think it's a level three”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Giannis Never-Trade and a Mega-Mailbag With Zach Lowe, Plus Wyndham Clark’s Second U.S. Open Title With Joe House (Jun 22, 2026) · Listen from 51:48
Lowe warned against dismissing the Knicks' chances of repeating as champions.
“Dismiss the Knicks' repeat chance at your peril. This is a really, really good team”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Giannis Never-Trade and a Mega-Mailbag With Zach Lowe, Plus Wyndham Clark’s Second U.S. Open Title With Joe House (Jun 22, 2026) · Listen from 20:28
Lowe does not see Thibodeau as a loser but credits Mike Brown as a winner for his work with the Knicks.
“He did a great job with the Knicks. He played the long game. I like it. He pushed all the right buttons”
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 1:13:16
Lowe argues an elite offensive rebounder and lob threat like Mitchell Robinson is crucial against the Spurs.
“If they don't have Mitchell Robinson full throttle, I think that's a bigger problem in this matchup than it would have been against the Thunder”
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 27:00
Lowe argues the Knicks' reluctance to go all in for Donovan Mitchell ultimately saved the franchise.
“The bottom line is they did not go as all in as they needed to go all in. And I think it unquestionably saved them”
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 1:02:57
Lowe believes the Knicks have found a sustainable level and can win the championship.
“I think this is the team And this is the level of play we're going to see going forward”
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 56:24
San Antonio Spurs6 of 7
Lowe says Wembanyama should add a simple face-up midrange shot like Porzingis as a failsafe.
“I just keep coming back to the Porzingis shot as like that should just be easy money for him as a failsafe”
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 1:03:09
Lowe argues the Knicks winning was a better narrative outcome, giving Wembanyama battle scars before conquering the league.
“I think just story-wise, narrative-wise, this is the best. This is a better outcome for the league”
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 55:39
Lowe pushes back on critics who want Wembanyama closer to the basket, citing the physical toll on a slender player.
“are underestimating how... fatiguing it is to throw yourself at the basket over and over and over again when you're skinny”
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 21:40
Lowe believes no single player can stop Wembanyama and that more shooting is the best answer.
“It's just we got to get as much shooting as possible and have faith in our defense around it to round it out”
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 19:26
Lowe chose Wembanyama as League Pass player of the year, saying he feels guilty missing any Spurs game.
“Ond mae'r pang o ffomo rwy'n cael wedi cynyddu'r ffomo Jokic. Felly mae'n Victor Wimanyama”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:54:40
Lowe cited Wembanyama's performance in the Olympic gold medal game as evidence he handles pressure.
“The dude showed up in the gold medal game of the Olympics in his home country against Team USA and wanted every bit of that game and that matchup”
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 19:53
Oklahoma City Thunder
Lowe prefers the Thunder keep their core together and seek revenge rather than panic-trade for Giannis.
“the main part of the gang, that's more fun to me as a neutral fan than panic trade for Giannis”
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 1:06:59
Lowe calls Holmgren's Game 7 performance unacceptable for a player of his caliber, with lasting effects.
“Because that was just not an acceptable performance of a guy from a guy of his caliber. And the whole series was leading to that”
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 14:23
Lowe argues Holmgren has reached a stature where he must impose himself on every series, not only favorable matchups.
“At some point, you reach a stature where every series has to be your series”
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 25:55
Lowe identifies Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell, Caruso, Jalen Williams and Holmgren as the Thunder's best lineup, two of whom are injured.
“And the lineup would have been Shea, Mitchell, Caruso, J-Dub, Chet. And I think that's the best five that they can put out”
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 12:02
- Prediction · due Apr 2031
Lowe predicts that, barring catastrophic injury, the Thunder and Spurs will be 58-plus-win teams for the next five years.
“it just seems unlikely that they are going to be anything but like 58 plus win teams for the next five years”
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 1:04:19
- Can’t be judged
Lowe predicted the playoffs cannot be normal this year even if the eventual champion is conventional.
“I think there's no chance. There's no chance we're getting a normal playoffs”
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 1:31:59
Denver Nuggets
- Didn’t happen
Lowe predicts Denver will make a surprising big move during the week.
