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

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · June 11, 2026 · 2 h 1 min

Bill Simmons, Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House dissect the Knicks' 29-point Game 4 comeback over the Spurs, Simmons answers mailbag questions, and Anthony Dabbundo and Cousin Sal preview World Cup bets.

Summary

Bill Simmons opened with Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House reacting to Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, in which the New York Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs and take a 3-1 series lead. Simmons called it the biggest choke he had witnessed; House attributed the collapse to a young team tightening up. The panel credited Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, criticized De'Aaron Fox's late decision-making and Victor Wembanyama's two missed free throws, and praised Mike Brown and the Knicks front office. Goldsberry argued Wembanyama faces a conditioning challenge and that the Spurs should target Brunson on defense. House picked the Spurs to win Game 5, while Simmons said he could not see the Knicks losing three straight.

In a mini-mailbag, Simmons discussed theories for the decline of home-court advantage (travel, officiating accountability, dating apps), gave career sketches of Truck Robinson and World B. Free, endorsed an all-international identity for the Nets, weighed whether Rick Brunson is the most embarrassing sports parent, listed famous "blank games," advocated a playoffs MVP award, compared Karl-Anthony Towns to Pau Gasol, and said he believed Boston remained in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade picture.

Anthony Dabbundo and Cousin Sal then previewed the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dabbundo argued the U.S. men's team was undervalued because of its improved health, while Sal considered the U.S. odds inflated. Sal's value pick was Europe to win at -350; Dabbundo picked Spain and discussed Portugal's Ronaldo dilemma, heat effects, and his futures on Ecuador, Switzerland, Colombia, Morocco and Jordan Pickford. The group also touched on Serena Williams's possible comeback and early NFL bets such as the Cleveland Browns win-total under.

Chapters

1:21
The Spurs' historic Game 4 collapse
Simmons, Goldsberry and House react to the Knicks overcoming a 29-point deficit and debate who the Spurs will blame.
6:49
How the comeback unfolded
The panel traces the stages of the rally, Castle's foul trouble, Brunson and Anunoby's heroics and Josh Hart's near-infamous miss.
17:02
Knicks DNA, coaching and New York energy
The hosts credit Mike Brown, the front office and the Alvarado trade, and describe the fan atmosphere in New York.
24:13
Wembanyama's development and Game 5 outlook
Discussion of Wembanyama's lack of a go-to move, conditioning, Spurs adjustments and predictions for Game 5 and the series.
40:51
Mailbag: home-court advantage
Simmons weighs listener theories on why home-court advantage has declined, favoring easier travel and refereeing accountability.
46:28
Mailbag: Truck Robinson, World B. Free, Nets and Knicks parallels
Simmons reviews two 1970s stars, endorses an international-player identity for the Nets, and discusses Rick Brunson and Knicks-Leafs parallels.
57:24
Mailbag: 'blank games,' playoffs MVP and Giannis
Simmons lists memorable role-player games, compares Towns to Pau Gasol, pushes for a playoffs MVP and updates Giannis trade intel.
1:09:01
World Cup preview and U.S. team outlook
Dabbundo and Sal join to debate whether the U.S. men's national team is undervalued ahead of its opener against Paraguay.
1:21:39
Tournament favorites and Portugal's Ronaldo problem
Sal backs Europe at -350, Dabbundo picks Spain and critiques Portugal's reliance on Ronaldo, and the group discusses heat and blowouts.
1:34:42
Serena Williams comeback speculation
Simmons predicts Serena Williams will play singles at the U.S. Open, with Dabbundo recalling Venus Williams's 2025 return.
1:37:40
Dabbundo's World Cup futures
Dabbundo lays out bets on Ecuador, Switzerland, Colombia, Morocco, Pickford, Pedri and Pulisic, including the U.S. set-piece question.
1:51:49
Early NFL bets
The group discusses the Browns win-total under, the NFL schedule and a strategy of betting unders on player props.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Bill Simmons
Simmons calls the Spurs' Game 4 collapse the biggest choke he has ever witnessed in an important NBA game.
“That is the single biggest choke job I've ever witnessed in an NBA, important NBA game, combined with one of the best comebacks I've ever seen in an NBA game”
Listen from 0:06 · 2026 NBA Finals
Joe House
House argues it was the biggest choke he has seen because it was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
“It has to be it because of the circumstances, because the raw data tells it's the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history”
Listen from 2:15 · 2026 NBA Finals
Kirk Goldsberry
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”
Listen from 4:58 · San Antonio Spurs
Kirk Goldsberry
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”
Listen from 19:43 · New York Knicks
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”
Listen from 29:00 · San Antonio Spurs
Kirk Goldsberry
Goldsberry recommends the Spurs aggressively target Jalen Brunson on defense with their attacking guards.
“I would isolate and attack Jalen Brunson in drive situations”
Listen from 31:37 · 2026 NBA Finals
Joe House Didn’t happen
House predicts the Spurs will win Game 5 at home.
“I'm not going to lay the points out of respect to the Knicks, but I honestly think the Spurs are going to win”
Listen from 37:17 · 2026 NBA Finals
Bill Simmons Came true
Simmons predicts the Knicks will not lose three straight games and will win the series if healthy.
“If these are the teams and everyone's healthy, I don't see the Knicks losing three times in a row”
Listen from 38:40 · 2026 NBA Finals
Bill Simmons
Simmons concludes easier travel is the main reason home-court advantage has declined since the 1970s and 80s.
“I think that travel is the number one thing that is just easier than it was in the 70s and 80s”
Listen from 45:14 · Home-court advantage in the NBA
Bill Simmons
Simmons dislikes Finals MVP as a small-sample award but would accept it alongside a playoffs MVP.
“I also don't like finals MVP because it's a small sample size, but I'm not against having it if we had playoffs MVP too”
Listen from 1:04:14 · NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
Bill Simmons
Simmons reports that Giannis is pushing for a trade to Miami or Boston and prefers Boston.
“Giannis is pushing for Miami or Boston. Those are the two locations and really wants to end up in Boston because it would have the best chance to win a title”
Listen from 1:06:34 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation
Anthony Dabbundo
Dabbundo argues injuries, not character, explain the U.S. golden generation's underperformance, and he is buying the healthier team.
“the number one reason is that this group of players, this core group, you could talk about the heart, all these other things, they have not been healthy”
Listen from 1:13:41 · United States men's national soccer team
Cousin Sal
Cousin Sal believes the U.S. odds to reach the round of 16 are badly inflated by public betting.
“I think that number that you just read, minus 130, it probably should be plus 140”
Listen from 1:14:37 · United States men's national soccer team
Cousin Sal Came true
Cousin Sal's value pick is for a European team to win the World Cup.
“My value pick, believe it or not, is Europe to win at minus 350”
Listen from 1:22:03 · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Anthony Dabbundo Came true
Dabbundo picks Spain to win the World Cup, citing its recent dominance over France.
“by process elimination, I crossed off everybody else and was like, I guess I'm picking Spain”
Listen from 1:22:47 · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Anthony Dabbundo
Dabbundo argues Portugal should stop building its attack around an aging Ronaldo.
“they just need to tell grandpa, like they got to take the keys from him and say, you know, Hey, you're allowed to go to the grocery store”
Listen from 1:28:54 · Portugal national football team
Anthony Dabbundo
Dabbundo cites studies showing hot kickoff temperatures reduce output, which he says hurts weaker teams with less depth.
“any soccer game that kicks off above 85 degrees, there is a noticeable decline in just output, pressing, shots, goals”
Listen from 1:34:05 · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Bill Simmons Partly true
Simmons predicts Serena Williams will play the U.S. Open and LeBron James will join the Warriors this summer.
“Serena U.S. Open, LeBron and the Warriors. I want to parlay that”
Listen from 1:37:08 · Serena Williams comeback
Anthony Dabbundo Didn’t happen
Dabbundo backs Ecuador as a dark horse with an elite defense and predicts it will reach the quarterfinals.
“I have them in the quarterfinals in my bracket. I think they can make a run”
Listen from 1:38:13 · Ecuador national football team
Linked moment · 1:43:39Skip to 1:43:39 using a listen link in the info box.
Anthony Dabbundo
Dabbundo favors Switzerland over Canada in their group, citing Alphonso Davies's injury.
“Alphonso Davies is their best player by a wide margin. He's the best player in North America, and he is not healthy”
Listen from 1:43:39 · 2026 FIFA World Cup

