A Nikola Jokic Mega-Appreciation and More from DENVER w/ Ryen Russillo | The Bill Simmons Podcast

[@noblue72]

The crowd booing any attempts to turn the conversation towards Tatum 😂😂😂

[@slightexag]

I honestly think Tatum is more boring of a player/person than Jokic.

[@callumhoustoun6214]

Jokic and him as players aren't in the same league in terms of entertainment

[@him4882]

@@slightexagTatum is superrr boring lmao. He has zero personality and his game is whatever to watch.

[@slightexag]

@@him4882 even if the "superstar roleplayer" criticism of him is a bit inaccurate, i think it kind of captures the essence of his style

[@melodymaker135]

@@slightexag And it’s a weird compliment in a way - he’s really really good and he’s really really malleable, can mold himself to whatever other good players he’s got on his team

[@jazzprincemusic]

I see Russillo and Simmons, I click

[@Xmj202]

Pause

[@martinmillan625]

Jokic is now in rare air. The guy is simply amazing, He is pantheon already.

[@Christopher._M]

He's not doing anything I haven't seen before People act like his team is horrible. It's not championship material compared to what's out there but he has a decent squad

[@RLSmith-jt8qj]

@@Christopher._M the offense completely falls apart when he's off the floor.

[@kalenpotter6412]

@@Christopher._Mhis team has the worst offensive rating in nba history when he’s off the floor and the best offensive rating in nba history when he’s on the floor

[@jdankerdake]

@@Christopher._MYou’ve seen a 6’11 280 pound guy average 30/13/10 with 56/50/82 shooting splits? You’ve seen the same player lead the league in every advanced stat (PER, WS, BPM, VORP) for four, going on five consecutive seasons? You’ve seen someone accrue 2000 points, 1000 rebounds, and 500 assists in the same season? You’ve seen someone average 25 ppg on 70% True Shooting?

[@Faustinop]

@@Christopher._MWhen have you seen it before, because I’m 53 and I haven’t.

[@alvin081988]

Bill Simmons talking about Jokic is one hell of a video to see

[@johnkieu2200]

I'm a simple guy. I see Jokic. I see Bill Simmons. I like.

[@tiguhhhh5415]

cool starry brah

[@edgardoMurnia]

Of course you are... You are Serbian

[@jasonsweetman4613]

I see Russillo and think “I guess I can tolerate bill”

[@fentanyljones6956]

Simmons and Russillo are the ultimate pairing.

[@spencerjones2302]

I like the cut of this guys jib 🤷‍♂️

[@JasonSmith-pe5py]

And now at end of January hes up to 30pts,13.5 rbs,10ast,& 2 stls.And now the Nuggets are rolling. Jamal just had his best 5 game stretch in over a year,& even the bench has gone from awful to decent-which is a big improvement. Kinda reverted back last night vs Sacramento,so Jokic had to come back,& hold them off with the greatest single game ive ever seen-35pts on 19 shots,22rbs,17ast,& 2 turnovers. But before that-he had 4 straight triple doubles where he didnt play a second in the 4th qtr-cuz he didn't have to. The bench actually took care of business-which is so huge for our chances to go deep this spring/summer.

[@andyh4518]

16:10 Ha, love Rusillo trying to bait Bill into a Magic/Bird discussion.

[@DanteBrisingr]

Bill Simmons, remembers 36 year old game, forgets when he was getting married.

[@MateMagyar88]

1:11:35 😂😂😂

[@MrOctober44]

He has priorities.

[@THE.kevman237]

This was an absolute joy to watch! (Much like Nikola Jokic's offense 😍😊)

[@jackharrist1078]

I feel like nearly all 29 other fanbases hate the Lakers, but Bill’s on a whole different level and I’m here for it😂

[@chasingfelix3609]

No we don’t. Why would we care?

[@Graysondodgeofficial]

Why hate the lakers

[@fentanyljones6956]

Nah, I think Nuggets fans today take the cake. The Boston beef hasn’t had an opportunity to really rear it’s head since Kobe.

