The Bill Simmons Podcast – October 8, 2025

Episode Title: Why Giannis Won’t Be a Knick, UFC’s Latest Boom, the Movie Theater Renaissance, Six Stages of Sean Penn, and ‘One Battle After Another’
Guests: Ariel Helwani (MMA journalist), Wesley Morris (NYT critic)
Host: Bill Simmons

Overview

This episode features three major conversations:

• NBA Rumors: Bill Simmons and Ariel Helwani dissect the ongoing Giannis Antetokounmpo/Knicks rumors, the mechanics of a blockbuster trade, and the new NBA salary cap environment.
• UFC’s Current Boom: Simmons and Helwani discuss Alex Pereira's latest win, UFC’s surge, returning stars, and how upcoming TV deals are reshaping the sport.
• Hollywood/Movie Industry: Wesley Morris joins Bill to analyze the resurgence of original films, shifts in moviegoing behavior, the six stages of Sean Penn’s career, and a spirited review of Paul Thomas Anderson’s "One Battle After Another".

Timestamps mark key segments and standout moments.

NBA: Why Giannis Won’t Be a Knick

[06:30–31:25] Bill Simmons, Ariel Helwani

The State of the Rumors

• Recurring Knicks/Giannis Stories:
  • Ariel as a Knicks fan: “People like to use the Knicks for leverage. That's been the move, right?...The times, they are different now...People actually want to go to the Knicks.” [07:39]
• Why a Trade is Logistically Impossible:
  • Knicks are “hard capped” under the new CBA’s second apron.
  • “There's no path. And it's the part that's not getting mentioned and reported enough.” — Simmons [08:58]
  • Knicks made all-in moves (Bridges, Towns, Anunoby) and have no enticing draft capital.

Milwaukee’s Perspective

• Why Would the Bucks Trade Giannis?
  • Bucks lack their own picks—no incentive to bottom out: “If you're in Milwaukee, why wouldn't you just keep Giannis, one of the best players in the league...The Knicks don't have anything to offer. They made their moves already. That's the problem.” — Simmons [09:55]
  • Ariel agrees: “Historically, you don't trade a generational great for no picks.” [11:05]
• Milwaukee Still Competitive:
  • Turner deal, Lillard trade—Bucks not acting like rebuilders.
  • Weak East means Milwaukee can contend.

Hypotheticals & Star Movement

• LeBron and Giannis: New Era Dynamics:
  • “This new apron era...guys are kinda stuck...they don’t have the outs in the same way.” — Simmons [14:20]
  • Knicks acquiring LeBron: “I'm good on LeBron. He had his chance in 2010...That makes no sense.” — Ariel [15:18]
• Giannis’ Playoff History:
  • Giannis: just 8 playoff series wins; LeBron: 41; Tatum: 15.
  • “He just hasn't been in enough big games...I just want to be in the playoffs...I think it’s really starting to get to him.” — Simmons [17:16]
  • Ariel: “He did everything that he said he was going to do...It just speaks to his competitive spirit...Could you imagine if he did it in New York?” [19:26]

The Real Issue

• No viable Knicks trade package.
  • Bridges deal “shut the door” on a Giannis trade: “You’re kinda. This is now your window...You’ve shut the door on [trading for] Giannis.” — Simmons [21:40]
    • Ariel: “I wish they could do that one over.”
• Bucks’ Dilemma:
  • “If the Knicks were like, cool, Towns and Anunoby for Giannis...I'd rather just keep Giannis.” — Simmons [23:10]
• Final Takeaways:
  • “There’s no real rush...unless [Giannis] says, get me out of here.” — Simmons [23:27]
  • Ariel: “It doesn't quite feel like something that's going to come to fruition. And by the way, the Knicks are going to be in a completely different spot...they'll be defending champs this time next year.” [23:32]

Notable Quotes

• “As crazy as that may sound, we're good. We've got a great team. Why screw this up?” — Ariel [25:24]

UFC: Pereira’s Win, 2026 Boom, and the Paramount Deal

[33:59–54:00] Bill Simmons, Ariel Helwani

Pereira’s Return & The Rise of UFC Stars

• Pereira’s win:
  • Came back “like Michael Myers” and crushed the champ, winning the Light Heavyweight title back. [33:59]
  • “Take that personally and you saw the result. This was just what the doctor ordered for the UFC.” — Ariel [34:45]
• 2026: Possibly Best Year Ever for UFC:
  • Ariel: “2016 was the greatest year in UFC history. 2026 might actually top it if a few things break in their favor.”
• Pereira’s Place in History:
  • Bill: “He ends an 18 fight win streak from Strickland, 23 from Izzy...” [36:09]
  • Ariel: “If he beats Jon, he goes down as the greatest ever...No one has ever won three titles in the UFC.” [39:37]

Fight Booking & Business

• Jon Jones vs. Pereira “Could Actually Happen”:
  • Ariel: “Now everything has changed...Pereira wants to fight Jon Jones...Jon has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.” [37:55]
• UFC’s Star Pipeline:
  • Connor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Kayla Hariss—possible returns.
  • “You could potentially get Connor back, Jon back, Ronda back...Paramount Plus—they’ve stepped in something here. This is a great time to be in the UFC business.” [40:35]

TV/Streaming Changes

• Paramount Plus as New Home:
  • “I think it's going to be gigantic...Imagine just turning on Paramount Plus and getting all these massive fights.” [43:20]
  • Special “White House Card” on CBS/Father’s Day, June 14, 2026:
    • “They're going to bring him the best. So...potentially Jon Jones, Conor McGregor...the only one who has said they don't want to be on the card is Ronda Rousey.” [44:12]

