The Bill Simmons Podcast

Episode: “The Rockets' Rise and NBA League Pass Rankings With Zach Lowe, Plus Week 11 NFL Picks With Joe House”

Date: November 21, 2025

Guests: Zach Lowe, Joe House

Overview

In this action-packed episode, Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Zach Lowe for a deep, in-person conversation focused on the first six weeks of the NBA, highlighted by an updated League Pass Rankings draft and a special spotlight on the surging Houston Rockets. The pair break down why some teams are must-watch and get granular with trends, player development, and team chemistry, particularly in Houston, Detroit, and San Antonio. The episode also includes NFL Week 11 Picks with Joe House and a sidebar discussion of the Ringer Top 100 NBA players. The tone is fast-paced, insightful, occasionally irreverent, loaded with NBA nerdery and Simmons' signature banter.

Episode Breakdown

1. Opening and Setup

(Ad reads and intros skipped. Content begins at 03:08)

• Location Note: Bill Simmons is recording from New York City; Zach Lowe traveled via two trains (“Metro North to subway” - 03:08).
• Banter on train rides, being recognized in NYC, and Knicks vs. Nets energy (“Meeting a Nets fan, even in New York, is only slightly more common than meeting, like, a Magic fan in New York. It's that bad.” - Lowe, 03:38).
• Brief digression on the deadness of the Barclays Center for Nets games versus Liberty games (“Liberty games are awesome. The Liberty games are live.” - Lowe, 04:43).

2. League Pass Rankings – The Draft

(Main NBA segment starts at 05:17)

Premise

• Bill and Zach run a draft: if all 30 NBA teams played at once, and you had one game to pick on League Pass, which teams are most watchable and why?
• The focus is not pure power rankings, but a blend of fun, curiosity, stylistic intrigue, and narrative drama.

Top Picks & Deep Dives

1. Denver Nuggets

• Zach takes Denver #1, citing Jokic’s genius:

  “The Jokic stuff just gets crazy…Did you see the one handed, underhand off the Backboard floater? It was very Larry Bird – like, I'm so fucking bored.” (Lowe, 06:56)

• Bill credits their depth and overall entertainment, especially Jokic and Murray’s form.

2. Houston Rockets (CONTENT SPOTLIGHT: Main thematic focus of the episode)

• Bill’s pick; expresses unprecedented excitement for watching the Rockets.
• “Most fun I've had watching Kevin Durant play basketball since 2017, since year one Warriors.” (Simmons, 11:34)
• Rockets’ evolution:
  • #1 offense in the league
  • 41% offensive rebounding rate (“unheard of…They're Absolutely gigantic.” - Lowe, 13:07)
  • Sengun’s breakout as an all-around offensive creator (“A seven footer who can get the ball at the top of the arc and just dribble all the way into a hook shot…that’s pretty rare” - Lowe, 13:21)
  • Kevin Durant’s role as a “big brother” mentor to Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard
• Team described as “a competitive, physical nightmare” (Simmons, 18:41)
• Ime Udoka’s impact is praised for instilling toughness:

  “Talk about a team built in his image of like, I just wanna kick your ass.” (Lowe, 22:50)

• Chemistry and body language: Top tier
• Quote:

  “I think they have great chemistry. I haven't seen Durant on a team like this.” (Simmons, 17:31)

3. San Antonio Spurs

• Picked next, with focus on Wembanyama’s “can’t miss” factor, even as he deals with a calf injury.
• Discussion of “accelerating” their rebuild and managing tall-player injury risk (“Assume an eight to 12 year career and not anything more than that. You hear it is all I'm saying.” – Lowe, 09:33).
• Even without Wemby, team is a compelling watch due to youth and promise.
• “It's hard to miss a Wemby game because four ridiculous things are gonna happen in every single game.” (Lowe, 28:08)

4. Detroit Pistons

• Bill’s hot take; “They're like a hockey team where they might mix it up. It might be like…a third line brawl in the third period in a 5, 2 game.” (Simmons, 37:40)
• Jalen Duren’s all-star leap, Cade Cunningham’s growth, and gritty, physical play flagged as reasons for high ranking.
• Ongoing debate: Should they make a big trade to advance their timetable?

Other Notable Team Picks and Takes

• Lakers: Picked by Lowe, citing fascination with how LeBron fits with this iteration, Austin Reaves’ surprising numbers, and the “good theater” of big-market drama (38:42).
• Charlotte Hornets: Bill plants his flag on “enjoying bad teams,” loving rookie Knippel and the broadcast stylings of Eric Collins (“Eric Collins had the broadcasting performance of the year” – Simmons, 45:02).
• Golden State Warriors: Still ranked high, but increasingly frustrating and facing a low ceiling. (“It was a fun 10 days though [for Kumingaa]” Simmons, 46:27).
• Chicago Bulls: “They’re a boxer that has great fights with everybody else…great time, great hang.” (Simmons, 50:23)
• Knicks: Pressure, broadcast quality, and the ongoing “Tibbs fired pressure” keeps them fun (54:12).
• Atlanta Hawks: Bill especially likes the version “without Trae Young” for the collective defensive energy and role players (55:11).