[@MrOctober44]

Kings fan. Absolutely hate the Lakers, but not on Simmons's scale of hatred. 😂

[@MrOctober44]

​@@chasingfelix3609Who is we?

[@Irena1106]

As a big fan of Nikola, this is wicked! Thank you Bill!

[@freemoneyempire9745]

OH WE ARE SO BACK

[@M-Cherian]

Love Jokic. He's a fantastic playmaker, have a high basketball IQ, has amazing hands and still has the ability to carry The Nuggets. An incredibly generous player and inspiring player.

[@lynco3296]

Watching these two in a live environment with an audience is kind of a surreal experience.

[@otislamar8613]

How did I miss this I live downtown Denver 😭😭🤦🏾‍♂️

[@stuckman4876]

I would have driven from the suburbs had I known.

[@abhi2013roy]

tickets were probably sold out for a while id guess

[@chuckleupen]

Hadn’t even heard that they announced this. Seems like it was a little under the radar or something

[@winterfoxcloud]

peak podcasting

[@arifinisarifin]

37:34 Hakeem in the early 90s demanded a trade. Only difference is he still played his heart out and actually talked it out with the owner in a constructive way and both followed through with what they discussed. Two rings and a very happy city of Houston later…

[@SomeonesDad2020]

Yea I see jokic I click. Nothing more entertaining than people trying to descibe Jokic’s brilliance.

[@willzsportscards]

'the water polo thing'. I've played with guys who played high level college water polo. It was insane. Outlet passes etc. They'd rebound and flip it out in front of me without turning and I'd just run and the ball would fall in my lap. Jokic probably like that but on a whole different level.

[@QuestionEverything562]

Jokic is the modern day Bird. He plays like him from the triple threat position. He plays like a chess master in a wheelchair. He moves so slowly, but he will always get to where he needs to.

[@lyndonarana9408]

Wow nice comp. Except he doesn't have any other stars with him, but got to agree - great white hooper

[@ryanzz1357]

I love long and nuanced conversations

[@BucoD]

Awesome - more of that, please

[@OEx25]

Could listen to these guys talk hoops every day of the season

[@ardeshirjahanian2697]

Grown Men sitting around for hours talking about sports ball it’s just extraordinary

[@lawrence02]

The video of bill talking scoot over lamelo is so fucking funny

[@fentanyljones6956]

His hands and his footwork on the offense rebound are poetry. He’s nimble as fuck.

[@taylor7264]

jok mightve hate practice but he had a support system trying to keep him on a strict regimen early. thats why hes so good. the ppl around him since a kid

[@OpinionMan100]

This kind of reminds me of the "Pluto is a Planet" Rick and Morty episode when Ryen and Bill just keep fawning over Jokic to a room full of Jokic fans

[@bjensen]

Jokic plays the type of heliocentric basketball that is still fun to see and play- lots of touches and high usage but he doesn't hold the ball. He points out around quickly. That's still fun, beautiful basketball

[@DenG611]

Luvin this format. LFG

[@willzsportscards]

Bill in the middle of 'whoopee'...'sorry honey. gotta take a break. fresh pantheon idea i gotta work on.'

[@ErdoArmani]

Y'all got centel'd again c'mon man do some research

[@mtuktuk9627]

great show, love it got to youtube

[@kam_12_]

simmons, russillo, and jokic glazing🙌👏

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

Russillo's dynamic with Bill in this reminds me of Chuck and Shaq: the comedian poking fun at Mr Sensitive.

[@BuckFieri]

How did I not hear about this I definitely would’ve been there

[@AB-sw4kb]

man I'm in Colorado but been so busy Ididnt know this was happening... wouldve loved to go oh well

[@frankmaitland1254]

People who think Jokic and Luka aren't fast and athletic. They are slow, but they own every great player

[@freddiegibbs101]

1:04:18 Meghan Markle story XD 1:06:05 Jeff Van Gundy is the ultimate bro, JVG = the best

[@FlicksOfForever]

I saw a Bill Simmons NBA pod. I click. “I’d love it if Russillo was there”…wow

[@tompratt7125]

So many Jokic misconceptions over the years have been corrected thanks to people like Simmons. But a few still remain. The worst is the idea that Jokic is slow. This comes from people that don't actually watch him play. The guy very consistently grabs a defensive rebound and pushes the ball in transition, beating opponents down the floor for easy Nuggets scores. And without the ball he constantly beats opposing bigs down the floor leaving them in the dust. If you watched him kick Anthony Davis' butt in that way recently you know exactly what I mean. He can play fast or slow depending on context.

