Overview of UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe
Bill Simmons hosts Zach Lowe (The Ringer) for a wide-ranging basketball conversation: a breakdown of UConn’s last-second win over Duke; the SGA vs. Victor Wembanyama MVP debate; Oklahoma City’s rotation and closing-five questions; a rapid “scary playoff teams” draft (who you wouldn’t want to face in a series); quick scouting blinks on some college draft prospects; a long take on the NBA’s rumored expansion (Seattle + Vegas); whether 2025–26 is the oddest NBA season ever; and assorted quick-hits (Celtics, Tatum, ABS baseball, Mets opener anecdotes).
Key takeaways
- UConn’s win over Duke was a perfect storm: Dan Hurley’s energy, a practiced press/trap, a steal/pinch play and a 38-foot, game-winning heave. Zach called it great coaching and flawless execution; Bill noted Duke’s late mismanagement.
- MVP debate: SGA (Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander) vs. Wembanyama. Central arguments:
- SGA: more minutes (+350 vs. Wemby currently), huge counting stats, team success (likely #1 seed), historically elite guard efficiency (~55%).
- Wemby: massive per-minute impact, elite defense and game-changing physical profile, but minutes restriction/total minutes historically hurt MVP cases.
- Bottom line: both are historic; minutes/availability and team seeding could decide voters.
- OKC’s rotation: they play a deep group but look likely to tighten up to a 9–10 man playoff rotation. Caruso, Wallace and AJ Mitchell have earned closing‑type minutes; Dort may lose some closing reps in matchups.
- Scary-playoff-team consensus: Spurs and Thunder are the scariest/most dangerous ceilings (1A/1B), followed by Denver and Boston. Several other teams (Knicks, Lakers, Wolves, Sixers, Cavs, Pistons, Charlotte) have one-series terror potential if healthy.
- Expansion: league is publicly signaling Seattle + Vegas, but Zach argues owners don’t collectively have the votes and the $8B price narrative is likely a bluff / negotiation anchor; expansion would dilute media revenue and ownership returns—many owners are skeptical.
- Weird season argument: 2025–26 is legitimately one of the oddest in memory (Wemby rise, Bam’s 83-point game, Clippers scandal, unpredictable standings, tanking distortions, Tatum’s quick recovery). Zach compares it to notably weird seasons (1995, 2004, 1978) and says 1978 still might top it—but this year is close.
UConn vs. Duke — what happened
- Dan Hurley’s urgency: constant sideline energy helped keep players engaged during a 15–19 point deficit.
- Tactical detail: UConn used a full‑court press/trap to force a rushed, risky pass from Duke’s Cam Boozer / Cade Cunningham-type ballhandler; a tip-steal sequence led to a final chaotic sequence and a 38-foot buzzer beater.
- Bill & Zach: agree five little things had to go right simultaneously—practice, pressure, timing, a poor pass decision, and a cold-distance shot. Great finish; Duke’s poor late possession execution was decisive.
MVP debate condensed (SGA vs. Wembanyama)
- SGA pros: more minutes, consistent team-leading production, efficiency (55% shooting as a primary guard), team success and seed matter to voters.
- Wemby pros: outsized per-minute impact, defense/offensive gravity, team improvement when on court, transcendent novelty.
- Voting pragmatics: historical precedent favors high minutes/availability. Wemby’s minutes restriction could be a real vote killer despite impact. If Spurs somehow win the tiebreaker for #1 seed, Wemby’s case strengthens—but SGA currently has the traditional MVP profile.
Oklahoma City rotation & playoff-closer thoughts
- OKC’s depth is a feature and headache: they regularly use 10–11 players but will likely compress in playoffs.
- Closing five likely: SGA, Jalen (Jalen Williams?), Chet, Caruso and then Hartenstein/Wallace depending on matchup (bigger vs. smaller).
- Dort’s closing minutes could be reduced; AJ Mitchell has earned trust as a closing guard.
“Scary Playoff Teams” — consensus summary (who you don’t want in a series)
Note: conversation used fully healthy/ceiling versions of teams.
- 1A/1B — San Antonio (Wemby) and Oklahoma City (SGA + depth). Zach gives Spurs top billing for unknown ceiling; Bill gives OKC credit for proven excellence.
- 3 — Denver (Jokic + Murray two‑man potential; defense regresses but championship ceiling exists).
- 4 — Boston (Tatum back, deep interchangeable bench; elite roster construction).
