San Antonio Spurs
Organization in Basketball
San Antonio Spurs has come up in 34 episodes across 3 podcasts in TMT, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, Pardon My Take, The Toast. 12 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
Simmons criticizes Spurs coach Mitch Johnson's Finals game management.
“Mitch Johnson's game management was a hundred times worse than all the stuff we had with him or Dunleavy”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle Mann (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 1:02:51
Simmons believes Dylan Harper could become one of the best guards of the past three decades.
“I think he has a chance to be one of the best guards of the last 30 years. Like, I really do”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:09:19
Simmons predicts the pairing of De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper in San Antonio will not work out.
“This Fox Harper thing is not going to end well. I'm sorry. It's just won't”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Why Brunson Is Top 50 All Time, a Finals Mega-Mailbag, and NBA Fake Trade Season With Joe House (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 20:05
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”
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 54:17
PFT CommenterBarstool Sports writer and co-host of Pardon My Take
PFT Commenter characterized Wembanyama as a bad loser but predicted he will return stronger.
“I think that Wimby is just a bad loser, which is fine”
Pardon My Take: The Knicks Win The NBA Title, The Hurricanes Lift The Cup, Zac And Memes Recap Their Game 5 From San Antonio, Mr Bing Bong Jerry O'Connell Surprises Hank In Studio + World Cup (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 50:42
PFT Commenter argued that teams will no longer be able to build like the Spurs because draft rules for top picks have changed.
“They won't be able to build teams like the Spurs in the same way anymore because the rules have changed in terms of getting top picks in the NBA draft”
Pardon My Take: Spurs Win Game 7, Knicks and Finals With Mike Breen, SCF With Keith Yandle Plus Who’s Back Of The Week (Jun 1, 2026) · Listen from 4:02
PFT Commenter said he wanted the Thunder to win so fans could enjoy Wembanyama longer before inevitably turning on him.
“And the reason why I want the Thunder to win this series is because I think if the Thunder win”
Pardon My Take: Grit Week Finale, Coach O, Saints HC Kellen Moore, Knicks Up 2-0 And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 15:25
PFT Commenter suggests Dylan Harper may be the Spurs' best guard in these playoffs.
“throughout these playoffs, I think Dylan Harper might be the best guard that they have”
Pardon My Take: Ryen Russillo In Studio, NFL Schedule Release, Zoo Trades, Playoffs And Fyre Fest (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:09:28
Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
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”
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 1:03:09
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”
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 55:39
Lowe pushes back on critics who want Wembanyama closer to the basket, citing the physical toll on a slender player.
“are underestimating how... fatiguing it is to throw yourself at the basket over and over and over again when you're skinny”
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 21:40
Lowe believes no single player can stop Wembanyama and that more shooting is the best answer.
“It's just we got to get as much shooting as possible and have faith in our defense around it to round it out”
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 19:26
Doc RiversMilwaukee Bucks head coach
Rivers says Wembanyama needs to develop a Tim Duncan–style face-up game because it defeats double teams.
“just the face-up to me is because you can't double-team him. He sees you coming. He will pick you apart”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 Finals Lessons, Giannis’s Next Stop, Brunson’s Apex, and Mike Brown’s Magic Touch With Doc Rivers (Jun 17, 2026) · Listen from 17:15
Rivers believes Wembanyama's limited minutes reflect a league-wide failure to ramp players up toward the playoffs.
“I think it's a league problem as much as a Wimby problem”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 Finals Lessons, Giannis’s Next Stop, Brunson’s Apex, and Mike Brown’s Magic Touch With Doc Rivers (Jun 17, 2026) · Listen from 11:03
Rivers recounted a Spurs players' meeting from his playing days in which Dennis Rodman challenged Gregg Popovich, who was not the head coach.
“And Dennis Rodman, when Pop finishes, Dennis Rodman says, who's listening to you? You're not the coach”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Knicks Land a Haymaker, With Doc Rivers. Plus, a Mini-Mailbag, the End of 'Euphoria,' and a Movies Resurgence With Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan. (Jun 4, 2026) · Listen from 25:23
- Can’t be judged
Rivers predicted the Spurs would run their '45 set' much more in Game 2 after abandoning it despite early success.
“And they ran it three or four times early in the game and it was successful and they got away from it. So you're going to see that way more in game two on Friday”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Knicks Land a Haymaker, With Doc Rivers. Plus, a Mini-Mailbag, the End of 'Euphoria,' and a Movies Resurgence With Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan. (Jun 4, 2026) · Listen from 13:13
Kirk GoldsberryBasketball analytics writer and visual analyst, contributor to The Ringer
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”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: 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 (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 29:00
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”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: 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 (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 4:58
Goldsberry states that opponents have posted an offensive rating of 99.2 when Wembanyama is on the court in the playoffs, which would rank as the league's worst offense.
