Quote · The Bill Simmons Podcast
2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers With Joe House and J. Kyle Mann
Where this was said
Winners and losers of the first round
At 20:00 · chapter starts 6:59
The panel wraps with final grades and closing thoughts. Simmons gives the 2026 draft an A for talent — all three top picks were legitimate A+ selections, and the quality held up deeper than most years — but only a C- for entertainment, since the whole thing was just too competent and predictable. House's parting wish is for a new generation Running Diary writer who can make the savage observations about family dynamics, living-room sets, and draft night spectacle that the Ringer principals can no longer make on air. Mann reflects on the historic nature of a draft where all three top teams could legitimately come away satisfied — no clear hierarchy. Simmons closes on a note of genuine warmth and public health: he's getting a colonoscopy on Thursday and encourages everyone to take care of themselves. A new Rewatchables episode — The Good Son — drops Thursday. He'll be back Sunday unless a Jaylen Brown trade breaks, at which point, drugs or no drugs, he's going live.
Five franchises — Washington, Utah, Memphis, Chicago, and Sacramento — all received promising picks, meaning roughly one-sixth of the NBA entered the offseason with legitimate hope.
Bill Simmons argues fewer than 10 players since LeBron have prompted the 'kind of a LeBron body' comparison — and AJ DeBonza is one of them. At 6'9" with paint-touch efficiency ranking 3rd among all Division I players, the physical upside is undeniable.
Among Division I players who averaged over 20 paint touches per game this season, AJ DeBonza ranked 3rd in downhill paint touch scoring efficiency, behind only Ibuka Okorie (#1) and Darius Aikufu (#2).
The Washington Wizards signed Trae Young to a 4-year, $212 million contract with a player option in year 4, a move Bill Simmons called a crime against the franchise.
Washington drafted AJ DeBonza first overall and then signed Trae Young to $212M the same week. Joe House challenges anyone to name one teammate Trae ever made better. Bill Simmons points out no team was willing to trade for him — the Wizards found the sucker at the poker table.
