New York Wins the Title, Brunson Wins Immortality, and Knicks Fans Have a Zihuatanejo Moment With Zach Lowe

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · June 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.

Summary

Recording live on Netflix shortly after the New York Knicks won Game 5 in San Antonio to clinch the 2026 NBA Finals, ending a 53-year title drought, Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe assessed the Knicks' 16-3 playoff run. Simmons called it the greatest team-building title since the Isiah Thomas Pistons, while Lowe compared the team's stylistic cohesion to the 2014 Spurs and argued critics should not discount the run because the Knicks avoided Boston and Oklahoma City.

Both centered on Jalen Brunson's 45-point, Finals MVP performance. Lowe asked whether Brunson was the greatest underdog story in basketball history and placed him alongside Walt Frazier as the greatest Knick, while Simmons praised Brunson's rare ability to improve when needed. They debated the late-game OG Anunoby tip, De'Aaron Fox's decision to challenge Anunoby at the rim, and officiating, with Lowe arguing Karl-Anthony Towns received harsh whistles and both believing Victor Wembanyama would have been suspended for a Game 6.

On the Spurs, Simmons called the series a narrative setback for Wembanyama while Lowe considered it only mildly disappointing and a more literary arc for the league. They agreed Dylan Harper emerged as the Spurs' future lead guard and discussed whether Fox's large contract could be traded. They reviewed their preseason playoff draft of intriguing players.

The hosts closed with top offseason stories: the 2026 NBA draft, Austin Reaves' contract, Cleveland's plans, LeBron James' future, and Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation. Simmons predicted Boston would acquire Giannis within a week, likely sending out Jaylen Brown, while Lowe questioned why Tatum was never assumed to be the one traded.

Chapters

  1. 1:19

    Knicks win the title

    Simmons and Lowe react to the Knicks ending their 53-year drought and compare the run to memorable champions like the 2014 Spurs and 2011 Mavericks.

  2. 6:12

    Team-building masterpiece

    The hosts discuss how the Knicks were assembled through signings and trades for Brunson, Anunoby, Hart and Towns.

  3. 9:23

    Brunson's 45-point closeout

    They break down Brunson's Game 5, his underdog story, and his place among all-time Knicks.

  4. 22:27

    Knicks fans and the next drought team

    Simmons reflects on long-suffering fandom and the pair debate which franchise inherits the NBA's most painful drought.

  5. 28:18

    Historic dominance and officiating

    Lowe defends the Knicks' playoff run and both critique calls on Towns, Brunson and a likely Wembanyama suspension.

  6. 38:35

    The Anunoby tip and Fox's blunder

    They analyze the improbable Game 4 tip-in, the Spurs' defensive choices and De'Aaron Fox's decision at the rim.

  7. 47:18

    Spurs fallout and Fox's contract

    The hosts weigh Fox's trade market, Dylan Harper's emergence and the Spurs' painful losses.

  8. 53:48

    Wembanyama's Finals

    Simmons and Lowe debate how disappointing Wembanyama's series was and what he must add to his game.

  9. 1:04:15

    Anunoby and the Raptors' trades

    They praise Anunoby as an elite 3-and-D player and revisit Toronto's decisions to trade him and Siakam.

  10. 1:09:40

    Preseason playoff draft review

    The hosts grade their pre-playoff picks for the most intriguing players and discuss Mitch Johnson's job security.

  11. 1:12:59

    Top offseason stories

    They cover the draft order, Austin Reaves' contract, Cleveland and LeBron James' future.

  12. 1:17:23

    Giannis trade speculation

    Simmons predicts Boston will land Giannis and the pair discuss Jaylen Brown, Tatum and possible three-team deals.

  13. 1:29:55

    Offseason wild cards and playoff recap

    They flag Denver, Houston, Charlotte and others, then rate the playoffs and the five-game Finals before signing off.

Key points

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

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argues the Knicks' title was the greatest team-building championship since the Isiah Thomas Pistons.

    “I think this was the greatest team-building title that we've seen since the two Isaiah Pistons teams”

    Listen from 6:43 · New York Knicks

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 10:56 · 2026 NBA Finals

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 11:14 · 2026 NBA Finals

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons says Brunson has the rare trait of getting better when his team needs it.

    “there's been very few guys since I've known you and very few guys since I've followed the league that seem to get better We need them to get better”

    Listen from 12:42 · 2026 NBA Finals

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 27:03 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe believes Wembanyama would certainly have been suspended for Game 6 had the series continued.

    “I think he 100% would have gotten suspended”

    Listen from 33:40 · NBA officiating

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe argues the reviewed fouls on Towns were pivotal because the Knicks were far better with him on the floor.

    “the Knicks were plus 48 with Towns on the floor and minus 40 with Towns off the floor”

    Listen from 35:43 · NBA officiating

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 43:54 · 2026 NBA Finals

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons believes the Spurs would have lost the series regardless of the Fox play, citing a lack of trustworthy players and reluctance to give Harper control.

    “I don't think the Spurs would have won this series anyway, regardless of that play”

    Listen from 47:50 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Bill SimmonsPrediction · due Jun 2027

    Simmons predicts De'Aaron Fox will remain with San Antonio next season because a suitable trade is hard to construct.

    “But I couldn't find a deal that I really liked. So I think he's going to be on San Antonio next year”

    Listen from 51:36 · De'Aaron Fox contract

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons calls the Finals a catastrophe for the storyline of Wembanyama as the league's next face.

    “this was an incredibly disappointing Wembley series. It just was. For future of the league, face of the league, all that stuff”

    Listen from 54:17 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 55:39 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 1:03:09 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Bill SimmonsCame true

    Simmons confidently predicts AJ Dybantsa will be the first pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

    “I would bet anything AJ is going to be the first pick. Anything”

    Listen from 1:13:32 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 1:17:30 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Bill SimmonsDidn’t happen

    Simmons predicts the Boston Celtics will acquire Giannis within the next week.

    “I think Boston's going to get Giannis. And I think it will happen in the next week would be my prediction”

    Listen from 1:22:28 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 1:23:43 · Boston Celtics

  • Zach Lowe

    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”

    Listen from 1:33:11 · 2026 NBA Finals

People

In the conversation

  • Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
  • Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly

Discussed

Topics

More from The Bill Simmons Podcast

From the publisher

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe go live on Netflix to react to the Knicks taking Game 5 to win the 2025-26 NBA Finals. Then they take a look at Spurs’ side of the series before recapping the most intriguing players of the playoffs and the top five stories other than the Finals. (0:00) Intro (1:15) NBA Finals Game 5 reactions (9:22) Jalen Brunson’s Game 5 performance (53:12) Wemby and the Spurs in Game 5 (01:10:12) Most intriguing players of the playoffs (01:13:03) Top five stories other than the Finals Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Zach Lowe Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Jessie Lopez, Eduardo Ocampo, and Chris Wohlers Brought to you by PayPal. Learn more at paypal.com #ULTRACourtside could get you closer to the game! https://michelobultra.com/courtside MICHELOB ULTRA®️ COURTSIDE ’25 to ’26. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21 plus. Begins on October 1, 2025 and ends on June 30, 2026 Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at https://michelobultra.com/courtside for free entry, entry deadlines, prizes, and details. 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·Sports News