Bill and Ryen’s NBA Defenders Draft | The Bill Simmons Podcast 

Bills take on Caruso being a swing player is all time status.” He can play guard or slide over into the white guy soot .”😂

that drafting a white guy is so underrated for humor bill funny as hell

“The depth for our people is not great right now defensively” lmao Ryen

I love the silent moments, Bill, grind those gears

So happy to see Herb Jones is finally getting sustained national recognition for his defensive proficiency. He does stuff every game that it seems like only Herb and Herb alone is capable of doing right now.

"TBD ... we'll see. One of the values of Caruso is that he's a swing guy. You can swing him at guard. You can swing him into the white-guy spot"

OG should have been drafted

Isaac has been a monster while on the court. Hopefully his minutes keep goin up.

The way Bill said, “I love him” when talking about Jrue Holiday was beautiful. I really felt that. I love him too ☘️

Bill sold with the SGA pick otherwise he would've won

Draft Results Bill: PG: SGA (10) SG: Derrick White (12) SF: Herb Jones (2) PF: Giannis☘️ (6) C: Wemby (4) 6: Tari Eason (14) W: Alex Caruso (8) Ryan: PG: Jalen Suggs (3) SG: Jrue Holiday (5) SF: Lou Dort (7) PF: Jaden McDaniels☘️ (11) C: Rudy (13) 6: John Issac (1) W: Hartenstein (9) Steal of the Draft ☘️ - Jaden is only slightly worse than the #1 and #2 picks - Giannis is top a 3 defender

Ryen "I just said it" Russillo

Jared Vanderbilt would be my under 20 mins guy. You see what this Lakers defense looks like without him

No ad

Bam and Butler slander is insane

KCP has to be in the conversation for best guard defenders in the league. Consistently locks down best opposing guard, gets in passing lanes, and fights over screens about as well as anyone.

Ad not even mentioned is crazy

This is the content we want !

these weird draft segments are what makes the podcast more of them please

Hartenstein is actually a quarter black so I don't know if fits the requirements for the white-guy spot.

You had me at the first moment of what you said Bill. Love you man!

Kris Dunn should be Bills pick for 6th man. Hes so good on the ball. Also not to mention either JJJ, Mobley, Draymond, Bam or OG is a huge upset.

I love these guys synergy I wish they had had permanent NBA podcast all year around

caruso should be the top of every single big board

Jrue Holiday: I was saying after the trade that he was the guy who would push the Celtics over the top (and I'm a Celtics hater.) Porzingis is nice as an offense weapon and really tall dude. But Jrue is the glue where Smart was not. He brings the culture of winning toughness to the Celtics. And he does it without the flopping and whining that would derail Tatum and Brown into losing focus at important points. Jrue will keep them on track. He leads by example and he will also serve as a floor coach who will keep them from their idiotic hero ball moments. He proved he is that guy and none of it is visible in box scores.

These two are so funny I could leave this on all day

No ananoby?

First pick - Luke Kornet

Lol the white guy thing is hilarious

How was AD not even mentioned? I know the Lakers defense is terrible but if you’ve watched any laker games then you know he is incredible on defense every night. He can’t clean up everything but everyone is terrified to go into the paint when he’s there.

SGA over Derrick White is nuts

Wtf SGA? Enormous reach

Peyton Watson

Bill getting two swings in White and Caruso 💪

It’s crazy how the Timberwolves coaching staff successfully got Gobert, Ant, Jaden, KAT, Reid, Anderson, NAW to all either play ELITE defense or have their best defensive season relative to their career (KAT and Naz)

I'm of the opinion that the Bucks traded away the wrong guy for Dame... imagine if the Buck still had Jrue instead of Middleton

As a knicks fan OG got snubbed, but I'll accept Hartenstein. Also Dante divincenzo sneaky good white defender, but agree he's not top 2.

D White has more blocks than Giannis this season

I’m so glad everyone sees what Jonathan Isaacs does in his minuscule minutes

can we get a board or graphic for these drafts?

Love Bill and Ryen together. Maybe because they can talk both NFL and NBA.

They better draft Cam Payne. One of the best defenders of our generation

Probably how they are IRL, just 2 bruhs having a thought experiment over a bottle or 2 of red wine.

Center -Rudy Gobert Power Forward -Victor wembanyama Shooting-guard -Jrue Holiday

OG missing for sure. I would have thrown Aaron Gordon a bone, he anchors that team defensively. Include his teammate KCP. White guy, surprised Chet was not the White guy. Hell, Walker Kessler. More depth there for my gringo compadres. Bill with Wemby and Giannis. Wow. Beautiful. Guys who didn’t make it team: G: KCP G: Ant F: OG F: Aaron Gordon C: Bam 6th: Vanderbilt WG: Chet. Honorable mention: Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner(watch the Magic I’m telling you), Jayson Tatum, KD, and Mikal Bridges.

No but at the end, that's a good point about SGA got me thinkin' 😅😝

Ausar Thompson without Monty Williams, and on a team like the Heat, for example should be on this list.

Giannis is the only player in the league who can legitimately guard all 5 positions respectfully. Personally, I think we'll look back on Giannis' career and be kicking ourselves for how little we paid attention to his greatness.

No Draymond Green!?

Scottie Barnes is a wing, that averages over 8 boards. 1.5 blocks and 1 Steal per game. He leads the NBA in blocked 3 point attempts. He had 9 in the first two weeks of the season!

