What Zach Lowe has said about 2026 NBA playoffs
5 quotes · 3 episodes · May 25, 2026 – Jun 14, 2026
Zach Lowe, Ringer NBA analyst referenced repeatedly, has been quoted on 2026 NBA playoffs 5 times in 3 episodes of The Bill Simmons Podcast, most recently on June 14, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
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
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
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
- 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
Predictions
- 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
Episodes
New York Wins the Title, Brunson Wins Immortality, and Knicks Fans Have a Zihuatanejo Moment With Zach LoweThe 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.
Others on 2026 NBA playoffs
- Bill Simmons · 10 quotes
- Dan Katz · 7 quotes
- PFT Commenter · 6 quotes
- Kirk Goldsberry · 3 quotes
- Hank Lockwood · 3 quotes
- Rob Mahoney · 2 quotes
- Mike Breen · 1 quote
- Ben Soffer · 1 quote
Zach Lowe on other topics
- New York Knicks · 8 quotes
- San Antonio Spurs · 7 quotes
- Oklahoma City Thunder · 6 quotes
- Denver Nuggets · 5 quotes
- Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation · 4 quotes
- 2026 NBA Finals · 4 quotes
- Boston Celtics · 3 quotes
- Charlotte Hornets · 3 quotes