People

In the conversation

Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
Kirk GoldsberryBasketball analytics writer and visual analyst, contributor to The Ringer
Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk
Cousin SalSal Iacono, American comedian, Jimmy Kimmel Live writer and Ringer betting podcaster; Dallas Cowboys fan
Anthony DabbundoRinger sports-betting and soccer analyst, co-host of The Ringer Gambling Show

Discussed

Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio Spurs center and MVP candidate
Jalen BrunsonNew York Knicks guard
OG AnunobyNew York Knicks forward
De'Aaron FoxSan Antonio Spurs guard
Stephon CastleSan Antonio Spurs guard
Dylan HarperSan Antonio Spurs rookie guard
Josh HartNew York Knicks guard-forward
Karl-Anthony TownsNew York Knicks big man
Mike BrownNew York Knicks head coach
Mitch JohnsonSan Antonio Spurs head coach
Rick BrunsonKnicks assistant coach and father of Jalen Brunson
Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks forward and two-time NBA MVP whose future trade value is the episode's central subject
Truck Robinson1970s-80s NBA power forward
World B. Free1970s-80s NBA scoring guard, formerly Lloyd Free
Pau GasolFormer Lakers big man compared to Towns
Cristiano RonaldoPortuguese footballer who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus
Christian PulisicU.S. men's national team forward
Mauricio PochettinoHead coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team
Sebastian BerhalterU.S. midfielder and set-piece specialist
Alphonso DaviesCanada's best player, returning from injury
Jannik SinnerTennis star who faltered in the heat at the French Open
Serena WilliamsTennis great possibly returning to competition
Charles SmithFormer Knicks forward known for missed layups in 1993 playoffs

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From the publisher

Join The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Joe House, and Kirk Goldsberry to react to Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and the Knicks. Then, Bill answers some NBA questions from the mailbag before Anthony Dabbundo and Cousin Sal join to talk about their favorite FIFA World Cup bets ahead of the big tournament. (0:00) Intro (01:15) NBA Finals Game 4 reactions with Joe House and Kirk Goldsberry (41:50) NBA mailbag (01:09:28) World Cup bets with Anthony Dabbundo and Cousin Sal Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Kirk Goldsberry, Joe House, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Chris Wohlers Brought to you by PayPal. Learn more at paypal.com Book a new kind of stay at HolidayInn.com The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball·Soccer·Sports