“in these playoffs, when he's on the court, the opponents have an offensive rating of 99.2”
Pardon My Take: NBA Finals With Kirk Goldsberry, FSU Head Coach Luke Loucks, Myles Garrett To The Rams + Memes Vs Zac (Jun 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:20:45
Goldsberry argues the Spurs have the league's best young trio in Wembanyama, Castle and Harper.
“I think the San Antonio Spurs now have the best young trio in the league by far with Wemby, Castle, and Harper”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 4:25
Tim LeglerFormer NBA player and ESPN basketball analyst who calls games alongside Mike Breen
Legler says Victor Wembanyama's biggest area of growth is learning to dominate from 15 to 20 feet.
“You answer that by dominating from 15 to 20 feet”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:17:32
Legler argues the Spurs should not give up on De'Aaron Fox after his poor Finals and that Fox is unlikely to be traded given his contract.
“I don't think Fox is going anywhere at that number coming off of that series. So you better kind of wrap your head around it as a Spurs fan”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:02:50
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”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 4:34
Hank LockwoodPardon My Take contributor and Boston Celtics fan
Lockwood predicted the Finals collapse will haunt Wembanyama and the Spurs more than people expect.
“I think that performance in the finals is going to haunt him and them for more than people give it credit for”
Pardon My Take: The Knicks Win The NBA Title, The Hurricanes Lift The Cup, Zac And Memes Recap Their Game 5 From San Antonio, Mr Bing Bong Jerry O'Connell Surprises Hank In Studio + World Cup (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 56:16
Lockwood argued the Spurs need to move on from De'Aaron Fox despite his contract.
“Like they got to get rid of Fox, which is tough because of his contract”
Pardon My Take: The Knicks Win The NBA Title, The Hurricanes Lift The Cup, Zac And Memes Recap Their Game 5 From San Antonio, Mr Bing Bong Jerry O'Connell Surprises Hank In Studio + World Cup (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 55:37
Ben SofferEntrepreneur behind Spritz Society, co-host of the Good Guys podcast and husband of Claudia Oshry
Soffer predicts Wembanyama will spend his whole career with the Spurs.
“He'll never leave San Antonio. This is like their generational decades long. This is their guy. He will retire a spur”
The Toast: Knicks in Five: Thursday, June 11th, 2026 (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 44:29
Soffer calls Wembanyama a dirty player, attributing it to the overseas style of play he learned in France.
“They play dirty overseas. That's a fact. This is a different brand of basketball and he is playing an overseas brand of basketball”
The Toast: Knicks in Five: Thursday, June 11th, 2026 (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 41:07
Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
Katz argues Wembanyama skipping media after a loss is a poor move for someone who wants to be the face of the league.
“That's a lame-ass move to not go and talk to the media, especially when you want to be the face of the league”
Pardon My Take: TJ Oshie, Spurs Force A Game 7, Baseball and Presidents + Fyre Fest Of The Week (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 5:34
Dan Katz claimed Wembanyama is already better than LeBron James.
“I'm going to enjoy him because he's, like I said on Wednesday's show, he's already better than LeBron”
Pardon My Take: Grit Week Finale, Coach O, Saints HC Kellen Moore, Knicks Up 2-0 And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 16:11
J. Kyle MannThe Ringer NBA draft analyst and co-host of The Ringer NBA Show
Mann believes Jayden Quaintance, if healthy, could eventually rank among the top five players of the draft because of his defense.
“I think that he could net out where he could be as high as like five in this draft in like a few years from now”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle Mann (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:19
Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk
House argues the Spurs reached the Finals a year early and simply were not ready.
“is really emblematic of who this Spurs team is and the fact that they arrived a year early. They just weren't ready”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Why Brunson Is Top 50 All Time, a Finals Mega-Mailbag, and NBA Fake Trade Season With Joe House (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 11:00
Jerry O'ConnellAmerican actor and recurring Pardon My Take guest
O'Connell defended Wembanyama's conduct as youthful passion.
“I do want to say, in terms of Wemby, I'm not mad at how he acted. I get it. He's a young guy”
Pardon My Take: The Knicks Win The NBA Title, The Hurricanes Lift The Cup, Zac And Memes Recap Their Game 5 From San Antonio, Mr Bing Bong Jerry O'Connell Surprises Hank In Studio + World Cup (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:58:44
Predictions
- Can’t be judgedDoc Rivers
Rivers predicted the Spurs would run their '45 set' much more in Game 2 after abandoning it despite early success.
“And they ran it three or four times early in the game and it was successful and they got away from it. So you're going to see that way more in game two on Friday”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Knicks Land a Haymaker, With Doc Rivers. Plus, a Mini-Mailbag, the End of 'Euphoria,' and a Movies Resurgence With Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan. (Jun 4, 2026) · Listen from 13:13 · San Antonio Spurs
Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals was played Friday, June 5, and the Knicks beat the Spurs 105-104 after San Antonio came back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter. The recap found doesn't say how often San Antonio ran its '45 set' compared with Game 1, and the search tool ran out before film breakdowns or play-type stats could be checked, so this is unconfirmed rather than unknowable.
