[Bill Simmons Podcast] Joe House “I want to go on record with LeBron, I think he’s going to Philadelphia”
Bill Simmons “Oh wow, I would bet anything against that”. 7/22/26
Bill Simmons has had the worst offseason of all time
Nah, “I had a camera in my ass and then I had Paul George rammed up my ass” is an all timer
Probably his single finest podcast moment.
Nothing will ever touch his old columns. There are a couple which might be the actual best pieces of sports writing ever produced. And there was also crap. But the pod is a different animal.
His piece back in the day about the decades of epic failure and stupidity by the pre-Steph Warriors management is an all time good read
That’s a great one too. And the Clippers stuff was always incredible.
I still go back and read the Atrocious GM Summit every now and then:
https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060224
The Luka trade pod is still elite work from everyone involved.
I miss russillo, he was perfect for that pod. “He could be smoking bringing the ball up the court”
It’s such a shame that acquiring Zach Lowe meant that Russillo had to go. I would love a Sunday basketball pod with all 3 guys.
I miss The Sports Guy on Page 2 so fucking much.
There are a couple which might be the actual best pieces of sports writing ever produced.
Aight calm down
I’m a Philly fan. I have every reason to hate on him lol. But I stand by it. His piece about raising a sports fan and, while not really about sports, the piece eulogizing his dog are downright amazing. His trade value stuff was always incredible too during Grantland.
And then there’s the Book of Basketball. You might not agree with the conclusions he comes to, but holy shit is that an amazing read.
Book of basketball is one of the best sports reads I’ve ever experienced. I was so disappointed (although not really surprised) when his 2.0 was just a series of fairly mediocre podcasts
Yeah I think he just lost the drive to write. It’s fair enough. His life is too good to get angry enough to rant for 3500 words anymore.
I mean it worked out brilliantly for him with the netflix money, I just miss his early stuff and especially the grantland era stuff from pretty much the entire team. The ringer always felt weird in comparison
Hbo paid him like 2 million bucks to make 6 episodes of a tonight show.
He’s living it lol
Forget Netflix money. The Spotify acquisition of the Ringer was generational wealth.
I’ve become a Simmons hater in my later years (he was so insufferable on ESPN) but you jogged a memory with that dog eulogy. It was an all timer.
He definitely was not meant for TV.
“Do I get to speak now? It’s been like 10 minutes” was the cringiest sentence ever spoken on NBA countdown.
He’s great but he’s no Jon Bois. Dude gets a little too cute with the pop culture references from time to time, and he’s creepy as all hell, especially with his older stuff. I like that Jon focuses on sports and the stories around them instead of inserting his weird sex fantasies all over the place.
Love Jon Bois, but don’t know all that much about him. Why the creep tag? Actually curious lol
Bill has toned it down but his old columns / Book of Basketball are filled with irrelevant passages that serve no purpose other than to sexualize / objectify women. I don’t get the sense that he’s a predator or anything, just an overly horny guy who feels like everyone else needs to know how horny he is.
Jon writes for one thing only and that’s love of the game.
Oh I thought you meant that Bois is a creep lol, yea I’m aware of Bill’s endlessly sophomoric spirit
Nah I could never say a bad thing about Bois. Dude honestly made me love sports again after not caring for a decade. He’s the best sports storyteller we have dammit
Well somethings gotta be the best, and Bill knows how to tap into the mythological side of sports which baseball revels in but basketball often lacks
I honestly agree, at least with some individual articles. The Page 2 piece about the Red Sox 2004 beating the Yankees and being at Fenway for that is genuinely one of the best sports articles ever written imo.
i know others are chipping in on this but i have not seen anyone mention Roger Angell’s writing…if anyone reading hasnt heard of him, easily the greatest baseball writer of all time and up there with Dr Z for my fav sportswriter of all time.
His recent comments on Caleb Wilson:
“If I was a Bulls fan, I would have no sperm left in my body, I would lose my mind.” “It’s like when we had the colonoscopy. It was when they give you the stuff to clean your colon out. That’s what Caleb Wilson was for sperm. Oh my God!”
“If I was a Bulls fan, I would have no sperm left in my body, I would lose my mind.”