[@kam_12_]

exactly lol, people who call jokic “slow and lazy” are just proving they dont watch him play, because he is ALWAYS doing something on the court. always running in transition or inbounding the ball, moving without the ball once he makes a pass, his communication is also very underrated as well, he is always pointing things out on offense AND defense which just shows how many steps ahead he really is. His shot fell off last year and into the olympics and what does he do, come back and shoot over 50% from 3 thru the first 1/4 of the year🤣🤣 JOKIC is an inevitable machine

[@Christopher._M]

The transition thing is more about effort than being fast. that's exactly what I was pointing out when AD and him were matched up in the playoffs. Jokic was out sprinting him to the paint even though he was behind AD at the start. That's just wanting it more

[@kavoriouscrittenden]

Coach Ryan said go score 60 n bruv dropped 56 joker really a goat

[@FranciscoFerreira-gc6xu]

Classy pod

[@Mike_Viola]

59:45 - What an analogy. Fully with Ryen on this one 😆

[@KevinJL]

Respect the game 🏀

[@stevenvaldezii7936]

This is Simmons’s and Ryan at their best

[@DD-sr9xm]

Jamal is done both physically and mentally. He IS slow, he can’t shoot, he isn’t engaged, his killer mentality is directed towards the media rather than the opponent. His new MMA pals have poisoned him. He isn’t focused on TEAM anymore, he is only focused on himself … his focus is maximising his bank balance for the least effort possible. They can’t trade him. The only hope is Jokic gets fed up with his crap and calls him out.

[@thestud2]

I drove by this last night, didn't know this was going on, but I guess everyone else did.

[@David-iv6je]

I still LOL at going to a venue to watch a podcast

[@Tyler-ho4jg]

This was great

[@matthogg2252]

I seen Simmons and Sir Rudy in the stands at Denver v. lakers game on tv and figured something was afoot.

[@danielxcha]

Jayson Tatum being the best player of the 2020s is the funniest thing I have heard in a while 😂😂

[@davidramos4317]

I don’t get it. There’s literally someone on the Celtics that’s is better than Tatum. Why cling on to Tatum specially when you can endorse brown ?

[@danielxcha]

@davidramos4317 I love making fun about that but Tatum is the better player. Brown was better in the 2 finals runs but in every regular season and any other playoff runs Tatum is the better player

[@SaifKhan-mz5hz]

Well I am really glad we award the championship in the regular season and the other playoff runs.

[@David-iv6je]

@@davidramos4317 I wouldn't go that far. Tatum is better and carries the heavier burden of scoring leader. What he discovered is not to force it into hero mode. that's the hurdle he needed to overcome to win a ring. Less is more.

[@nvs6177]

Tatum since 2020: -4x All-NBA Team -5x All-Star -NBA champion -2 NBA Finals appearances -4 conference Finals appearances -4th player in NBA history to win title while leading team in points/rebounds/assists for entire playoff run -Most playoff points of this decade (by a landslide) -Top 3 All-Time in playoff points before turning 27 trailing only LeBron and Kobe Not to mention he's playing at All-Defense level right now, which Jokic will never be. Literally the only thing he's lacking is the MVP trophy. While I agree Jokic is the best player in the league, acting like Tatum is not already a first ballot hall of famer is just pure stupidity.

[@deepvoicedude4749]

Aside from Vegas (who is getting a team soon anyway) I bet Simmons won't do any live podcasts in non-NBA cities.

[@Jam-x9z]

He will do it with Sal for NFL

[@deepvoicedude4749]

@@Jam-x9z Bill is an NBA guy (like most people with IQs above 95).

