Bill Russell’s life touched so many different areas that trying to figure out how to properly honor his legend is a task in itself. His name adorns the Finals MVP Award, he was the first Black head coach in NBA history, the 11 titles he won with the Boston Celtics are still the standard by which champions are measured. And his impact was just as large off th ... Show More
Feb 2025
Champions League Playoff: Can Manchester City Salvage Their Season?
The American football season may now be over, but the drama in Europe’s club football season, aka soccer, is just heating up. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad has been England’s most dominant club, with six home league trophies in the past seven years and a Champions League ... Show More
32m 15s
Jul 2022
The Genius of Bill Russell (from The Book of Basketball 2.0)
What made Bill Russell so great? Was Russell a pioneer, a genius, or both? Why did he mean so much to the 1960s? Why did he walk away after his 11th title and never look back? And why wouldn’t he forgive the city of Boston? In 2012, Bill Simmons flew to Seattle and spent two days ... Show More
24m 27s
Feb 2021
3x NBA champion BJ Armstrong on LeBron James, Steph Curry & the Evolution of Basketball
On today's episode, 3x NBA champion, sports agent and media personality BJ Armstrong swings by for an extended conversation with Jason to discuss the New York Knicks decision to trade for his client Derrick Rose and his potential fit on a young up-and-coming roster, why he's so i ... Show More
44m 54s
May 2024
RIP Bill Walton. Plus, Minnesota Avoids a Sweep, a Towns Semi-Redemption, and Best Backcourts With J. Kyle Mann.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by J. Kyle Mann to discuss the Timberwolves avoiding a sweep by winning Game 4 in Dallas, what happened to home-court advantage in the NBA, "best NBA backcourt ever" debates, Celtics speculation, and more (1:44). Finally, Bill remembers the gre ... Show More
1h 33m
May 2020
Brady’s Fun Golf Match, the NBA’s Big Return, Pierce vs. LeBron, and the Unforgivable Lance Armstrong With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss The Match 2; encouraging rumors about the return of the NBA and possible playoff scenarios; ex-athlete commentator bias; Horace Grant's comments following ‘The Last Dance’; the spectrum of “forgivable athletes”; one ... Show More
1h 43m
May 2020
The Last 'Last Dance,' MJ the Almost-Knick, NBA Bubble Courtsides, MLB Strife and the Final 'RewatchaBulls' With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the final two episodes in the ESPN documentary series 'The Last Dance' (2:25) before Ryen and "Optimistic Bill" talk about the NBA potentially inching toward a return, as well as the murky future around the start of ... Show More
2h 30m
Apr 2023
NBA Playoff Chaos, the Positionless Awards Problem, Caitlin Clark vs. LSU, and Inexplicable NBA Stories With Ryen Russillo and Van Lathan
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Bucks' decisive win over the 76ers, the Warriors coming up short vs. a Nuggets team without Nikola Jokic, the Mavericks playing themselves out of the playoffs, and the updated NBA playoff picture (3:13), before d ... Show More
2h 15m
May 2022
Did the Bucks Punch Their Finals Ticket? What to Make of the Warriors' Historic Loss, Plus Ben Wallace on Today’s Best Defenders
Russillo shares his thoughts on the Bucks’ Game 5 win over the Celtics in Boston, the Warriors 134-95 loss to the Grizzlies, and Suns-Mavericks (0:39), before talking with Hall of Famer and NBA champion Ben Wallace about today's best defensive NBA players, game planning for Shaqu ... Show More
1h 20m
Jun 2022
The Former UCLA Benchwarmer Turned NBA Twitter King
Back in the early 2000’s, Josiah Johnson was a benchwarmer for one of the most storied college basketball programs in the nation: the UCLA Bruins. It was the closest he came to being a basketball star, and a long way from the heights reached by his dad, five-time NBA All-Star Mar ... Show More
20m 25s