“It’s like when we had the colonoscopy. It was when they give you the stuff to clean your colon out. That’s what Caleb Wilson was for sperm. Oh my God!”
The GOAT ain’t washed.
Does need a shower and a dart though.
It had me laughing all day ngl. Since the entire pod isn’t on YouTube i just watch the shorts. Safe to say Bill had his fastball at 101 that day.
and now he’s double penetrated by LePhilly
This has been the summer of colonoscopies
Bill is kind of at his best when he’s dumb. Shit’s funny.
Im not sure why people take Bill that seriously as an analyst. I mean, hes smart and educated and has some inside info on the NBA, but hes like 95% an entertainer. I’ve been a fan of his since early page 2 ESPN days bc hes entertaining and makes me laugh, not bc of his analysis. I want pop culture references, ridiculous drafts/redraft, and silly lists…thats Bill at his best
I see him as an NBA historian more than anything.
This also isn’t a ‘dumb’ take just friends talking. His statement isn’t crazy
Therefore he is always at his best
No way, he’s been around a long time. The KG-Allen-Pierce trio getting split up, Bird hurting his back, Len Bias dying, that’s all in play I think.
Counting or not counting the colonoscopy?
Can someone make a highlight video of his offseason??
Don’t forget the worst playoffs too!
The Magic are a thing so they’re not the worst unfortunately
lol imagine being eliminated by the magic
Bill what is you doing baby
He’s out of sperm and now this
Bill Simmons is the Ben Simmons of people named Bill Simmons.
The cost of the re apex
definitely top 7 worst in the past 38 years
He never had a good read on this one at all. The Sixers murmurs were very much there. Surprising too since he literally works with Rich Paul.
Yeah it’s kind of shocking in general that so many people are of the notion that the sixers signing him is “out of nowhere.” By far it seemed like the longest shot, but they were firmly one of the final teams in the race the entire time.
i thought golden state was the longest shot. after we didn’t get AD I thought there was absolutely 0 chance but people kept talking like we were in the running. I thought the top 2 were Cleveland and Philly and I also didn’t think Miami really had a chance.
Yeah it was weird it seemed like GS was the frontrunner and then very quickly they became the least likely team for him to join of the teams mentioned.
Lebron wasnt signing there the moment people started calling him LeBlanche, we did it reddit, we successfully bullied NBA players
All of those Olden State Veteran memes really turned him off lol
I still think GS was the best fit by far, I’m kind of bummed that didn’t happen (AD to GS too). They would have been interesting to watch and a very fun, potentially formidable playoff team. I don’t think Philly will work out, and he’s going to slow down their trio of Maxey/VJ/JB. Their speed was one of their biggest strengths, so that could be a problem for them. Idk, I guess Philly is interesting too, but to see the old guys teaming up in GS would have been a truly unique experience in the history of basketball.
GSW would have been fun seeing him and curry together, but I absolutely do not think it was the best fit unless he was looking for a 2nd round playoff exit.
Honestly, considering how his last stint in miami ended and how awful their roster construction is, I’m shocked anyone thought so highly of lebron to miami
Yeah that’s true. I thought Miami cause it wouldn’t be meaningless basketball by any stretch, and it’s a destination city for sure.
You guys have great pudding, the nurses are nice and tuck you in and you have a nice section where all the grandpas can compare which of their grand child draws the best.
GS made sense for being close to LA and close friends teaming up with steph and dray. Coulda been a fun old heads team. I think there was a chance. I dont think sixers are all that much better than the dubs, if jimmy is healthy and KP is healthy. Also with embiid being healthy. Who’s on their bench, Dean wade? Dubs would have yaxel, santos, horford, podz (with lebron).
I thought it seemed like the best fit on paper basketball wise but I just honestly didn’t think he’d want to go to Philly and that’s not a shot at Philly but I just assumed he’d prefer going home or going to one of the states he’s already lived in Cali/Florida. But there was so much just nonsense floating around about his wife and kids making the final decision, etc etc.
Yep even when he went to LAL, Philly seemed like a much better basketball choice, with two of the most exciting up and coming talents.
