Utah Jazz

Smith argued rising franchise prices mean principal owners will now be heavily involved in running teams.

“I think long gone are the days where the principle, or the main principle, is not heavily involved”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:30:04

Smith said he had long considered Austin Ainge his preferred choice to run the basketball operation.

“You call Austin Ainge. And you tell him to come out, you're going to run it. Cause Austin's an absolute star”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:17:06

Smith argued Utah is not a small market, citing its young, fast-growing population.

“But we're the fastest growing, youngest demographic in the country”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:10:15

Smith disclosed he had been pursuing the Minnesota Timberwolves before buying the Jazz.

“I mean, there's no secret. I was looking at Minnesota”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:58:23

Simmons says Peterson looks more like a young Kobe Bryant than anyone in 30 years, despite red flags.

“If you're going to pick who has come into the league in the last 30 years, who's looked the most like young Kobe, you would pick Peterson”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle Mann (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 30:30

Simmons says Danny Ainge's record with elite prospects makes him more confident in Peterson.

“Danny Ainge, really awesome track record with taking elite guys. And if he likes Peterson, that makes me feel a lot better about Peterson”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle Mann (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 27:50

Simmons noted that he believed Utah had never moved up in a lottery in franchise history before this draft.

“they've never moved up in a lottery i don't think in the history of the franchise until until this draft”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Wizards Win (Something!) and More Lottery Reactions, Plus the Juggernaut Knicks With Joe House, Tate Frazier, and Chris Vernon (May 11, 2026) · Listen from 22:13

Windhorst expects the Utah Jazz to improve rapidly and says they are his team to watch.

“I think they're going to maybe get like way better, way fast. And so Utah is a team that I am going to be watching this season”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 2:16:22

Mann predicts Darryn Peterson could average over 20 points per game as a rookie.

“I mean, he could average over 20 next year, I think, for sure”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: 2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle Mann (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 25:24