[@SaifKhan-mz5hz]

I think Bill did one in Buffalo a few years ago.

[@alextrivunovic644]

A live Jokic video. Yes.

[@MateMagyar88]

1:11:35 Haha even Ryen remembers Bill’s wedding date! 😂😂😂

[@M-Cherian]

"I hate the Lakers" - not just you Bill. Not just you 😂

[@Yourscaredlol12]

Need more Russillo

[@br548]

Ramp up sounds like a term skaters say to challenge each other. "You think you're better than me? Ramp up, bro."

[@danielxcha]

That ring count argument gets dumber and dumber by the year because the NBA gets more competitive every year. Nowadays every team has atleast 2 all star level players and even the really bad teams have atleast one. Its so much harder to win a title than 30, 40, 50 years ago. There were 5 teams who had a chance to win at best and now we have almost half of the league that has a shot at the title

[@josephrafferty6763]

I think you’re mostly right here, but there are still only a hand full of teams with a legit title shot in any given year. One big reason it’s harder is free agency/player empowerment. It’s harder to build a dynasty when there’s a good chance one or more of your stars could get disgruntled and leave in year 5-6 (or any year after that).

[@QuestionEverything562]

The rings only matter in terms of legacy rankings if you are the most impactful player on the team. There is currently no super team in the NBA. It's up for a truly great generational player to take and dominate. Jokic could do it. We watch to ultimately see who is going to win. Rings matter the most, but there's context to them.

[@brendonhowe2158]

Hey dude miami made the finals two of the last 5 years. Stop pretending the league is so talented. Look at the east right now. The league is a mess. The reason for the lack of dynasty level players is because players today are not winners. They don't like competing and would rather team up. They think it's cool to not play basketball. They would rather be fashion models and podcast hosts. A couple of slow fat guys are the best plays right now... Turn of the blinders.

[@danielxcha]

@QuestionEverything562 its not possible anymore for 1 team to dominate multiple years. The talent level is too strong

[@QuestionEverything562]

@danielxcha You are completely wrong. Since 2000, when free agency really ramped up. There has been many two-peat teams or the same teams making multiple finals. A team can stay together and still win in today's NBA. It takes consistency, keeping cores together, avoiding injuries, etc. However, the Celtics could very well repeat this year. Nobody will stop them in the east, and the Nuggets or the Thunder will have issues against them. Dominancy can still happen despite this decade's parody thus far. The 70s were very similar to this decade's parody, but it eventually gave way to dynasties.

[@brettdavis5873]

What was a ticket to get into this?

[@hailmary7283]

$20

[@rgs97]

“We don’t pass Tina” 😂

[@jdankerdake]

Shaq winning three consecutive Finals MVPs in historically dominant fashion puts him ahead of Kobe, West, Curry, and Hakeem for me. Shaq’s apex (‘00-‘02) was better than any of those other players’ apexes - Curry (‘16) is the only one with an argument. No coincidence that those two received the most first place MVP votes in a season in NBA history.

[@fentanyljones6956]

I love this duo together. Absolute synergetic sports dude perfection

[@dameistersports1925]

It is actually pathetic watching Bill trying to sell today’s NBA as being a better product than it was in the 90’s. It’s obvious that his business depends on the NBA being popular nowadays so it’s not like he’s ever going to admit that it is a terrible product.

[@frozen1762]

Everything worked out for Nuggets in '23. the same way it didn't in '24. But margins last year were tinny, and it could all go another way. Losing game to tie No1 spot, tiering Jokic by chasing that, and then going against team constructed to contain him with 3 big's that could rotate on him. I doubt any team last year could do better against the Nuggets than Minnesota. And still they were 20p up in game 7. If they kept that I'm pretty sure they would get away with Dallas. And Boston, who knows? They had a cakewalk to the final. And Jokic has insane stat this year because he has to keep them afloat. Nuggets are 1-2 rotation men short. If GM actually does his job, they could be contender after trade deadline.

[@DrakeMaybe]

Jokic didnt get any flack for losing a 20 point lead like every other patheon player would have.

