A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 27, 2026 · 1 h 45 min

Bill Simmons and Tim Legler break down Thunder-Spurs Game 5 and the Knicks' Finals run, then Brian Koppelman reflects on the Knicks reaching the NBA Finals.

Summary

Recorded live after Game 5 of the 2026 Western Conference finals, the episode opened with Bill Simmons and ESPN analyst Tim Legler discussing the San Antonio Spurs' missed opportunity against an Oklahoma City Thunder team missing Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Legler argued that Victor Wembanyama's build keeps him from creating his own shot the way other stars can and that San Antonio needs to get him the ball on quick rolls off ball screens, while also faulting Dylan Harper's passivity and a seemingly hurt De'Aaron Fox. Both praised Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, and Simmons questioned how Oklahoma City could let Hartenstein leave in free agency.

The pair then turned to the New York Knicks, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach the NBA Finals. Legler cited the starters' collective 53% shooting, a mark he said only the mid-1980s Lakers had bettered this deep into the playoffs, and described the team's ball movement and fast-break play as breaking three straight opponents. Simmons called Jalen Brunson's signing one of the great free-agent moves in league history, and Legler explained Brunson's uniqueness as a grounded, supremely certain shot-maker. They also covered Mikal Bridges' and Karl-Anthony Towns' improved fits, Cleveland's offseason options, and Legler predicted a competitive Finals.

In the second segment, screenwriter Brian Koppelman described his lifelong Knicks fandom, from his first memory at Madison Square Garden with his father to taking his son Sam to games. He credited Leon Rose and William Wesley for building the roster and a belief system, admitted doubting coach Mike Brown when the Knicks trailed Atlanta 2-1, and praised Brunson's leadership. Simmons cautioned against calling Brunson the greatest Knick over Walt Frazier but said he could become the most beloved, and suggested other owners should copy the Knicks' agent-driven front office approach. The episode closed with talk of Koppelman's new Las Vegas gambling series and a tribute to the late William Goldman.

Chapters

  1. 1:21

    Spurs squander Game 5

    Simmons and Legler discuss San Antonio's missed chance against a shorthanded Thunder and Wembanyama's quiet offensive night.

  2. 12:42

    Harper, Fox and Castle

    The pair assess the Spurs' guards, including Dylan Harper's passivity and De'Aaron Fox's apparent injury.

  3. 15:25

    Caruso and Hartenstein

    They pick Caruso as the Thunder's second-most valuable player in the series and debate Hartenstein's future contract.

  4. 20:29

    A series that hasn't lived up to Game 1

    Simmons and Legler lament that the series has lacked drama since its classic opener.

  5. 24:07

    The Knicks as a title contender

    Legler presents statistics on the Knicks' historic starting-lineup efficiency and both argue New York can beat either Western finalist.

  6. 34:23

    Knicks chemistry and the Game 1 comeback

    Legler describes the Knicks' ball movement, crowd noise at the Garden and Brunson's comeback against Cleveland.

  7. 42:02

    Jalen Brunson's uniqueness

    Legler and Simmons discuss what makes Brunson unlike other small guards and his standing among Knicks greats.

  8. 47:11

    Bridges, Towns and the offensive shift

    Legler explains how a change in the Knicks' offense suited Mikal Bridges and how Karl-Anthony Towns became a winning player.

  9. 1:00:24

    Cleveland's offseason

    They debate whether the Cavaliers should move Mobley, Allen or Mitchell and whether Mitchell for Giannis makes sense.

  10. 1:05:49

    Commanders and a Finals prediction

    Legler talks about his Washington Commanders and predicts an epic NBA Finals.

  11. 1:08:35

    Koppelman's Knicks memories

    Brian Koppelman recounts his lifelong Knicks fandom and his first memory at Madison Square Garden with his father.

  12. 1:12:01

    Leon Rose, Wes and the rebuild

    Koppelman and Simmons discuss the front office's vision, the Brunson and Josh Hart moves, and Brunson's leadership.

  13. 1:27:16

    Most beloved Knick ever

    Simmons and Koppelman weigh Brunson against Walt Frazier, Bernard King and Willis Reed and discuss Harden's post-sweep comments.

  14. 1:31:55

    The agent model and Koppelman's Vegas show

    Simmons argues owners should emulate the Knicks' agent-driven front office before discussing Koppelman's new series and honoring William Goldman.

Key points

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

  • Tim Legler

    Legler argues that Wembanyama's physical build prevents him from creating his own scoring at will the way other NBA stars can.

    “there are nights, man, where you need your best player to go get you 30. And he is not going to be able to do that whenever he wants because of the way he's built”

    Listen from 4:34 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argues that the Thunder cannot afford to let Isaiah Hartenstein leave despite luxury-tax concerns.

    “I don't see how you let Hartenstein, I don't see how you let him leave”

    Listen from 18:43 · Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Tim Legler

    Legler reports that only the 1984-86 Lakers had a higher collective starters' field-goal percentage this deep into the playoffs than this Knicks team.

    “had a higher field goal percentage collectively amongst starters than the Knicks team this year were the 84, 85, and 86 Lakers”

    Listen from 25:20 · New York Knicks

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons believes the Knicks can beat either Western Conference finalist, calling it roughly a 50-50 proposition.