I agree completely. I love Philly for what it is, but I’d never blame a guy for not wanting to spend his last years here lol
I think people just looked at it like “why would he do that?” And was set on him returning to Cleveland which is what I personally thought. Dude really chose potentially boosting his legacy winning the Sixers a ring over money(LA) and going back home and I respect the hell out of it.
A lot of people seemed set on the idea he wanted a storybook ending and thus would definitely team-up with Steph or do one more run in Miami or Cleveland.
Wasn’t the money the big issue? Like who actually believed he was actually gonna take that big of a pay cut, when that had been a rumor for the whole last decade of LeCareer and he always took the money in the end (nothing wrong with that!).
I feel like after the JB trade I’ve heard Philly more than any other team - seemed like pundits felt Philly supplanted Minny as the Best Basketball Location, and then people kept throwing out GS as the Narrative Option
When you think about him leaving the Lakers, Philly made the next most sense - 42 year old doesn’t want to play center, leaves team with no centers, moves to team with all-nba center and good forward depth. Minny is shot at frontcourt, just too thin at center/PF to feel comfy that you won’t get shoehorned in there.
Yeah, but Rich ain’t telling him shit.
They’re not close like that.
COnspiracy Bill Time:
Rich Paul told him, and the intent was to help make sure Philly was the most surprising pick possible.
Probably for gambling purposes
Had to make a last-ditch appearance on the Rich Paul pod a couple days ago to get him to GSW/keep him away from the East lol
Yeah I can’t lie I saw that clip and thought “Yep he’s coming to Philly”
No one had a good read. That’s why all the speculation this summer was pointless and stupid.
bill said this right after doing a pod with rich paul and max kellerman too lol
If you say „I would bet against that“ and somebody responds with „what do you wanna bet“, just abort. 99,9% that person knows something and knows he‘s right
Joe house did not know anything lmao
then he and the 1% commenter would get along great
Yeah, also these guys also do over under podcasts on everything because they all love gambling
What do you want to bet?
what if rich paul told house as a joke because he knew nobody would believe him
Joe House just says anything with confidence. Just got lucky
Still true in almost every scenario
Closer to 70% than 99.9% though
Nah. People talk a big game all the time
Okay keep arguing against it just for the sake of it negative nancy
What do you wanna bet?
Not how it works but nice try, definitely sounded better in your head tho
That’s what you got from this clip? That Joe House had insider information?
House is literally just bill simmons friend he doesn’t have any inside insight
Well not only is he getting dinner with Bill, he’s getting dinner with food
Or…he is an obvious gambling addict, and has enough money to make any “fun” bet with his other rich friends.
I agree but betting dinner is always nice, even if you loose, you can have a nice dinner with a friend. If you are rich, it doesn’t matter who pays.
A dinner that has food. As opposed to what?
Soup is not a meal!
Did he crumble any crackers in it?
“I didn’t tell you to have a hotdog! Who told you to have a hotdog?!”
Soup is good food. You make a good meal
A dinner à la human centipede
I don’t listen to their podcast, but that felt like an inside joke
He just trolls Joe House for eating a lot. It’s a low-effort attempt at a joke from Bill
Might be an Old School reference?
A dinner that has sex.
A dinner jacket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQQnhq3tf1I
tbf Bill is rich enough to have “options” ….
A liquid dinner
All the sperm in his body
Bill gonna go get two Costco dogs out of spite to keep it cheap as possible.
If I was a Philly fan I would have no sperm left in my body. It would just be ejaculate in every room of my house
I wouldnt lol between embid and LeBron this team will get bounced in round 1
You’re not even doing the Philly second round exit meme right, cmon man
You watch they will fall apart , they dont have the it factor the east will be a dog fight
They always fall apart, yes, in the second round. At least be funny with your takes!
My take isnt meant to be funny.. they will get ran through
Yes I’m saying it should’ve been
I dont want it to be they will be funny enough this year
bill is so salty rn he was practically begging LeBron to the warriors
he kept saying lebron is going back to cleveland
As a Celtics fan first and foremost he just really wanted to believe LeBron wasn’t going to do something which would help one of Bill’s biggest rivals.
I hope he was back under anesthesia when it happened.
