Summary — The Bill Simmons Podcast (The Ringer)

Episode: "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 include: Ira Hawane, Ariel Helwani, Wesley Morris

Overview

This episode covers multiple culture-and-sports threads in long-form conversations:

• Whether Giannis Antetokounmpo can realistically end up with the New York Knicks (Ira Hawane + Bill).
• Ariel Helwani on Alex Pereira’s rematch win, implications for the UFC, and the sport’s booming 2026 outlook.
• Wesley Morris on the state of movies and an extended discussion with Bill about Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film One Battle After Another (and Sean Penn’s performance).
• Additional segments: NFL (Bills/Patriots), WWE/ESPN streaming/PLEs, the movie-theater comeback, and Sean Penn’s career arc.

Key Points & Main Takeaways

Giannis → Knicks: Likelihood and Mechanics

• Guests think Giannis wants the Knicks and likely will play elsewhere before retiring, but a Knicks trade is improbable in the short term.
• Major obstacles:
  • Knicks are hamstrung by luxury-tax apron rules (second-apron hard cap) and lack of meaningful trade assets/picks.
  • Milwaukee has little incentive to trade a generational player for limited immediate return—especially without draft capital.
  • Realistic trades would require major salary and asset reshuffling (e.g., Towns/Anunoby combinations), which seem unlikely.
• Best judgement: this is more of a next-year story than an immediate one. Knicks should avoid blowing up current chemistry for a speculative move.

UFC: Alex Pereira, 2026 Opportunity

• Alex Pereira’s quick, dominant win to regain the light heavyweight title is viewed as hugely positive for his career and for the UFC.
• Helwani and Bill argue 2026 could be a banner year for MMA (comparisons to arguably the UFC’s best years), with:
  • Potential John Jones vs. Alex Pereira (heavyweight move),
  • Conor McGregor possible comeback,
  • Big events on Paramount+ including a White House card (June 14) on CBS.
• Paramount+ deal and scheduling strategy (PLEs / premium live events) could reshape how big fight cards are monetized and consumed.
• PFL is still struggling to build stars despite capital; crossover big-money matchups (Francis Ngannou vs. Tom Aspinall) are speculative but discussed.

Movie-Theater Renaissance & Studios

• There’s a sense movies are back — audiences are returning, with IMAX/horror performing especially well.
• Studios are experimenting with original IP again; directors are getting trusted projects (PTA, Coogler, etc.).
• Concerns remain about:
  • High budgets vs. mid-budget films that historically produced rewatchable classics.
  • Where the “mid-tier” star-driven filmmakers are (the industry may be neglecting those reliable storytellers).
• Word-of-mouth and eventized theatrical experiences (especially horror & IMAX) are powering box office recovery.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (film notes & reactions)

• PTA’s new film is visually and dramatically striking — especially a lengthy 45-minute IMAX-worthy sequence that many found breathtaking.
• Sean Penn gives a wild, memorable performance; debate about his role and career “stages.”
• The film sparks strong reactions about its depiction of Black women: some viewers praise its ambition; others criticize a key character (a revolutionary woman who betrays comrades and abandons a child) and how the film “addresses” or redeems (via a late letter) her actions.
• Wesley frames the film as capturing local Los Angeles and national systemic problems; Bill felt certain character arcs and the letter ending were problematic but still found the film essential viewing.

Other Notes

• Bills vs. Patriots: Bill bemoans Buffalo’s inconsistency; Patriots’ upset highlighted need for a reliable WR1 in Buffalo.
• WWE/ESPN: WWE’s move to ESPN/streaming is seen as a win — synergy, cross-promotion, and potentially better scheduling against other sports.
• Streaming & PLE nomenclature: industry shifting from traditional pay-per-view to platform-specific premium events (Paramount+, HBO Max, etc.).

Notable Quotes / Insights

• “I believe Giannis is going to play for another team... I don't see the path to getting there [to the Knicks].” — Ira Hawane
• “2016 was the greatest year in UFC history. 2026 might actually top it.” — Ariel Helwani
• On Pereira: “This was just what the doctor ordered for the UFC.” — Ariel Helwani
• On PTA’s film: the long IMAX sequence is a major raison d’être for seeing the movie in theaters — “you have to see it in IMAX.”
• On film economics: “There’s a whole universe of movies you could be making for the price of one of these big blockbusters.”

Topics Discussed (quick list)

• Giannis/Knicks trade feasibility; NBA salary apron and tax mechanics
• Knicks roster chemistry, picks/assets, and title window
• UFC: Alex Pereira vs. Jam (rematch), John Jones, Conor McGregor, White House card, Paramount+ deal, PFL & Francis Ngannou
• Movie-theater attendance rebound, IMAX & horror resurgence, studio strategies
• Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another — themes, representation, PTA style
• Sean Penn: career “six stages” and his volatile, electrifying performance
• NFL: Buffalo Bills analysis; Patriots upset
• WWE/ESPN partnership and the evolution of PLEs (premium live events)
• Ads/promos: Prime Video TNF, FanDuel, State Farm, Whole Foods, Quo, Velveeta

Action Items & Recommendations

For sports fans:

• Knicks fans: temper expectations for a Giannis trade this year; monitor offseason and next summer when more suitors/assets may exist.
• Bucks/Knicks-watchers: track reports by Shams & official moves — short-term the Bucks likely keep Giannis unless he insists publicly.
• UFC/MMA fans: follow Pereira’s next steps (light heavyweight vs. potential heavyweight move) and Paramount+ scheduling for 2026 mega-cards.

For moviegoers and cinephiles:

• See One Battle After Another in IMAX if possible — the extended big-sequence is central to the experience.
• Expect more original, director-driven films and stronger theatrical event outings (especially horror & visually ambitious films).
• If you’re interested in film industry trends, watch how studios fund mid-budget star vehicles versus tentpoles.

For industry watchers:

• Studios should re-evaluate mid-budget, star-driven films (there’s cultural value and long-term returns).
• Streaming platforms need clear monetization for premium events (PLEs) and consistent scheduling to avoid viewer confusion.

For podcast listeners:

• Follow Bill and guests (Ariel Helwani, Wesley Morris) for ongoing takes on MMA, film, and sports culture — episodes teased for upcoming days focus on NFL picks and more film discussion.

If you want, I can:

• Produce a short TL;DR (1–2 bullets) for quick skimming.
• Create a timeline of likely Giannis trade scenarios and required Knicks assets.
• Summarize the PTA film’s major plot beats and the main polarization points in critical reception (no-spoiler and spoiler versions).