[@frozen1762]

@@DrakeMaybe Maybe because he was 1 center against 3? This year he is averaging triple double and is top 3 in scoring, reb and assists on 50+% shooting for 2 and 3 and they are still barely over 50% wins. Switch him for Embiid and 76ers would be a dynasty with multiple rings. Nuggets are a joke organization that never provided help.

[@sedrickavenue]

How did I miss this?

[@YoItsDev]

"and then mark jackson texted hand down man down" lmao

[@brysonlozano7]

this is like a seinfeld episode 😂

[@ZJ-ne9kn]

Crowd is kinda dead which is ridiculous

[@brysonlozano7]

@ they pulled the crowd audio down for sure. it sounds gated

[@CPizzle24]

BS: “this first segment is called Jokic porn” RR: “we don’t have a slide show do we?” BS looks up to the screen: “oh my god” 😂😂😂

[@JoseJimenez-Leon]

YOU NEED TIMESTAMPS BILLY

[@peacefulwarrior9518]

Stringer and Avon worked well together. I know they both betrayed each other eventually but I think that's just because the game is the game.

[@1TribalChiefFan]

Have fun at shotfun willies Billy :D

[@sunnysakchiraphong2532]

russilo segment about meghan markle is too funny man

[@nebieli7062]

FINALLY

[@ongs.-h.7297]

JVG rocks! miss him on TV!

[@thefinalbell3998]

Idk why but I think bill is so fuckin funny like comidian level funny 😂

[@FWJosh43]

Bill calling stan kroenke a fucking cheapskate made my day

[@eazymb.]

45:20 . I honestly think the media dragging it a little bit too. I feel like the good teams shoot better 3s than five years ago. Even if they get more 3s up. The only thing they need from the 90s is more physicality, and maybe getting rid of the 5 second back the basket rule. Without full handchecking I doubt it would be abused today. Maybe the game needs to be a tad slower in order for guys to stay healthy. ‘97 to ‘06 may as well be the dead ball era for basketball.

[@mjh2546]

So Jokic gets the benefit of the doubt in the past few playoffs for injuries but not Giannis???? 2021/2022- Giannis takes Celtics to 7 without Middleton 2022/2023- Giannis injured, lose to same Heat team that beat Celtics and went to finals 2023/2024- Injured for playoffs Straight propaganda

[@geechiedan68]

Bro chill....you using logic and reasoning...there is no room for that in a convo about Joker

[@vetoland92]

LeBron hasn't played defense since he left Miami. Obviously it's gotten way worse as he's been aging but he's been doing the conservation strat on D since he returned to Cleveland. It drives me absolutely nuts lol

[@jackramsden9346]

I really really hope that Jokic wins a few more championships to be in the top 10 conversation. In that rare breed of super megastar like Tim Duncan who’s just so good at basketball that it’s almost becoming boring? Like well done pal, you’ve just scored 30 and had 18 assists.

[@MoreDarryl]

Nuggets fan born and raised in Denver. I’m done with this version of the Nuggets. Murray is cooked. Trade him and Zeke for a replacement and a backup big or two. Thanks for your service, but his peak has been reached

[@BrankoBG]

No one wants those two, that's the only problem.

[@HugeYoutubeGuy]

Wait, how did the warriors “barely” get their in ‘22? They won the WCF in 5 games and Finals in 6. Bill always tries to diminish the warriors it’s crazy

[@nuggz720]

How did I not know this was happening? I would have gone!!!!!

[@nuggz720]

I would have loved some live Jok porn

[@nuggz720]

Embiid talk where he has been ducking Jok for like 5 years

[@nuggz720]

Let's start the Luka joining Jokic in Denver convo

[@slobberkissintl3548]

Jokic means there's a world where Boris Diaw was the best player in the league

[@quadavis4]

Giannis never got this much praise and he’s historically just as good if not better because of his defensive abilities

[@justindza]

My theory is that it's because of how he plays. He is so tall and his strides are so long. He has probably 3-4 eurostep layups a game. And he is not an exceptional shooter. So you can anticipate the kind of dominant performance he is going to have. He is also on a franchise the average fan doesn't actively care about. Where as with guys like jokic and curry, there is an element of surprise for the flashy stuff they'll do from game to game.