Bill wrong on the Jaden take. As wolves fan, we see insane flashes of what Jaden can be on offense. He's not our "no. yes!" guy but he is our "get him the ducking ball!" guy

So happy Bill got rich from Spotify, but man RU-vid is soooooooooo much better. Imagine if you had graphics on this segment. Actually show the highlights you are talking about.

No OG is wild

Walker Kessler would’ve been better for 6th man on Bill’s team or the white guy for Ryen’s team. He’s a top 3 shot blocker this season and he only plays 23 min a game.

This is a cool format. However it would be nice to see a true ranking top to bottom regardless of position or filling an actual team with all positions

I've watched a few Magic games lately, and it's like Isaac is Deion Sanders in his prime.

Can you do an all-time defender draft? Or would that be too interesting.

Guard 1: Jalen Suggs Guard 2: Derrick White Forward 1: Matisse Thybulle Forward 2: Jaden McDaniels Center: Wemby 6th man: Jonathan Issac White guy: Chet Holmgren

Wow, real run on white guys in the 4th round. That wasn't in my mock

Ausar Thompson may not be there yet but he’s gonna be the best all around defender in the league soon

Best defender by position: Jrue Caruso Herb Issac Wemby Back up list: White Suggs OG Draymond AD

I hoped Bill was gonna say, "That's a great peek" in Giannis voice when Ryen took him. Missed opportunity.

Bill dominated this draft.

That’s the biggest Hershey bar I ever seen

G: Derrick White, G: Anthony Edwards, F: Giannis Antetokounmpo, F: Anthony Davis, C: Rudy Gobert Wh: Alex Caruso 6m: Al Horford I could also do Jevon Carter as my 6th man

I would take G: NAW G: KCP F: OG F: Gordon C: AD 6: GP2 WG: Max Strus

This draft would be more interesting with more than 2 people. You would have seen the best players going first instead of the players in the most scarce spots.

If the lakers go to the playoffs and AD dominates (again) teams with D they will look back again and say how has he never won DPOY yet? He is the best defender in the league. The starting 5 of the lakers has 4 bad defenders on a day to day (LeBron is a smart one but doesn't try 80% of the time) 12 players and he isn't selected lol Lakers hate from you guys nothing more. Yeah the record and stuff but not for other players.

Did we forget about Chet Holmgren for white guy?

They're gonna do a defensive draft without Anthony Davis. It's a fucking joke

Underrated KCP should have been your list

AD must have listened to this before the Bucks game. Can’t believe he wasn’t mentioned.

“I’m gonna take Giannis” “That’s a good pick” Well played Rusillo!

The AD slander is wild.

To make the judging more objective and technical, the winner should be decided through NBA2K simulations.

"The depth our people is not great"😂

1. Wemby 2. Caruso 3. Suggs 4. Ausar Thompson 5. Strus 6. SGA 7. Isaac

Why did no one pick chet ?

Bill you need to hire the guy who’s got the Awful Coaching RU-vid channel. Prime Ringer content.

I’m gonna be the obligatory “ How can you leave this guy off guy ! ? “ .. Pascal Siakum

My draft: Jrue Shai Herb Jones Giannis AD (we dont talk enough about him) 6th man: Kessler Walker White guy : Chet Edit: I had Kawhi, Ive put Herb Jones ahead. I had Okongwu as a 6th man, I'm still an Isaac hater so I dont wanna pick him and I've found somebody better 🙂

No KCP?! cmon that was such a gimme

Missed opportunity to take Derrick White for the white guy pick.

Finally, we can talk about the most important part of basketball and not the media-centric points explosion.

Glad these two are saying SGA isn’t second in MVP balloting regardless if they choose Giannis or Luka

Mr. Bill Simons...My name is Sterling Anderson. I am older than you, a loyal sports enthusiast and faithful to your podcast. Followed your irreverent ascend in sports writing. Love your sports point of view. Ryen has been one of my favorites since back before him and Danny on ESPN. I do have a bit of a problem with some of your movie takes. I've been a screenwriter producer for 30 plus years in film and television. If I talked about the Boston Celtics it may make you a little uncomfortable, too. (Although, Larry Bird will never leave my all-time list. Top 5 ever...don't care what other people say.) I enjoy it when you talk about movies but it really feels like you have not been on a set or in a development room at a studio or production office. Get someone on who can give you a little more behind the scenes look at what you are discussing. There is a lot more to say about movies and television shows when no more about how any project gets to the screen.

Sorry about the typos...I know how to spell your name. Was listening to one of your podcast while I was typing...just like a screenwriter.

“And you have to draft a white guy” Bill Simmons. March 25th, 2024

The Antony Davis disrespect is predictable but still embarrassing.

Why isn’t it snake draft? Not necessary for the 2?

"You have to draft a white guy" shocked me 😂😅

Have to have AD!

Draymond not being drafted is insane, as easy to hate as he

Isaiah Hartenstein getting drafted to white guy spot is hilarious because he's mixed. His father black lol

I feel like bills is clearly better with all the length he has

I'm taking AD over gobert easy. Over wemby too, but hes been crazy impressive

Just last week, didn’t Bill dismiss Wendy as DPOY when Russilo said he was voting Wemby? He argues strongly that Rudy Gobert should get DPOY

Carruso over D.white is Crazy. D.white has been the best at the point of attack this year.

Rudy get new mascara? Lol

embarrassing to not have og on this list