NBA One Guy (the East!), a Man City Punishment Primer, and Tom Cruise’s Bomb With J. Kyle Mann, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · October 6, 2026 · 2 h 13 min
Bill Simmons and J. Kyle Mann pick one key player per NBA Eastern Conference team, then Chris Ryan and Van Lathan discuss cable stars, Tom Cruise's 'Digger,' and Manchester City's punishment.
Summary
Bill Simmons opened with J. Kyle Mann discussing the 2026 NBA rookie class, including Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa. Mann picked Boozer as the rookie he was most excited about, while Simmons favored Wilson, saying his ceiling seemed unlimited. The pair then ran through an 'NBA One Guy' exercise naming one swing player for each Eastern Conference team, among them Paul George in Boston, Michael Porter Jr. in Brooklyn, Peyton Watson in Cleveland, Jalen Duren in Detroit, Ivica Zubac in Indiana, Karl-Anthony Towns in New York and Anthony Davis in Washington.
Simmons argued that Paul George would be an additive piece for the Celtics and that Indiana was underrated as a 50-win team. He questioned whether the big contracts for Watson and Duren would pay off. Mann offered tactical analysis, describing George as an overqualified role player and Duren as limited outside of rolling to the rim.
In the second half, Chris Ryan and Van Lathan joined to debate a hypothetical 'Cable/Streaming Hall of Fame' for television actors such as Dominic West and Idris Elba. They then turned to Tom Cruise's box-office flop 'Digger.' Lathan defended the film as brilliant but mismarketed, and argued that Cruise could no longer rely on spectacle in his 60s. Simmons and Ryan questioned Cruise's promotional persona.
Ryan closed with a 'book report' on Manchester City being found guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges. He covered the club's Abu Dhabi ownership, financial fair play rules, possible penalties ranging from points deductions to expulsion, and the political fallout. The group debated whether any penalty could be both fair and workable given the club's economic footprint.
Chapters
- 0:06
Intro and rookie class
Simmons previews the episode and asks Mann which top rookie he is most excited to watch.
- 6:20
Bulls, Hawks and Celtics
The hosts discuss Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, Luguentz Dort in Atlanta, and Paul George's fit in Boston.
Linked moment · 21:17Skip to 21:17 using a listen link in the info box.
21:17Nets, Hornets and Cavaliers
Michael Porter Jr.'s trade value and interviews, Naz Reid and Charlotte's three-point shooting, and Peyton Watson's contract in Cleveland.
- 35:52
Pistons, Pacers and Heat
Jalen Duren's big contract after poor playoffs, Ivica Zubac's fit with Indiana, and Andrew Wiggins alongside Giannis in Miami.
- 50:24
Bucks, Knicks and Magic
Tyler Herro's contract year, Karl-Anthony Towns after a title, and Jalen Suggs's fork-in-the-road season in Orlando.
- 58:50
76ers, Wizards and Raptors
Jaylen Brown's role in Philadelphia, stat predictions for Anthony Davis, and Murray Boyles in Toronto.
- 1:10:12
Cable/Streaming Hall of Fame
Simmons, Ryan and Lathan debate which TV actors belong in a hypothetical cable and streaming hall of fame.
- 1:19:03
'Digger' and Tom Cruise
Lathan defends the box-office bomb 'Digger' as the group discusses Cruise's aging star persona and promotion.
- 1:35:41
Manchester City's punishment
Ryan explains Manchester City's guilty finding on Premier League financial charges, and the group debates possible penalties and their fallout.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- J. Kyle Mann
Mann says Cameron Boozer is the rookie he is most excited about, despite it being the safe answer.
“I think I probably still just go boozer. Just I know that's the boring answer”
- Bill Simmons
Simmons says Caleb Wilson's potential seems limitless.
“But then Caleb, it just feels like the ceiling has been removed for where it could go”
- Bill SimmonsPrediction · due Apr 2027
Simmons predicts Paul George can give Boston about 55 regular-season games and 1,500–1,600 minutes.
“I do think they can get 55 games, 1600, 1500, somewhere in there minutes”
- J. Kyle Mann
Mann argues Paul George is becoming an overqualified role player, which he considers acceptable for Boston.
“I think he's regressing a little bit into overqualified role player status a little bit”
- Bill Simmons
Simmons questions Cleveland paying Peyton Watson like a proven playoff contributor.
“We've never seen him succeed with a lot of minutes in the playoffs. We haven't seen it at all. They paid him like a playoff guy”
- J. Kyle Mann
Mann argues Jalen Duren's offensive game is very limited beyond finishing near the rim.
“I don't think Jalen has a whole lot outside of catching the ball in the block, off the roll, and taking one dribble and dunking it”
- Bill SimmonsPrediction · due Apr 2027
Simmons predicts Indiana is a 50-win team if Tyrese Haliburton stays healthy, above its 44.5 win total.
“like to me, that's a 50 win team. If Hal burns healthy, I just think they're going to be really good”
- Bill Simmons
Simmons notes that players who sacrificed to win a title tend to sacrifice less the following year, a concern for Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Usually the history of the NBA is when you sacrifice to win a title. The year after. Probably less prone to sacrifice”
- J. Kyle MannPrediction · due Apr 2027
Mann predicts Anthony Davis will play in the low 40s in games this season, settling on 44.