“I'm going to say Denver is going to do something big and I don't know what it is”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Crazy NBA Month With Zach Lowe, Plus Taylor Sheridan on Building a TV Empire and the Problems With Hollywood (Jun 29, 2026) · Listen from 1:23:28
Lowe rejects the idea that Jokić has declined as a playoff player, saying he still has plenty of prime left.
“I'm not going there. I think he still has plenty of time left in his prime”
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 1:01:43
Lowe says Denver must build its roster assuming Aaron Gordon will be unreliable availability-wise for the rest of his career.
“I just think you have to assume Aaron Gordon is going to be hit or miss availability wise for the rest of his career”
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 56:05
Lowe said that if he were Denver he would want the three seed to face Minnesota rather than Houston, and San Antonio rather than Oklahoma City.
“I want to play San Antonio over OKC. Yeah, so that's the route for Denver. If we're three, we get Minnesota instead of Houston”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 16:45
Lowe said Aaron Gordon played 41 minutes, guarded Wembanyama for much of the game and did everything he usually does on offense.
“Aaron Gordon played 41 minutes guarded Wemby for a lot of the game did everything that Aaron Gordon always does on offense”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 3:54
2026 NBA playoffs
Lowe rejects the argument that the Knicks' title is diminished by not facing Boston or Oklahoma City.
“they didn't have to play Boston, they didn't have to play Oklahoma City. Stop. That happens every year. Boston got exposed by Philly”
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 27:03
Lowe argues the series changed in Game 4 when the Spurs stopped double-teaming Gilgeous-Alexander.
“I thought not trapping SGA changed the whole series, made his life difficult, made the Thunder's offense life difficult”
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 10:25
- Didn’t happen
Lowe predicts the Spurs win Game 5 but keeps his pick of the Thunder winning the series in seven games.
“Sticking with Thunder and seven, though. I'm sticking with Thunder and seven”
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 50:48
Lowe says Gilgeous-Alexander must problem-solve his way out of Wembanyama's defense, framing it as a test of all-time greatness.
“The precipice is digging out of this series”
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 28:12
Lowe argues the Spurs changed their defense on Gilgeous-Alexander by dropping high traps and sending late, unpredictable help near the basket.
“If you get to within 14 feet, we'll start darting guys at you, stunting guys at you. Maybe a hard double here and there”
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 4:01
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation
Lowe is skeptical Miami can be a title contender because Bam Adebayo and Giannis overlap offensively.
“I just think at heart, Bam and Giannis are too duplicative on offense”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Crazy NBA Month With Zach Lowe, Plus Taylor Sheridan on Building a TV Empire and the Problems With Hollywood (Jun 29, 2026) · Listen from 1:05:57
Lowe argues that once Boston's interest in Giannis leaked, trading Brown became the only realistic path.
“Once that gets out, there's no other realistic path for this to happen”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Crazy NBA Month With Zach Lowe, Plus Taylor Sheridan on Building a TV Empire and the Problems With Hollywood (Jun 29, 2026) · Listen from 4:34
Lowe said the Bucks clearly want to trade Giannis before the draft and he still leaned toward that happening.
“They clearly want to do it before the draft. Their owner, Jimmy Haslam, came out and said we'd like to do it before the draft if he's not going to extend”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Giannis Never-Trade and a Mega-Mailbag With Zach Lowe, Plus Wyndham Clark’s Second U.S. Open Title With Joe House (Jun 22, 2026) · Listen from 3:42
Lowe says he would be shocked if the Bucks did not trade Giannis and flags Boston as a serious suitor.
“I would be shocked at this point if they didn't They obviously know what Miami's offer is”
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 1:17:30
2026 NBA Finals
Lowe calls the series the apex of five-game Finals, noting every game was close.
“I don't think you could even get a better five game finals”
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 1:33:11
Lowe contends Fox's choice to challenge Anunoby was bad despite analytic defenses, because even one point would have averted the loss.
“One point, is such an enormous difference that if that's all you get, it still matters. Zero is what you can't get”
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 43:54
Lowe suggests Jalen Brunson may be the greatest underdog story in basketball history.
“Is Jalen Brunson the greatest underdog story in the history of basketball? Like, small guard, second-round pick, doubted every step of the way”
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 11:14
Lowe argues Brunson's 45-point, Finals MVP performance outweighs vast regular-season totals given the Knicks' drought.