3. Subplots & Sidebar: Ringer NBA Top 100 & Individual Talent Leaps

(63:21 onward)

• Bill and Zach compare notes on big risers and surprises in their Ringer Top 100 ballots:
  • Special focus on AJ Mitchell, Con Knippel, Jalen Duren (“26th, which means you have him over like, bam, out of bio” – Lowe, 65:29), Deni Avdija, Sengun (13:07), Reed Sheppard, and Cade Cunningham.
  • Discussion balances stats with “eye test” and occasionally ribbing each other for aggressive rankings.

4. NBA Trends and Watchability Quick Hits

• Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and OKC get praised for their depth, bench play, and defensive intensity.
• Oklahoma City’s defense:

  “Just so fun to watch them get to a gear on defense where you can see the other team be like, we just got to go to the next game.” (Lowe, 75:01)

• Maxi and Edgecombe in Philadelphia flagged as must-watch, with speculation about potential team trajectory.
• Infectious skepticism about teams like Orlando, Memphis, Sacramento, and especially Brooklyn (“This is a disgrace of a team” – Simmons, 112:23).

5. NFL Week 11 Picks with Joe House

(From 124:19 onward; NFL fans, skip ahead to 125:08 for picks)

• Bill and House riff on which games to stay away from, like Packers-Vikings and Browns-Raiders, expressing particular disdain for QBs they can't trust.
• Weekly favorites discussed: Chiefs, Lions, Patriots, and Jags.
• House delivers betting advice, including live-betting angles and how early-season schedules and coaching trends influence picks.
• Notable quote:

  “All credit to [Kirk] Cousins…one of a kind. Can’t play professional football.” (House, 149:34)

6. Memorable Moments & Quotes (With Timestamps)

• Rockets Breakout:
  • “Most fun I've had watching Kevin Durant play basketball since 2017.” (Simmons, 11:34)
  • “They are…supremely entertaining to watch.” (Lowe, 07:51)
• Spurs/Wemby Outlook:
  • “Is this just where we're going to be with Wemby?...you do hear people around the league…almost assuming that his career ends up being shorter than they think.” (Lowe, 09:33)
• League Pass Philosophy:
  • “The heart wants what the heart wants. I enjoy watching Charlotte.” (Simmons, 44:01)
• Live Show Nerves:
  • Zach on his first live event: “The level of difference was jarring and…kind of shook me up for the first 10 or 15 minutes.” (Lowe, 121:09)
• Nets Despair:
  • “This is a disgrace of a team. It's just terrible what they did. I don't…It's embarrassing to watch.” (Simmons, 112:23)

7. Closing / Housekeeping

• Closing with Bill and House on Boston/New York lifestyle contrasts and a light touch of pop culture (Stephen A. Smith banter about Drake May, 154:53).
• Previews for upcoming episodes and live shows.

Summary: Why Listen to This Episode?

• Detailed, Real-Time Analysis: You get a sense of which teams are truly must-watch from seasoned NBA obsessives who back up claims with statistics, eye test, and chemistry readings.
• Exclusive Rockets Breakdown: The centerpiece is a nuanced, stats and culture-heavy dive into how the Rockets, once an afterthought, have turned into an NBA must-watch juggernaut.
• Insider Chatter & Wit: The personalities and dynamics between Simmons, Lowe, and House mean the conversation is as entertaining as it is informative—with plenty of memorable one-liners, in-jokes, and real-time reactions.
• NFL Integration: Good for anyone who likes their NBA with a dash of football and enjoys practical sports-betting banter.
• Player Development Watch: The Top 100 mini-segment runs through which young players and breakouts the sharpest NBA media voices are actually buying stock in.
• Unfiltered, Timely, and Completely Connected to the 2025 Season’s Vibe.

Essential Timestamps

• 05:17 – Start of League Pass Team Draft
• 11:34 – Rockets Deep Dive Begins (“Most fun I've had watching Kevin Durant…”)
• 22:50 – Ime Udoka’s Culture Impact on Houston (“A team built in his image…”)
• 37:40 – Detroit Pistons: Physical makeover, Duren’s leap, and trade debates
• 63:21 – Ringer 100 Rankings – Surprises & Debates
• 75:01 – OKC’s Defensive Nightmare
• 124:19 – Start of NFL Picks with Joe House

Recommended For: Any NBA fan who wants a pulse-check on how the early 2025-26 season has started, why the Rockets have truly “arrived,” insider debates on how to watch the league, and a little football betting as dessert. The episode expertly blends stats, stories, human drama, and signature humor.