Sources: Recap: Knicks win a classic, take commanding 2-0 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Partly truePFT Commenter
PFT Commenter predicted the Spurs would beat the Timberwolves in seven games.
“I think this series is going to go seven. I got Spurs in seven”
Pardon My Take: Tracy McGrady, Knicks Go Up 2-0, James Harden Is Still James Harden, Boat Pictures And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 8, 2026) · Listen from 51:00 · San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs did beat the Timberwolves in the 2026 Western Conference semifinals, so the predicted winner was right. However, they won 4-2, closing it out with a 139-109 Game 6 win on May 15, 2026, so the series did not go seven games as the speaker explicitly predicted.
Sources: Spurs 139-109 Timberwolves (May 15, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · Spurs close out Timberwolves behind Stephon Castle's 32 points in Game 6, will face Thunder in Western Conference finals - Yahoo Sports · Timberwolves 114-109 Spurs (May 10, 2026) Final Score - ESPN · NBA Playoffs: Spurs eliminate Timberwolves with Game 6 blowout
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Didn’t happenZach Lowe
Lowe said he believes the Spurs can win the title this year despite history suggesting inexperienced teams cannot.
“Dwi'n meddwl y gallant gynnal y taitl. Dwi ddim yn bwysig am yr amlwg o brofiad arall”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe (Mar 30, 2026) · Listen from 19:12 · San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs reached the 2026 NBA Finals after beating Oklahoma City 4–3 in the Western finals, but lost the series 4–1 to the New York Knicks, who clinched the title with a 94–90 Game 5 win on June 13, 2026. The Spurs therefore did not win the 2025–26 championship.
Sources: 2026 NBA Finals - Wikipedia · Recap: Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship, defeating Spurs in five games - NBA.com · Knicks win first NBA title in 53 years: Jalen Brunson scores 45 as New York clinches Finals vs. Spurs - CBS Sports · Knicks win 1st NBA championship in more than 50 years - ABC News
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- The Bill Simmons Podcast · 19 episodes
- Pardon My Take · 12 episodes
- The Toast · 3 episodes
Episodes
2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle MannThe Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 24, 2026 · 1 h 59 min
Bill Simmons, Joe House, and J. Kyle Mann react live on Netflix to the 2026 NBA draft's first round, naming winners and losers team by team.
- NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 19, 2026 · 2 h 11 min
Bill Simmons previews the 2026 NBA draft and Finals fallout with Tim Legler, then discusses the USMNT's World Cup outlook with Anthony Dabbundo.
- 2026 Finals Lessons, Giannis’s Next Stop, Brunson’s Apex, and Mike Brown’s Magic Touch With Doc Rivers
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 17, 2026 · 1 h 60 min
Bill Simmons and Doc Rivers break down the Knicks' 2026 NBA Finals win over the Spurs, Jalen Brunson's legacy, Mike Brown's coaching, and Giannis trade scenarios.
- Why Brunson Is Top 50 All Time, a Finals Mega-Mailbag, and NBA Fake Trade Season With Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 15, 2026 · 2 h 4 min
Bill Simmons and Joe House debate Jalen Brunson's all-time standing after the Knicks' 2026 title, NBA draft and trade scenarios, and a Finals mailbag.
The Knicks Win The NBA Title, The Hurricanes Lift The Cup, Zac And Memes Recap Their Game 5 From San Antonio, Mr Bing Bong Jerry O'Connell Surprises Hank In Studio + World CupPardon My Take · Jun 15, 2026 · 2 h 26 min
The Pardon My Take crew celebrates the Knicks' NBA title, recaps a trip to San Antonio, covers the Hurricanes' Cup and USMNT, and hosts Jerry O'Connell.
- New York Wins the Title, Brunson Wins Immortality, and Knicks Fans Have a Zihuatanejo Moment With Zach Lowe
The 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.
Swirl Meets World: Friday, June 12th, 2026The Toast · Jun 12, 2026 · 1 h 26 min
Claudia and Jackie Oshry discuss the Knicks' NBA Finals run, Taylor Swift's Songwriters Hall of Fame speech, Selena Gomez's post, celebrity news, and Love Island USA.
Knicks in Five: Thursday, June 11th, 2026The Toast · Jun 11, 2026 · 1 h 2 min
Claudia Oshry and husband Ben Soffer recap attending the Knicks' 29-point NBA Finals Game 4 comeback, celebrity sightings, Taylor Swift drama, and Summer House news.
- 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
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 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.
Wyndham Clark, Knicks Take 1-0 Lead, Stanley Cup Final Chaos + Fyre Fest of The WeekPardon My Take · Jun 5, 2026 · 2 h 28 min
The Pardon My Take crew breaks down the Knicks' Game 1 Finals comeback, Eagles drama and the Stanley Cup Final, then interviews golfer Wyndham Clark.