    “I just, I think the Knicks can beat either of these teams. I really do”

    Listen from 29:34 · 2026 NBA Finals

  • Tim Legler

    Legler says it would be foolish to deny the Knicks could win the championship given how they are playing.

    “I think it'd be foolish for any person to watch the Knicks right now and not say that they absolutely could envision them being NBA champions”

    Listen from 32:41 · New York Knicks

  • Tim Legler

    Legler argues Jalen Brunson's defining trait is a certainty about his shots that exceeds any other player in the league.

    “I think Jalen Brunson is more certain And especially in big spots, when he goes up to release the basketball than any player in this league”

    Listen from 42:51 · New York Knicks

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons calls the Knicks' acquisition of Brunson one of the best free-agent signings in NBA history.

    “It's one of the great free agent signings in the history of the league”

    Listen from 45:23 · New York Knicks

  • Tim Legler

    Legler attributes Mikal Bridges' shooting surge to an offensive change that keeps him moving rather than waiting on high ball screens.

    “His natural motion now within the spacing they have is so much more suited to him than standing around waiting and watching high ball screen 45 times a game”

    Listen from 49:27 · New York Knicks

  • Tim Legler

    Legler says Karl-Anthony Towns' reliable, physical rebounding kept the Knicks winning even when his offensive fit was questioned.

    “It was like death, taxes, and and 13 rebounds from Carl Anthony Towns”

    Listen from 52:19 · New York Knicks

  • Tim Legler

    Legler says that if Cleveland must move one of its core players, it should probably be Evan Mobley rather than Donovan Mitchell.

    “Probably Mobley. And I think I was a little disappointed in this series”

    Listen from 1:02:32 · Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Tim Legler

    Legler would trade Donovan Mitchell for Giannis Antetokounmpo because of Cleveland's immediate championship window.

    “Oh, for sure. For sure. Because of the... Where Mitchell is in the stage of his career”

    Listen from 1:03:25 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons doubts the Cavaliers can win a title with a Mitchell-Harden backcourt because of defensive vulnerabilities.

    “How are we going to win four straight rounds if our guards are Mitchell and Harden?”

    Listen from 1:04:13 · Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Tim LeglerCame true

    Legler predicts the NBA Finals will be competitive rather than a lopsided five-game series.

    “Whoever comes out of the West, I don't see that being a five-game series with like three lopsided games”

    Listen from 1:07:09 · 2026 NBA Finals

  • Bill SimmonsCame true

    Simmons predicts the Thunder-Spurs series is headed to seven games.

    “Cause I think this series just, it just reeks of seven, but we'll see what happens”

    Listen from 1:09:00 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • Brian Koppelman

    Koppelman recounts that his earliest memory is attending a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden with his late father.

    “My very first memory is it a human being is being with my father who died three years ago, but being with my dad at the Knicks”

    Listen from 1:10:27 · New York Knicks

  • Linked moment · 1:12:01Skip to 1:12:01 using a listen link in the info box.

    Brian Koppelman

    Koppelman credits Leon Rose as the roster architect and William Wesley as the connector who built belief among fans.

    “Leon's obviously a visionary with figuring out how to put this team together, but Wes is this incredible connector of people and built this belief system”

    Listen from 1:13:18 · New York Knicks

  • Brian Koppelman

    Koppelman admits he did not initially see the Brunson signing as smart until he watched him play.

    “I had no idea that that was... a smart thing until I started watching him”

    Listen from 1:14:48 · New York Knicks

  • Brian Koppelman

    Koppelman says he supported hiring Mike Brown but briefly doubted it when the Knicks trailed Atlanta 2-1.

    “I so supported the Mike Brown move, bringing him in. It made total sense to me. But I doubted it when we were down 2-1”

    Listen from 1:23:19 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons warns that calling Brunson the best Knick ever after a title would be recency bias, though he could become the most beloved.

    “I want to pour some settle down juice on everyone who says Brunson, if they win the title, is the best Nick ever”

    Listen from 1:27:16 · New York Knicks

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons criticizes James Harden for claiming Cleveland was the better team after being swept.

    “When people say, after a sweep, when you say that, that almost feels like an IQ test”

    Listen from 1:30:10 · Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argues that other owners should emulate the Knicks by hiring former player agents who evaluate character and relationships.

    “So if I was an owner, I would be like, who are the other agents we can get?”

    Listen from 1:34:31 · New York Knicks

  • Brian Koppelman

    Koppelman praises William Wesley for being a visible, accountable presence among fans at the Garden.

    “Wes is a visible presence and not in a, not in the, I'm shadowing, I'm lingering over the bench to put pressure”

    Listen from 1:34:56 · Madison Square Garden

People

In the conversation

  • Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
  • Tim LeglerFormer NBA player and ESPN basketball analyst who calls games alongside Mike Breen
  • Brian KoppelmanAmerican screenwriter, producer and lifelong New York Knicks fan

Discussed

Topics

More from The Bill Simmons Podcast

From the publisher

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Tim Legler LIVE on Netflix to react to the Thunder taking a 3-2 series lead against the Spurs before recapping the Knicks’ road to the NBA Finals (1:16). Then, Brian Koppelman hops on to discuss what it means for the Knicks to make the Finals for the first time since 1999 after sweeping the Cavs (01:09:22). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Chris Wohlers Uber Eats makes last-minute gifting easy. https://www.ubereats.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 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball