The Bill Simmons Podcast

Episode: NBA Power Rankings and “Do You Believe?” With Kirk Goldsberry, Plus an Eagles/Steelers Fan Base Report With Chris Ryan and Craig Horlbeck

Date: January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

Bill Simmons welcomes ESPN NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry for a comprehensive dive into NBA power rankings as the season nears its midpoint. They tackle storylines, assets, trades, and pressing questions about franchise directions from the bottom feeders to the league’s elite. Afterward, Chris Ryan (Eagles fan) and Craig Horlbeck (Steelers fan) join for a no-holds-barred NFL playoff preview and mutual therapy session on rooting for frustrating football teams. The episode brims with the unfiltered, wandering energy typical of Simmons panels: big laughs, sharply phrased NBA analysis, and candid fanbase diagnosis—plus a healthy side dish of inside jokes and pop culture riffs.

NBA Power Rankings & Storylines

With Kirk Goldsberry
Timestamps: 04:40 – 99:55

Surprising Young Cores and Being “Ahead of Schedule”

• San Antonio Spurs:
  • Simmons and Goldsberry agree the Spurs’ progress has shocked even local optimists, with Wemby’s supporting cast looking “one of the best young cores in the league.”
  • Goldsberry (04:46): “I just love that team. I thought this was gonna be a Wemby team, but even without Wemby, the Spurs have one of the best young cores in the league.”
• OKC Thunder Echo:
  • Simmons: Teams are often "ahead of schedule," as seen with the Thunder, and it’s usually smarter to bet on a young, ascending group than bank on aging stars (“It’s a young man’s game”—Goldsberry, 05:26).

The NBA Basement Dwellers

Timestamps: 06:45 – 18:10

Indiana Pacers (Ranked #30):

• Historic dive following a promising run; now locked in for a top-four pick with eyes on “franchise guy for the next 15 years.”
• Simmons (06:36): "One of the weirdest situations...on the cusp of a championship, and in the blink of an eye, it's over. Their best player's gone and now they’re in tank mode."

Sacramento Kings (#29):

• Expensive, mismanaged roster with no clear direction.
• Westbrook subplot “the goofiest,” with Monk buried and contracts like Sabonis’ tough to move.

Washington Wizards (#28):

• Linked with Trae Young rumors. Simmons and Goldsberry dissect why trading for Trae is both enticing and perilous for DC.
• Goldsberry (11:23): "The market for anybody who is so sort of negative on that end of the court is...more efficient now...I wouldn't want them to get him and extend at the max."
• Simmons dishes on Trae’s “playoff folklore” being a little overblown (13:41).
  • Simmons (13:41): “We’ve seen guys dine out on playoff results that, when you look back, maybe weren’t as big as they seemed. Trae’s Conference Finals run happened in a weird year…”

Fringe-to-Young-and-Frisky Teams

Timestamps: 18:10 – 28:47

Brooklyn Nets:

• Michael Porter Jr. breakout expands trade possibilities. Simmons and Goldsberry debate trading him quickly to cement lottery position versus riding the momentum.
• Goldsberry (17:15): "MPJ works out a lot with Curry...insanely talented. But they need to trade him now if the objective is top-four pick."

Detroit Pistons:

• Identity: defense, rebounding—but lack shooting. Potential trade targets, including Harris/MPJ, dissected.
• Simmons highlights Sam Presti’s patience as a front office role model (21:27):
  • Simmons: "What would Sam Presti do? He wouldn’t do anything this year..."

Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets:

• Utah’s guard play and Charlotte’s young wings (especially Miller and Knipple) are legitimate foundations.
• Charlotte gets unique praise for recent upsets and “League Pass” value.
  • Simmons (24:24): "Best Hornets game in five years."

Teams on the Fence and Trade Machine Mania

Timestamps: 28:47 – 54:00

Dallas Mavericks:

• Deep-dive into tank versus “can’t quit yet”—Cooper Flag and assets potentially shaping their future, but front office chaos is a problem.
• Goldsberry (27:16): “Clear move: go to the bottom, add another blue chip to Flag and Lively. But will they? I don’t think so.”

Golden State Warriors:

• Curry’s brilliance can’t paper over offensive struggles and lack of secondary scoring. Porter Jr. floated as a trade chip; issues with Butler and Horford dissected.
• Simmons (50:00): "They need to add scoring. I just want to outscore other teams and do what the Celtics are doing.”

The Enigma Tier & Playoff Hopefuls

Timestamps: 54:00 – 99:55

Orlando Magic / Paolo Banchero:

• Concerns “he’s turning into a Juwan Howard-type…low efficiency, not a winning focal point.”
• Goldsberry (56:28): “You can’t take this many jumpers and be this bad at it and be a superstar.”

Philadelphia 76ers:

• Maxey and rookie VJ have become the backcourt’s heart, VJ drawing “is this just Dwyane Wade again?” comparisons.
• Simmons (58:18): “Initially I thought early Dwyane Wade, now—it might just be Dwyane Wade again.”
• Paul George and Embiid’s futures are debated; team is now “Maxey’s team” in the clutch (59:37).

Lakers, Cleveland, Clippers:

• Lakers’ stats don’t match record; “this screams lottery” given defense and negative net rating.
• Clippers quietly building; Harden and Kawhi’s resurgence discussed—Kawhi said to look best “since Toronto” (43:20).
• Goldsberry (43:20): “This is the best he’s played since Toronto, this stretch.”

Top-Tier Contenders and Themes

Timestamps: 99:55 – 98:44

• Minnesota, New York Knicks:

  • Knicks’ defense not championship-caliber (“multiple guys to pick on”).
  • Wolves-Knicks trade re-evaluated as a rare win-win.