The UFC’s Only Competition—Still Weak

• PFL isn’t a true rival:*
  • Ariel: “They have an incredible opportunity to be the counter to the ufc...They can't get out of their own way.” [42:06]

Notable Quotes

• “What do we call the pay-per-views now? ...I think we're going to go PLEs (premium live events) like WWE does.” — Ariel [48:14]

NFL: Bills, Patriots, and AFC Mess

[55:35–63:44] Bill Simmons, Ariel Helwani

• Bills upset by Patriots:
  • Ariel: “I'm very nervous...We don't have that guy, that WR1...Who's that top dog? And I worry.” [56:58]
• Pats Resurgence:
  • Simmons: “All the Pats fans have just been out here touting the Drake May potential...” [57:51]
  • Ariel: “You guys are the Spurs. You will always figure it out. You have become the Spurs of the NFL.” [58:10]
• AFC in Flux
  • “Bills, Chiefs, Ravens...these three teams that just felt like they were going to be running the AFC for the rest of the decade.” — Simmons [59:10]
  • Ariel: “It’s right there for us...the lane is right there. I just don't want that to blow up.” [59:09]

Movie Talk: The Renaissance, Sean Penn, and “One Battle After Another”

[68:45–118:34] Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris

The Movie Theater Renaissance

• Original IP, Return to Theaters:
  • Bill: “Hollywood is finally starting to figure it out...we're going back to making real IP trusting directors.” [68:45]
  • “People like going to the movies again...I had to go see it yesterday at 4:30 so I could see it on IMAX. I skipped the Monday night game!” [70:11]
• Industry Shifts:
  • “The A24s and Neons of the world are...the movies that have their finger on something.” — Wesley [71:52]
  • The “pipeline clog” because of strikes and COVID has brought directors and original films back to the fore.
• The Issue With Comedy vs. Horror:
  • “Comedies are not back. Horror and comedy used to be dead even...something flipped.” — Bill [79:32]

Six Stages of Sean Penn

• Stage 1: Coolest ’80s California guy—Fast Times, Bad Boys, emblematic of the era
• Stage 2: Bad boy/tabloid star (Madonna, fights, paparazzi)
• Stage 3: Actor’s Ascent—serious, different, gritty roles
• Stage 4: Mid-’90s “being Sean Penn”, mixing Oscar chasing and weird projects
• Stage 5: The Oscars Decade—Mystic River, Milk, legendary status
• Stage 6: Recent years—veteran, unpredictable supporting roles
  • “At the end, what is he now? ...Can’t think of another career like this.” — Bill [89:15]
  • Wesley: “Is he ever a movie star? Did we vote to pay to see this person in a movie?” [92:10]

“One Battle After Another”: Analysis & Debate

• PTA’s Superpower:
  • “Something about the performances he gets from actors that's like his superpower.” — Bill [101:54]
• A Film for This Moment:
  • “This is the first movie he's made in the present...not afraid of what's happening now.” — Wesley [105:41]
• Character Critique (Major spoilers):
  • Bill’s big nitpick: The Teyana Taylor character—her choices make her irredeemable, and the movie’s ending tries to win you back with a letter. “I've already decided you're a terrible person...I couldn’t get over it.” [108:26]
  • Wesley: “What point does a character stop being a representation of something and begin being an individual human who makes shitty decisions? … I think that terrible choices were made, but that's long enough time to regret having made them.” [110:47]
• Comedy vs. Dread in the Movie:
  • Bill: “I just didn't think the movie was funny...PTA has done some of the funniest stuff in drama-type movies.” [115:24]
  • Wesley: “It's an atmospheric comedy...I think this movie is coming from a really deep place...” [116:06]

Notable Quotes

• “All the scenes, all the shots, everything is so painstakingly thought out and well done...top of the line.” — Bill [102:39]
• “I found this woman and her energy utterly exhilarating.” — Wesley on Teyana Taylor’s character [114:28]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Kudos to Netflix. Just cashing in on those murders”—Bill [00:00, intro section]
• “As long as you have Giannis, especially in a very, very, very weak Eastern Conference, there's a scenario where things click for them this year...” —Ariel [10:18]
• On potential MSG parade: “Bring Giannis at the parade!” — Ariel [23:52]
• “They're going to bring [Trump] the best. This is Donald Trump...I want Tyson, I want WrestleMania, bring me the best.” — Ariel [44:12]
• “You guys are the Spurs. You will always figure it out. You have become the Spurs of the NFL.” — Ariel [58:10]
• “At what point does a character stop being a representation of something and begin being an individual human who makes shitty decisions?” — Wesley [110:47]

Structuring Key Timestamps

• 06:30 NBA/Knicks/Giannis trade talk begins
• 17:16 Giannis playoff series stat, NBA star movement
• 21:40 Knicks’ window closed for Giannis
• 33:59 UFC—Pereira, 2026, star returns
• 44:12 White House UFC card
• 55:35 Bills/Patriots/AFC chaos
• 68:45 Movie theater renaissance, directors, original IP
• 89:15 Six stages of Sean Penn
• 101:54 “One Battle After Another” deep dive
• 108:26 Teyana Taylor character debate

Conclusion

A wide-ranging, lively episode, classic for its sports-media-pop culture DNA.

• Simmons and Helwani bring sharp analysis (and fan pain) to the NBA and NFL, mapping how new rules and decisions are altering league destinies.
• UFC’s future comes alive with returns of old stars, new TV models, and Monster Fights looming.
• The movie segment is a cinephile’s treat—two critics debating not just films, but what makes movies matter, from communal experience to flawed protagonists and aging icons.

For NBA trade nerds, fight fans, or movie obsessives alike, this is a packed, must-hear episode—one that captures the crossroads of where sports and pop culture are headed at the end of 2025.