“I mean, I think the safe bet is to keep it in the low 40s. I mean, based on what we see”
- Chris Ryan
Ryan argues that movie stars moving into television dilute the value of a cable hall of fame honor.
“You're getting all these movie stars who kind of dilute the value of the trophy I think you're trying to give out”
- Van Lathan
Lathan contends that 'Digger' is a brilliant film despite its poor reception.
“I thought Digger was brilliant. I thought Digger was brilliant in execution”
- Bill Simmons
Simmons says Cruise should not have promoted 'Digger' at all because his public persona has become too strange.
“I don't think he should have promoted the movie at all I don't think he should have done anything and I don't think it helps”
- Chris Ryan
Ryan questions whether Cruise's spectacle-driven promotion still helps his films.
“I wonder whether or not it serves the movies anymore. When it becomes the spectacle of Tom Cruise in interviews,”
- Van Lathan
Lathan argues that 'Digger' was mismarketed as a farcical morality tale when it is far more grounded.
“So based upon what actually happens in the movie, the movie was completely and totally mismarketed”
- Van Lathan
Lathan argues that Tom Cruise can no longer sustain his career on spectacle in his 60s.
“You can't spectacle yourself through your career in your 60s. People have to feel like some type of actual connection to you beyond things going fast”
- Bill Simmons
Simmons suggests that the success of Top Gun: Maverick convinced Cruise he could keep playing the same kind of star role.
“You know what's the worst thing that happened to Tom Cruise for this aging thing you're talking about? How good Top Gun Maverick was”
- Chris Ryan
Ryan reports that the Premier League's independent commission found Manchester City guilty on 114 of 115 charges.
“on the Friday that that started, the Premier League is like guilty. 114 out of 115 charges”
Listen from 1:40:11 · Manchester City Premier League financial charges
- Chris Ryan
Ryan argues the rules failed because no one anticipated a petro-state buying a club for soft power.
“nobody had ever thought that a petro-state would buy a football team. and start funding it as a way of using it for soft power across the world”
Listen from 1:49:03 · Manchester City Premier League financial charges
- Chris RyanPrediction · due Dec 2026
Ryan predicts the Manchester City case will be wrapped up by Christmas.
“I think they'll wrap it up by Christmas. I mean, the appeals process being what it is”
Listen from 1:56:58 · Manchester City Premier League financial charges
- Bill Simmons
Simmons proposes banning Manchester City for five years and forcing a sale of the club.
“I would just be like, look, you're out for five years and you got to sell the team. And that's where we are”
Listen from 2:00:15 · Manchester City Premier League financial charges
- Van Lathan
Lathan warns that a harsh penalty could cause economic damage that permanently alters the league.
“The economic distress might destroy what it is that we have going on and permanently alter the league”
Listen from 2:00:43 · Manchester City Premier League financial charges
People
In the conversation
- Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
- J. Kyle MannThe Ringer NBA draft analyst and co-host of The Ringer NBA Show
- Chris RyanThe Ringer podcaster and TV/film critic
- Van LathanPodcaster and media personality, Alabama football fan
Discussed
- Caleb WilsonNorth Carolina forward and top 2026 NBA draft prospect
- Cameron BoozerDuke forward
- Paul GeorgePhiladelphia 76ers forward returning from injury
- Michael Porter Jr.NBA forward formerly with the Denver Nuggets
- Peyton WatsonForward who signed a four-year deal with Cleveland
- Jalen DurenDetroit Pistons center praised for consistency
- Ivica ZubacCenter traded to the Pacers
- Andrew WigginsMiami Heat wing
- Karl-Anthony TownsNew York Knicks big man
- Anthony DavisNBA player who stars in the TBS series Foul Play
- Murray BoylesToronto Raptors forward
- Tom CruiseAmerican actor whose Oprah couch-jumping moment a coworker compared to Exantus's behavior
- Dominic WestBritish actor known for The Wire and The Affair
- Erling HaalandNorwegian striker who showed off his LAN party setup
- Jürgen KloppFormer Liverpool manager
- Sheikh MansourAbu Dhabi royal who bought Manchester City in 2008
Topics
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From the publisher
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by J. Kyle Mann to talk NBA rookies before they highlight one player from each East NBA team ahead of the season. Then, Chris Ryan and Van Lathan join to discuss the Cable/Streaming Hall of Fame, Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger,’ and Manchester City's troubles. (0:00) Intro (2:44) Rookies and NBA One Guy (the East) intro (7:01) Bulls, Hawks, and Celtics (21:37) Nets, Hornets, and Cavs (36:28) Pistons, Pacers, and Heat (50:36) Bucks, Knicks, and Magic (59:09) 76ers, Wizards, and Raptors (01:10:23) Cable Star Hall of Fame (01:19:06) ‘Digger’ and Tom Cruise (01:35:40) Manchester City's situation Host: Bill Simmons Guests: J. Kyle Mann, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Create a Personalized Price Plan® today. https://www.statefarm.com/lp/football/ 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 October 8, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.