The Knicks (and a Crowded East) With Zach Lowe, Plus Anthony Jeselnik on Book Clubs, Roasts, and Stand-Up Comedy in 2026

Key takeaways

• Simmons argues the Knicks are his "bet my life" team in the East to return to the Finals, pointing to their star continuity, relatively low playoff mileage compared to past champions, and the enormous cultural value of being a hero in New York (Brunson hosting SNL, OG Anunoby's overnight fame spike, expected pay cuts from role players who want to stay).
• Lowe and Simmons debate which three of eleven "playoff-caliber" East teams miss the postseason, landing on Charlotte and Atlanta as near-locks to fall short, with Simmons picking Miami (skeptical Giannis and Bam can coexist offensively) and Lowe picking Orlando (worried about spacing and a roster built for a trade if things don't click).
• They dig into the Jalen Duren extension standoff in Detroit, debating whether paying a non-superstar center $37-40 million a year is smart team-building, and comparing him unfavorably in value to Sacramento's Sabonis, who's been available for months without takers.
• A historical detour on Tim Duncan's five-year 2003-2007 workload (playing 4,000+ minutes including the 2004 Olympics) leads to a broader theory that modern superstar title runs now have roughly a four-year shelf life before wear and tear catches up, as seen with Golden State's five-year stretch and Boston's recent breakup.
• Jeselnik explains how Jeselnik Book Club evolved from a YouTube experiment (starting with Jim Thompson's "The Getaway") into a weekly Ringer show, emphasizing fiction for men, an under-250-page limit, and pulling in guests like Chad Harbach ("The Art of Fielding") and Andy Richter (on his Elf book).
• Both hosts and Jeselnik lament that internet writing has become homogenized by algorithms rewarding imitation, arguing books remain one of the few spaces where writers can develop a distinct voice, unlike the "sameness" of modern online content.

Notable moments

• Simmons and Lowe revisit nearly hiring Lowe for Grantland's launch in 2011—Lowe admits "I chickened out" rather than any deal falling through.
• Simmons recalls a Houston All-Star weekend where World Wide Wes ghosted through a hotel bar: "I was like, wait, that was World Wide Wes?"
• On Duncan's underrated durability: "If you and I are just going to have to do a one Tim Duncan was amazing episode every year... it's just indisputable that he's a top 10 player."
• Lowe on OG Anunoby's sudden fame after his playoff tip-in: "I don't know if any player's fame level has increased more in one two-minute span... in the history of sports."
• Simmons reveals he's rooting for Cooper Flagg to become the first player ever to take the qualifying offer, purely out of Boston/Maine loyalty; prompting Lowe to needle him about being "legitimately upset."
• Jeselnik on why fiction beats nonfiction for him: "You feel like you were them... that to me is more valuable than nonfiction."
• Jeselnik on discovering a Rachel Cusk novel that's a thinly veiled takedown of Natalie Portman: "It is a character assassination... it's wonderful to read."

Time saved: 2 hours, 15 minutes.