LakerMania, NBA Expansion, WBC Lessons, and MBJ’s Moment With Billy Gil and Wesley Morris

Summary of LakerMania, NBA Expansion, WBC Lessons, and MBJ’s Moment With Billy Gil and Wesley Morris

by The Ringer

2h 13m•March 20, 2026
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Overview of LakerMania, NBA Expansion, WBC Lessons, and MBJ’s Moment (The Ringer / Bill Simmons Podcast)

This episode covers three big blocks: late‑season NBA landscape and the surprising Lakers surge, on‑the‑ground takeaways from the World Baseball Classic with Billy Gill, and a wide conversation about the Oscars/2025 movies and Michael B. Jordan’s win with Wesley Morris. Bill mixes game reactions, league‑level critiques (expansion, All‑NBA eligibility), tournament anecdotes, and deep movie/awards analysis.

NBA: what Bill’s watching (late season takeaways)

  • Lakers surge

    • Bill reversed his view: Lakers look real now — a coherent system centered around LeBron, Luka (sic; Bill references Luka but is discussing Lakers — he means the team’s stars: LeBron, Luka?), Austin Reaves and role players — partly credited to coach/staff communication and J.J. Redick.
    • Key theme: LeBron appears to have accepted a lower usage role and learned to affect games off the ball; crunch‑time execution has improved.
    • Caveat: Bill doesn’t think the Lakers are top‑tier (San Antonio, OKC, maybe Boston), but they belong in the “second tier” contenders and can win series vs many opponents.

  • MVP / top‑player landscape

    • Top four (in Bill’s view): Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander (SGA), Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić — all different player types but elite.
    • Luka’s late surge strengthens his MVP case; Denver’s slide makes the Luka/Joker race more competitive.
    • Wemby and SGA both have strong arguments; Bill’s earlier Ringer 100 ballot was a tough call.

  • Other team notes

    • Spurs (young, precocious) and OKC (if healthy) are top West threats; Denver inconsistent; Celtics revived with Tatum’s return.
    • Eastern bubble/seed chaos: Toronto/Atlanta/Charlotte/Charlotte weirdness; Detroit/Celtics seeding implications.
    • Injuries: Cade Cunningham’s (OKC) major injury changes evaluations and seeding outlooks.

  • League issues Bill flagged

    • All‑NBA games minimum rule: Bill strongly criticizes the current threshold (Cade’s situation). He suggests a fairer standard (e.g., 62 games or 2,000+ minutes) and calls the current rule “absurd” when injuries remove a top candidate.
    • Expansion worries: league reportedly exploring adding two teams (rumors: Seattle and Las Vegas, buyers paying ~$7–10B each). Bill opposes expansion now:
      • Main argument: too many “don’t‑care” / tanking teams already (he estimated 8–10) — adding more teams risks diluting product and more tanking.
      • Alternatives suggested: relocate struggling franchises (e.g., New Orleans, Memphis) to stronger markets (Seattle) rather than expanding.
      • Skepticism about Vegas as automatic good bet; wants stronger anti‑tanking rules before expansion vote.

  • Misc. quick takes

    • Bam Adebayo’s 70+ night (Bam 83?) — fun spectacle; Bill defends it against backlash (but criticizes the Wizards for not stopping it).
    • Lottery/worst records: Indiana/Washington at bottom; draft probabilities and tanking incentives remain consequential.

World Baseball Classic (guest: Billy Gill) — atmosphere, on‑field lessons, MLB implications

  • Event atmosphere

    • Miami hosting produced electric, tournament‑style crowds not seen during regular Marlins season — festival energy that MLB generally lacks during 162 games.

  • Patriotism vs. player loyalties

    • Many fans/observers (including Bill & Billy) found themselves rooting for players/teams beyond strict national loyalty — examples: rooting for Venezuelans, Dominican players, or favorite MLB teammates.
    • The U.S. team’s attitude and comments (some perceived as indifferent or flippant) drew criticism; other countries’ passion made the event feel far more consequential to them.

  • Managerial & pitcher usage controversies

    • Questionable managerial decisions:
      • Mark DeRosa (U.S.) criticized for bullpen choices (e.g., not bringing in top relievers earlier).
      • Venezuela’s manager Omar López willingly used arms on consecutive nights — paid off in success.
    • Workload concerns: Whitlock (Red Sox) used multiple times in short span — post‑WBC injury risk / season fatigue flagged.
    • Strange umpiring calls in key moments (controversial strike/ball), leading to talk about expanded/automated strike zone (ABS).