It’s a done deal once he said Trust the Process during his interview with Hali.
Absolutely hilarious
Simmons wrong again. Whats new
He isn’t nearly as important in nba circles as he thinks he is. Hes spent his entire career acting like a brat when he doesnt like something. Read into what the others at ESPN thought about working with him. He would tell his editors that he didnt need to make any corrections to his articles, he acted like a baby when he was doing commentary during the finals because the people with actual knowledge were talking and not asking for him to compare the game to a Celtics game from the 80s.
He’s done better at assembling talent, he has a gift for that, clearly. Grantland, The Ringer, 30 for 30. Otherwise, hes an overgrown frat boy who loves the sound of his own voice.
Dumbass
Love this for Jaylen brown cuz they’re gonna beat the Celtics on a way to the finals lol
Bill Simmon’s biggest take was that Bron was going to “wait it out” till october/november before deciding, just for the fuck of it.
He’s genuinely been such a dumbass through this whole postseason storyline lmao
Dude, at least dont be disingenuous here. That was an admittedly hot take by him. He was saying he should do that, he didnt actually think he would
Bill interchanges “i think he should” with “i still think he might” and “if i was him, why wouldn’t i just”
When he talks about the same topic a handful of times
Lol. Bill Simmons is a 1st ballot Freezing Cold Takes Hall of Famer alongside Nick Wright and Brandon Walker
I would bet anything against anything Bill Simmons says, so this checks out.
Honestly I kinda surprised so many people didn’t think Philly was possible.
I get assuming that Lebron would end his story back in Cleveland, but aside from that the Sixers were the team that was consistently seen a top candidate after the Brown trade and the team that multiple hints/links to Lebron during LeWait.
Looking forward to this one even more than the JB one
Bill Simmons embarrassing himself? wow Shocking
Bill just can’t stop losing with NBA takes this year. At this point I’d bet on the Wolves making the Finals purely based on his hatred of the Lamelo trade
Who cares about a prediction about where a player will sign. Stuff like this and Shams being the first to report, who gives af
Rich Paul said it was on the board!!
House is a legend in his own time for so many reasons
Bill Simmons is wrong about something?
On my internet?
well I never…
Need an emergency pod
I was with Bill
Joe House is the man
On this one I can see it. It really didn’t make sense to pull the basketball card on this move since there were no real contenders on his list. Nuggets would’ve been interesting from a pure X’s and O’s perspective, but that’s about it.
Him joining current Sixers is another version of the Lakers last season. Probably better overall because of depth and conference.
Would bet anything then proceeds to bet just a dinner lmao. Better be a very expensive one
Same convo I had with my mom who hasn’t watched ball in like 20 years, but started paying attention again because of the Knicks. She’s never gonna let it go that she “knew” where LeBron was going to go.
Okay but like all of you here would have made that same bet so lol
All of you suddenly acting like you saw this coming lmao
Has Simmons ever been right?!
you beat me to this
Why does anyone give a s*** what simmons thinks
Nets fans have been tuned out of Simmons for years. Glad everyone’s finally coming around.
I dont want to give bill too much credit but I think its definitely possibly rich paul had already given bill the Intel on thr condition Bill say anything to throw people off the scent
Lol
Enjoy your dinner that has food, House
Simmons the most biased reporter there is. You can’t take anything he says about the Celtics, Lakers, and clippers seriously- or anyone who has played for those teams.
Bill is wrong all the time, no surprise here
Philly always made the most basketball sense but the other places had history. The only reason for the Cleveland return the first time I think was to right the wrong of leaving Cleveland in 2010, and he did that. There was nothing he could possibly do there to ever top 2016.
If being home was that important to him he would’ve signed with Cleveland weeks ago.
Philly does not make more sense basketball-wise than the Wolves
LeBron is the biggest ring chaser of all time. He’s insufferable. Will he ever retire?
Sixers were pretty obvious because it was the only team that didn’t make sense. Cleveland, GS and Miami all kinda “made sense”. Sixers being the odd one out made it seem like there were other reasons as opposed to just “this makes sense in the story of his career”
Joe is cracking those cheeks after the dinner too
fuck philly