• Boston Celtics:

  • “Next man up” culture, Simons as a sixth man, the impact of Tatum’s eventual return, Jalen Brown’s development as an offensive focal point, and the “Spanish pick-and-roll” evolution.
  • Goldsberry (76:44): “The next man up thing…the Spanish rookies, Keda’s energy, Missoula reinventing the offense around Jalen Brown…If you get prime Tatum back, it’s the NBA’s most interesting story."

• Thunder, Nuggets, Spurs, Rockets:

  • OKC’s cracks: shooting regression and rebounding trouble have “pulled them back to earth.” SGA isn’t drawing as many fouls; questions about Caruso/Dort’s impact.
  • Denver is “better than last year” if healthy; Simmons misses Jokic ("I just miss Jokic," 88:23).
  • San Antonio’s leap, with team chemistry prioritized over major trades (Kelton Johnson as emotional fulcrum).
  • Rockets and Detroit: To push now or wait?

Notable Quotes

• Simmons (13:41) on Trae Young:
  “We’ve seen him succeed in the playoffs—he led the Hawks to the Conference Finals. But, let’s go back and look at that year. If Ben Simmons doesn’t melt down, we’re not having the same conversation about Trae.”
• Goldsberry (40:59) on Giannis’ supporting cast:
  “I’m as big a Giannis guy as you’ll find in the media. I love him. And it’s just sad to see what they’ve surrounded him with.”
• Simmons (78:00) on Tatum’s value:
  “He was 10 rebounds a game and in the playoffs that goes up to 12...just getting the rebound and the defense and how smart...he is just getting that. We don’t need him to score 30 a game on this team anymore. He needs to fit in with the other stuff.”

NFL Segment: Eagles/Steelers Fan Therapy

With Chris Ryan, Craig Horlbeck
Timestamps: 100:17 – 151:57

Steelers

• Rogers Love Affair: Craig delighted by a playoff berth, waxing about Rodgers’ comeback and late-game resourcefulness.
• Steelers as resilient underdogs:
  • Appreciation for Tomlin’s ability to “bend the rules” and keep games ugly and close.
  • Hosting Houston viewed as a winnable matchup.

Eagles

• Chris Ryan on Philly’s offense:
  • “It’s a hard watch. It makes—it's a bummer.”
  • Frustration with conservative play-calling, little motion, and an offensive line in flux.
  • Playbook described as “vanilla,” causing irritation even post-Super Bowl.

Fan Base Report Card & Playoff Landscape

• Both discuss the weirdness of rooting for a recent champion that feels joyless or capped.
• Contemplate Philly/SF playoff matchup: “Drag you down to the mud.”
• Brady as a broadcaster: Panel agrees he’s stiff, robotic, occasional flashes of insight—“better on podcasts than in the booth.”

Memorable Moments & Humor

• Simmons riffing on the “NBA Cup Curse”—like making the semifinals ruins your second half.
• The running gag about franchises stuck “dining out” on past playoff runs (e.g., Trae Young’s 2021 ECF run).
• NFL playoff league discussion as superior to fantasy, and bits about the most “Jetsy” possible offseason moves.
• Simmons, joking about Mac Jones to the Jets:
  “Mac Jones playing on the Jets for $28 million a year would be the Jetsiest of Jets outcomes.” (137:41)

Top Segments By Timestamp

• NBA Power Rankings Begin: 04:40
• Pacers Dive / Kings Dysfunction: 06:45–10:48
• Trae Young Trade Rumors: 10:54–15:21
• Brooklyn & Michael Porter Jr. Dilemma: 16:03–18:10
• Coaching Trends: 18:33–19:08
• Detroit Trade Speculation: 19:15–22:53
• Young, Frisky Teams: 25:37–28:47
• Warriors Problems & Trade Talk: 50:00–54:00
• Celtics Renaissance Analysis: 74:59–81:08
• Thunder Recent Slump Deep-Dive: 91:16–99:17
• NFL Segment Begins: 100:17
• Rogers’ Playoff Masterpiece: 101:06–102:38
• Steelers/Eagles Fan Therapy: 113:52–117:58
• Brady’s Broadcasting Style: 109:05–112:07
• Jets/Jaguars/Jetsiest Outcomes: 137:37–138:18

Episode Takeaways

• NBA:

  • Youth-driven surprise teams are rising faster than expected.
  • Aging, high-salary stars and teams with mismatched rosters are stagnating or flailing.
  • Parity and evolving statistical inflation make clear hierarchies hard to cement, though teams like the Celtics, Nuggets, Thunder, & Spurs stand out as serious championship threats—with OKC suddenly mortal.
  • Trade market is uniquely constrained, fueling lots of speculation (MPJ, Anthony Davis, Trae Young among hot names).

• NFL:

  • Rooting for post-championship teams is weird and unsatisfying when the product stagnates (Eagles).
  • Steelers fans are clinging to Rodgers’ craftiness and playoff voodoo, hopeful against Houston.
  • National playoff narratives are flipping with new QBs entering and old guards (Mahomes, Lamar) phased out; excitement is wide open.

Tone

• Witty, irreverent, and conversational as always—Simmons’ longstanding blend of sharp insight, Simpsons references, and sports media parody.
• Kirk Goldsberry brings measured Xs and Os depth, while Chris Ryan and Craig Horlbeck inject fan exasperation and gallows humor in the NFL section.

End Note

This episode is a must-listen for NBA die-hards desiring a tier-by-tier check-in on all 30 teams and the side plots worth tracking, as well as NFL fans seeking a blend of playoff preview and exasperated fan commiseration.