“45 points and a finals MVP is worth like 15,000 regular season points for the biggest city franchise that hasn't won a title in 53 years”
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 10:56
Cleveland Cavaliers
Lowe believes a Cleveland team with LeBron would have been a legitimate title contender, disagreeing with Simmons.
“I think that actually would have been a pretty stacked team and a legit title contender”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 15:28
Lowe argues it was not embarrassing for Cleveland to need seven games because Toronto is very difficult to play against.
“I don't think it's embarrassing. Toronto is a pain in the ass to play against”
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 4:05
Lowe argued Cleveland has been unfairly overlooked and has a high ceiling if their four main players play together.
“i want to see those four guys mitchell harden mobly allen how does that look together because i think there's a really high ceiling here”
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 37:38
2026 NBA draft
Lowe said he would take Darryn Peterson with one of the first two picks because teams saw no long-term medical concerns.
“I would take him with one of the first two picks just because I've heard all of the teams have seen every bit of medical data”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Giannis Never-Trade and a Mega-Mailbag With Zach Lowe, Plus Wyndham Clark’s Second U.S. Open Title With Joe House (Jun 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:17:54
Lowe said Amen Thompson has developed roughly as he expected and never projected as a point guard.
“he's more or less kind of what i expected him to be this year i did not think that he was going to be like oh now suddenly he's going to be a point guard”
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 42:29
Lowe said Acuff's smoothness and control would put him in number-one-pick conversation if he were taller.
“If he were two or three inches taller, would he be in the conversation to be the number one pick in the draft?”
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 1:00:27
Boston Celtics
Lowe questions why a Giannis deal is assumed to include Jaylen Brown rather than Jayson Tatum, who is coming off an Achilles injury.
“why is it just assumed that it's Jalen Brown and not Jason Tatum after the year Jalen Brown just had”
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 1:23:43
- Came true
Lowe picked Joe Mazzulla as the coach who most exceeded expectations and predicted he will win Coach of the Year despite dismissing the award.
“I'll go Joe Mizzoula just because he's the Celtics or the two seed. He's going to win coach of the year”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 52:04
Lowe said he now believes only Denver and Boston can match the level of play shown in the Nuggets-Spurs game.
“rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n cyrraedd y pwynt mai'r unig dau tîm sy'n gallu eu pwysio yw Denver a Boston”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 7:49
Charlotte Hornets
Lowe chose Charlotte's broadcast with Eric Collins and Dell Curry as League Pass broadcast team of the year.
“it's got to be charlotte with eric collins and del curry and watching that team run up and down the floor and shoot threes and dunk alley-oops”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:22:40
Lowe said Kon Knueppel has established himself in his rookie year as the best shooter in the world other than Stephen Curry.
“walking into the league as the best shooter in the entire world, not named Steph Curry, which I think is what he's established himself as in year one”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 45:00
Lowe drafted Charlotte high, citing their league-leading net rating over a 40-game stretch.
“Maen nhw wedi bod fel nifer un neu nifer ddwy mewn cyfrifiad net ar gyfer y llaw hanner o'r gyfnod nawr”
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 44:24
Jimmy Butler versus Klay Thompson debate
Lowe describes a pattern where Butler's stints start well and then sour, in Chicago, Minnesota and Miami.
“The Jimmy stuff is always really good until it's not like like Chicago”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:34
Lowe takes Jimmy Butler over Klay Thompson for his defense, size and all-around scoring.
“I would take him over Klay in a vacuum with apologies to one of the greatest shooters of all time”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 54:34
Joel Embiid injury history
Lowe notes many of Embiid's playoff injuries were fluky, though recurring knee problems are the real concern.
“A lot of the playoff injuries have been really fluky injuries”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 41:36
Lowe doubts Embiid can stay healthy through a full playoff run.
“I just don't believe that he can be healthy for four straight playoff series”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 37:45
LeBron James free agency
Lowe argues the Philadelphia move fits LeBron's history of unconventional career decisions.
“he has not adhered to any sort of traditional superstar career track”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 34:22
Lowe says he had expected LeBron James to choose a familiar destination such as Cleveland, Miami or Golden State.