  • Clubhouse and team chemistry

    • Mariners tensions: public handshake incidents (Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena) may have created internal problems; Billy predicts those WBC frictions could affect the regular season.

  • Ratings & business implications

    • WBC championship viewership: nearly 11 million — the most watched WBC final ever.
    • Streaming & distribution: Netflix involvement noted; wider platform bidding (Apple, ESPN, Netflix) could elevate single‑game presentation and production value.
    • Labor concerns: Bill warns baseball must avoid a late‑year lockout that would squander WBC momentum.

  • Fantasy / season impacts

    • WBC performance will influence fantasy drafters and public expectations — e.g., big showings can inflate draft stock (Stroman/others in past).
    • Spring training/injury tracking and returning players are fragile variables for fantasy keepers.

Movies & Oscars: MBJ’s win, Sinners vs. One Battle After Another (guest: Wesley Morris)

  • Main topics discussed

    • Michael B. Jordan (MBJ) won Best Actor — a culmination of a long, career‑building arc (Fruitvale → Creed → Sinners). Bill & Wesley celebrate the win and MBJ’s consistency in pop culture.
    • Sinners (Paul Thomas Anderson) vs. One Battle After Another (MBJ/Coogler): the guests discuss the rivalry in awards season and how both films represent huge creative risks and originality.
    • Timothée Chalamet’s role in Sinners split audiences; some backlash vs. acclaim — Bill and Wesley both wrestled with rewatchability and audience reaction.
    • Paul Thomas Anderson’s “moment”: PTA getting awards and legacy discussion (the long arc to this peak) — Bill calls PTA likely MVP of the movie year in a creative sense.

  • Deeper takes / themes

    • On representation: One Battle After Another centers on a Black woman (Tiana Taylor’s role) and its political/cultural undertones; debate over whether the film “did right” by Black women or was exploitative.
    • On performance types: a lot of discussion about how actors’ public personas and campaigning affect awards season (Chalamet’s omnipresence vs. MBJ’s low‑key press).
    • Awards mechanics and ideas: Bill and Wesley toy with alternative award concepts (e.g., MVP of movie year, removing gendered acting categories), and criticize the implausible season timing of the Oscars.

  • Ceremony moments and production notes

    • In‑memoriam praised overall, with notable performances (Barbra Streisand’s emotionally charged moment), and Billy Crystal lauded for composure during a rough segment (Rob Reiner context).
    • Conversation about how stars age, carry their fame, and the power of legacy presences (Jane Fonda, Streisand, etc.).
    • Comments on TV momentum around prestige shows (e.g., Love & Death) and Michael B. Jordan’s cultural staying power.

Notable one‑liners / insights from the episode

  • “LeBron’s embraced being the third‑best guy on this team, and it makes everything fit.” — on how role acceptance changed Lakers chemistry.
  • “Adding two teams now is a money grab that will create more teams that ‘don’t give a shit’ about the 82‑game season.” — on NBA expansion.
  • “The WBC feels like an event that matters more to other countries than it does to the U.S. — and that’s part of its charm.” — on the tournament’s emotional weight.
  • “This year produced two wildly original movies — one battle after another and Sinners — and that’s creatively exciting.” — on the year in film.

Actionable takeaways / recommendations

  • NBA watchers: monitor the Lakers’ last‑minute execution and LeBron’s new role; watch how Denver/OKC/San Antonio health and form affect playoff seeding and MVP races.
  • NBA governance: pay attention to the All‑NBA eligibility debate (games/minutes minimum) and the upcoming vote on expansion — both have lasting competitive implications.
  • Baseball fans: WBC momentum may influence early season narratives; watch specific pitcher workloads (e.g., Whitlock) and the Mariners clubhouse for fallout.
  • Movie/awards fans: rewatch or judge Sinners and One Battle After Another if you missed one — both are central to 2025 Oscar debates; listen to Wesley Morris’s deeper film takes (Cannonball).

Episodes / content referenced you can follow up on

  • Rewatchables episodes (To Live and Die in LA; special mailbag; upcoming The Nice Guys)
  • Bill & Zach Lowe live Netflix event (Celtics–Timberwolves preview)
  • Billy Gill: Ringer Tailgate, Ringer NFL appearances
  • Wesley Morris: Cannonball (NYT)

Timestamp/credits: Bill Simmons Podcast — episode includes guest segments with Billy Gill (WBC), Wesley Morris (Oscars/movies), and extended NBA commentary. Sponsors and ad spots were included in the episode (Sam’s Club, Michelob Ultra, Audi Q3, State Farm, LinkedIn Ads, Viore, TaxAct).