- 5–10 (one‑series terror candidates): Knicks, Lakers, Minnesota (Anthony Edwards), 76ers (max ceiling with Embiid + Maxey + role players), Cavaliers (Harden/Mitchell/Mobley/Allen ceiling), Detroit (Cade healthy).
- Bottom: Orlando was placed last in this draft due to a catastrophic 31-to‑0 run and recent form.
College/draft “blink test” — quick scouting notes
- Burry (Arizona): Bill’s favorite of the three discussed — plays bigger than listed size, physical, active off-ball, high competitive burst; potential two‑guard with defensive bounce.
- Wagler (Illinois): Zach called him “weird” movement‑wise but promising: size, shooting, passing; needs deeper scouting—unconventional but with upside.
- Acuff (Arkansas): extremely smooth, high-level footwork and finishing; questions about size translating to NBA defense, but excellent instincts and polish—Bill loves him.
- Cam Boozer (Duke): smart, positionally effective, scores close to rim; concerns about whether his game—relying on bullying, spin/turnaround finishes—translates versus pro bigs; limited mid-range/13‑foot jumper shown.
Expansion (Seattle + Vegas) — the reality vs. presentation
- What Silver did: publicly floated Seattle + Vegas expansion and asked for bids. But this is a two-step process: (1) owners must approve exploring and (2) need 23/30 votes to expand.
- Ownership resistance: many owners (new and old) worry expansion dilutes media revenue and competitive chances; several (including recent buyers and regional rivals) likely to oppose.
- Price narrative: $8B per team is being bandied about but Zach argues that figure is unrealistic / a negotiation anchor—very few groups could actually write that check, and some sales prices are complicated (debt, staggered payments, pre-existing stakes).
- Criticism of rollout: Zach calls the public messaging misleading to cities like Seattle, creating expectations without internal owner buy-in. He recommends transparency and resolving league structural issues (tanking rules, TV/media distribution) before adding franchises.
Is this the weirdest NBA season ever?
- Zach lists many anomalies: Spurs surge & Wemby rise, Bam 83, Clippers scandals + comeback arcs, Tatum’s Achilles reversal (30‑point returns), massive midseason standings swings, expansion leak, tanking wave, high-variance outcomes.
- Historical comparisons: 1995 (Jordan return, goofy 3‑point era, Magic/Indy wars), 2004 (Pistons title, Lakers collapse, rule changes), 1978 (brawls, injuries, weird MVP votes). Zach leans toward 1978 as still weirder historically, but says 2025–26 is up there—close and “constantly surprising.”
- Bottom line: playoffs almost certainly won’t feel “normal” even if outcomes end up conventional.
Other notable quick takes & anecdotes
- Celtics/Tatum: Tatum looked more like his old self in a recent outing (better athleticism and passing vision), and the depth player development has been impressive.
- Knicks: still high-ceiling but streaky; questions about consistency and lineup decisions remain.
- Orlando: alarming collapse highlighted by the historic 31‑0 run by Toronto; Zach puts them dead last in the “scary” draft on that basis.
- ABS (Baseball’s automated strike zone): creates instant drama and was a major talking point in recent games; Mets opener produced bizarre moments (national anthem flub + two birds colliding in the outfield), illustrating sports randomness.
- Broadcast & culture moments: Bill & Zach touch on media controversies (Inside the NBA fallout, other cultural league stories) as part of the season’s “weirdness.”
Notable quotes / soundbites
- “Five things had to go right perfectly—and they did.” (on UConn’s final sequence)
- On Spurs/Wemby: “I almost don’t have a ceiling for them.”
- On expansion: “They don’t have the votes—and $8 billion is a very narrow market.”
- On the season: “We drove the car into the lake—this whole year has been that.”
Actionable items / things to watch next
- Watch OKC’s closing-five rotations over the final regular-season stretch—who sits in crunch time?
- Follow the MVP narrative: Wemby’s minutes trend vs. SGA’s counting stats and seeding story.
- Track Spurs’ playoff handling of Wembanyama (playoff energy + in-series physicality).
- NBA expansion: monitor owner-board developments and any formal vote/motion—don’t assume Seattle/Vegas are guaranteed.
- Draft prospects: Burry, Wagler and Acuff are names to scout more deeply; Boozer needs film work to determine pro fit.
This episode is a dense, opinion-forward conversation—best for listeners who want Zach Lowe’s contextual reads on roster construction, MVP voting mechanics, and the macro-picture (ownership, expansion, and season narrative) rather than pure Xs-and-Os breakdowns.