“I just always thought momentum would push him towards a familiar destination, whether it was Cleveland, Miami, or his friends in golden state”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 2:01
Philadelphia 76ers
Lowe says he would bet against the 76ers winning a title because of Embiid's health.
“But no, I would bet against them winning a title”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 32:48
Lowe argues that overlapping high-usage stars are a normal feature of championship contenders.
“rarely does a championship contender have a usage hierarchy that makes sense in that sort of perfect, idyllic way”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 6:55
Predictions
1 came true · 3 didn’t · 2 partly · 2 pending
- Prediction · due Oct 2026
Lowe predicts Jaylen Brown will still be on the 76ers in October despite the role overlap.
“I would bet lots of money that he's on the team in October”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 20:53 · Jaylen Brown trade to the Philadelphia 76ers
- Didn’t happen
Lowe predicts Denver will make a surprising big move during the week.
“I'm going to say Denver is going to do something big and I don't know what it is”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Crazy NBA Month With Zach Lowe, Plus Taylor Sheridan on Building a TV Empire and the Problems With Hollywood (Jun 29, 2026) · Listen from 1:23:28 · Denver Nuggets
In the week after June 29, 2026, Denver's only moves were one-year deals with Marvin Bagley III (agreed July 1) and Tyus Jones (July 2), which coverage called minor. Denver's larger moves, the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade to Cleveland (August 19) and DeMar DeRozan's one-year minimum deal, came in August, after the July 5 deadline.
Sources: Nuggets sign Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III to one-year contracts - Colorado Springs Gazette · Burning Questions for Nuggets Amid Quiet 2026 Free Agency · 2026-2027 Denver Nuggets Transaction History · Peyton Watson to Cavs, Max Strus to Clippers in multiteam trade - ESPN · Nuggets score 6-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan on one-year, $3.9 million deal
Checked Oct 8, 2026
- Didn’t happen
Lowe predicts the Spurs win Game 5 but keeps his pick of the Thunder winning the series in seven games.
“Sticking with Thunder and seven, though. I'm sticking with Thunder and seven”
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 50:48 · 2026 NBA playoffs
Lowe was wrong on both calls. The Thunder, not the Spurs, won Game 5 of the 2026 Western Conference finals 127-114 to go up 3-2. The series went seven games, but San Antonio won Game 7 111-103 on May 30, taking the series 4-3 and eliminating Oklahoma City.
Sources: As it happened: Spurs beat Thunder in Game 7 of Western Conference finals · 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals - Spurs vs. Thunder · As it happened: Thunder defeat Spurs to take 3-2 lead in Western Conference finals · 4 takeaways: Thunder clap back into command of West Finals with Game 5 win
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Prediction · due Apr 2031
Lowe predicts that, barring catastrophic injury, the Thunder and Spurs will be 58-plus-win teams for the next five years.
“it just seems unlikely that they are going to be anything but like 58 plus win teams for the next five years”
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 1:04:19 · Oklahoma City Thunder
- Partly true
Lowe also picks the Knicks, leaning toward New York in seven games.
“I will also pick the Knicks. I would lean Knicks in seven right now”
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 43:42 · New York Knicks
The Knicks beat the 76ers in the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals, as Lowe picked, but they did it in a 4-0 sweep, not the seven games he leaned toward. New York clinched with a 144-114 win in Game 4 in Philadelphia on May 10, 2026.
Sources: Knicks 144-114 76ers (May 10, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · 4 takeaways: Knicks find their best form when it matters most, sweep 76ers in East Semifinals · Knicks sweep 76ers, return to Eastern Conference finals - ABC7 New York
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Came true
Lowe picked Joe Mazzulla as the coach who most exceeded expectations and predicted he will win Coach of the Year despite dismissing the award.
“I'll go Joe Mizzoula just because he's the Celtics or the two seed. He's going to win coach of the year”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 52:04 · Boston Celtics
The NBA announced on May 26, 2026 that Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had won the 2025-26 Coach of the Year award, beating finalists J.B. Bickerstaff and Mitch Johnson. Boston went 56-26 that season. The award came before the June 30, 2026 deadline.
