logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
32m 52s

How Bill Russell Transformed College Bas...

Espn
About this episode
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
Up next
Feb 2025
How Women’s College Basketball has Stepped into the L.A. Spotlight
The explosion of women’s basketball over the last few years has pulled plenty of new names – and teams – into the national conversation. Among them? USC and UCLA women’s basketball teams, two programs that have spent decades living in the shadow of past legacies, to say nothing o ... Show More
28m 11s
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
30m 15s
Feb 2025
Super Bowl LIX Recap with Ben Solak
There was little debate about the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles were the more complete team heading into Super Bowl LIX. Better up front on defense and offense. Better at running back and wide receiver than the Kansas City Chiefs. But the Chiefs still had Patrick Mahomes and ... Show More
30m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2023
Bill Russell: Legend
In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, we are talking about the Netflix documentary series “Bill Russell: Legend" out now on Netflix. Host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Sam Pollard. With his revolutionary defense, Bill Russell changed the game of basketball, winning a re ... Show More
37m 35s
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
Aug 2020
Murray Magic, Boston’s Ceiling, Harden’s Big Chance, and Parent Corner With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the stunning Jamal Murray performance that has forced a Nuggets-Jazz Game 7, NBA players’ strides in working toward social justice, the Mavericks’ playoff exit on a hopeful note for next season, Lakers Round 2 specul ... Show More
2h 14m
Aug 2022
Remembering Bill Russell, Tampering Unfairness, and Your Mailbag Questions
Verno and KOC open the show by sharing their memories of NBA legend Bill Russell, who passed away over the weekend (01:02). As more charges of tampering continue in the NBA, the guys wonder if it’s time for the NBA to consider how they handle these charges (09:12). The guys open ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 2020
The NBA Makes History and Discussions With DeRay Mckesson, Chris Mannix, and Chiney Ogwumike
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by civil rights activist and podcaster DeRay Mckesson to discuss the great strides made by Campaign Zero in police reform, the NBA players’ decision to pause the playoffs in wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, how NBA teams could make the grea ... Show More
1h 50m
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
Mar 2025
Talking Basketball, NBA, and Hoops With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the 76ers’ arduous journey to retaining their first-round draft pick, the unknown ceiling of the new-look Lakers (15:26), criticizing NBA player criticism, what it means to be the “face of the league” (32:59), bigges ... Show More
2h 9m
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