[@scottipippen6554]

Franz is not a typical american "ego"-guy at all. He is a team player to the core. It took him 1-2 games with Paolo out, to understand, accept and adjust to being the number one option now. I have no doubt at all, that Franz and Paolo will not figure out a deadly two men punch and will become a dominant duo like the two guys in Boston, who everybody and their mother doubted for years, where it should have been obvious from day one how these two guys are getting it right away..

[@HerbHerman-le5ux]

Can someone please explain why jokic defense never hurts his case as “mvp” or “best player in world”? Not trying to be rude, just want to know why it never is discussed when people talk about jokic.

[@invincible0463]

Because jokic is the media darling, luka got killed for his defence in the finals, jokic made ant man look like MJ, he was getting to the rim with zero resistance everytime. Jokic defence was terrible and the reason they lost to minnesota.

[@teledanhogan4237]

Rebounds are considered defense, & Jokić is always @ the top of league in rebounds, steals are defense he is top ten in steals or close yearly, deflections are defense he’s always @ top of league in deflections, kicked balls is defense (resets defense )and he always leads the league in kicked balls, his size and quick hands are defensive assets…. Now go compare those defensive stats to every center…. Jokic’s plays excellent defense if you know hoops…numbers confirm it

[@invincible0463]

@teledanhogan4237 if you look at stats. If you watch the game he cost them in the playoffs against minnesota. Ant man had a free run to the rim everytime. He made him look like jordan.

[@123leviathan123]

@@invincible0463 Ant was terrible in the second half of the series mate. He did not look like Jordan ever, but especially not after the first 3 games.

[@HerbHerman-le5ux]

@@teledanhogan4237 if shotclock is down to 2, is a kick ball really a good defensive play? It may reset defense but also resets offense, no? Jokic just isn’t good at defense, my eyes are proof. He’s not and it’s crazy how far his supporters gotta go to try to remedy that

[@melodymaker135]

Also, yes to The Wire and The Sopranos, but… Succession over Deadwood and Game of Thrones? 🤔

[@DaBaltimoron]

Giannis could take the 2020s title from Jokic. EDIT: and he finally said it

[@raleighstein9227]

Good show. Zivela Srbija. Fire the front office. They suck this year.

[@CPTNDUBS]

why didn't I know about this???

[@davydignatenko8651]

17:09 - THIS

[@Musso8771]

The obvious answe to who could eclipse Jokic this era is Luka. Now I don’t think Luka will, but he’s the one who’s realistic. Some think he’s better than Jokic, he has the same type of overall dominance and his numbers are historic. If he somehow wins a championship or 2 there may be a case.

[@idol031808]

I thought Bill and Ryen got soft only when they bailed to the left coast. Hearing Ryen was afraid to hang in Revere says a lot. Guess I never would have seen either of them in Everett when I was coming up. But they're still the best sports podcasters

[@hopecommunitypathfinders8807]

Here are 4 guys I like and think they should be swapped for each other for a change in scenery: Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones, Joel Embiid & Ricky Council IV

[@channelgray975]

Bill is such an only child

[@71SanClare]

Murray is either cooked or in a terrible mental funk or both.

[@joeg2258]

is Jokic the greatest 2nd round pick ever to this point?!

[@JayLen8899]

Is it me or does Ryen need to make everything about himself? Bill asked for Ryen top 5 celebrity crush and he proceeds to tell two long winded stories about himself without giving a top 5! Additionally it seemed like Bill would want to quickly move on subjects to keep audience engaged and Ryen would throw a snarky passive and sometimes mean comment to derail Bill’s points . And everything to try and come off as the “cool guy”.. love both of them separately but Ryen was grating here and I can’t believe Bill didn’t explode on him a couple of times - “I don’t like the Patriots anymore” idk Ryen maybe try to be kinder and more earnest