Sources: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla wins 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year · Voting results: 2025-26 NBA regular-season awards - NBA Communications · Celtics' Joe Mazzulla named 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year - ESPN · Joe Mazzulla wins 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Partly true
Lowe said he would estimate roughly a month's absence for Dončić, which would keep him out of the first round of the playoffs.
“i'm going to just ballpark a month and okay so you're trusting the intel plus or minus a month and that takes him out of the first round of the playoffs”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 17:03 · Los Angeles Lakers
Dončić, who strained his left hamstring (Grade 2) on April 2, 2026, did miss the whole first round, which the Lakers won over Houston in six games. But he was out far longer than the roughly one month Lowe estimated: he missed the entire postseason, which ended with the Thunder's sweep on May 11, and said afterward he 'wasn't close' to returning.
Sources: Luka Dončić says he wasn't close to returning from injury | NBA.com · Luka Doncic Updates Injury Status, Reacts to Lakers Getting Swept by Thunder in 2026 NBA Playoffs · Luka Dončić gives first update since injury, shares timeline for return | Silver Screen and Roll
Checked Sep 30, 2026
- Can’t be judged
Lowe predicted the playoffs cannot be normal this year even if the eventual champion is conventional.
“I think there's no chance. There's no chance we're getting a normal playoffs”
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 1:31:59 · Oklahoma City Thunder
In the 2026 playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 4–3 in the West finals, and the New York Knicks swept Cleveland 4–0 and then beat the Spurs 4–1 in the Finals (June 3–13). Lowe's claim that there was 'no chance' of a 'normal playoffs' uses a subjective, undefined standard, so these results can't clearly confirm or refute it.
Sources: 2026 NBA Playoffs Summary - Basketball-Reference · 2026 NBA Finals - Wikipedia · Biggest Winners and Losers From the 2026 NBA Finals - SI
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Didn’t happen
Lowe said he believes the Spurs can win the title this year despite history suggesting inexperienced teams cannot.
“Dwi'n meddwl y gallant gynnal y taitl. Dwi ddim yn bwysig am yr amlwg o brofiad arall”
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 19:12 · San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs reached the 2026 NBA Finals after beating Oklahoma City 4–3 in the Western finals, but lost the series 4–1 to the New York Knicks, who clinched the title with a 94–90 Game 5 win on June 13, 2026. The Spurs therefore did not win the 2025–26 championship.
Sources: 2026 NBA Finals - Wikipedia · Recap: Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship, defeating Spurs in five games - NBA.com · Knicks win first NBA title in 53 years: Jalen Brunson scores 45 as New York clinches Finals vs. Spurs - CBS Sports · Knicks win 1st NBA championship in more than 50 years - ABC News
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Appearances
LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe.The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jul 24, 2026 · 1 h 46 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, then redraft the 2011 NBA draft class.
- A Crazy NBA Month With Zach Lowe, Plus Taylor Sheridan on Building a TV Empire and the Problems With Hollywood
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 29, 2026 · 2 h 45 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe debate Jaylen Brown trade rumors, the LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges trades and LeBron's future, then Taylor Sheridan discusses his prison book and TV empire.
- The Giannis Never-Trade and a Mega-Mailbag With Zach Lowe, Plus Wyndham Clark’s Second U.S. Open Title With Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 22, 2026 · 1 h 56 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe discuss the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga and a listener mailbag, then Joe House recaps Wyndham Clark's U.S. Open win.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston, and Atlanta With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 4, 2026 · 1 h 12 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to Cleveland's Game 7 win over Toronto, preview the NBA's second round, and weigh offseason moves for eliminated teams.
- The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Apr 6, 2026 · 2 h 5 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to a Nuggets-Spurs overtime thriller, the Lakers' injuries, and hand out their 2026 made-up NBA awards.
- 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.
Discussed in
- NBA Lottery Karma Rankings, Jaylen’s Future, and a Blistering Wolves-Spurs Series With Nick Wright
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 6, 2026 · 1 h 48 min
Bill Simmons and Nick Wright discuss the Celtics' exit and Jaylen Brown's future, the Timberwolves-Spurs series, LeBron's ranking, and 2026 NBA lottery karma rankings.
- 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.
Often appears with
- Bill Simmons · 9 shared episodes
- Taylor Sheridan · 1 shared episode
- Joe House · 1 shared episode
- Sean Fennessey · 1 shared episode