David Jacoby
Appearances
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Zach Levine and Jimmy Butler I don't think would be trading. And I think to bring Jimmy Butler, you have to match the salary. So you're giving up, whatever, $40 million worth of players to bring in Jimmy Butler who wants a new contract and has a $52 million player option that he might exercise. It just seems like, who is Jimmy Butler away from contending? And if you're the Thunder...
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
You're going to add a player later. Chet Holmgren, your third best player and your second big. If you were the Thunder, why would you ever even think about picking up a phone call from Miami? I would not.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Are they Jimmy Butler away from contending?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
We're not stopping until we get to Uncle House's house. We gotta get to Uncle House's house.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
It's also like the Jimmy Butler thing from Shams earlier this morning was like, oh, here are the teams that he wants to go to. It's like, cool. It's kind of like the NFL. Go find yourself a trade. Go ahead. Find one. Just because you want to go to those teams doesn't mean there's a deal between us and those teams.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
And to put that out publicly, it almost feels like they don't really understand the implications of the new CBA. It's not happening. That's a great point, dude.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Okay, that's a fair point, and I totally understand that thinking. I think the cup works, but I'll address your question, and I'll say this. How upset are the Mavs right now, after being on the road for like a month, having everyone be sick, and they're like, oh, we don't have to go to Vegas, and we get, what, seven days off in the middle of the year to sort of get healthy?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I think the Mavs are on the plane being like, yeah, it kind of sucks. I wish we won, but... I don't know. I don't think they're really bummed tonight.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Yeah. But it's four teams. To me, it's four teams like the Hawks, the Rockets, and the Thunder. I think it's really for up-and-coming teams to get one-and-you're-done experience. So I don't think it's broken, but I think there are certain teams like the Celtics coming off a championship where we get to win the Emirates Cup. No, I'm good. I'll take the time. off.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
That's what I think they should do. You can't fall lower than six. If you win. You got to move it later in the season then because like if you're locked into six, like what are we doing?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
No, it would be like an insignificant draft pick thing. You get an extra second rounder or something. It's like, okay, great.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
lose a game seven at home and you just like stick them with some sort of terrible competitive disadvantage like like a rule changes like tj would just come out at halftime and be like all right guys here here are the four point shots right three circles yeah no corner threes i think they should use it as a testing ground for like rule changes like i think that'd be kind of fun if they were just like
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
No three point line and not a four point line or there's no corner threes. I think I think that'd be fun. And I understand like there are reasons you can do that. But just while we're spitballing, I think sort of experimenting about rule changes or court changes you've been considering in these games because they are different. It could be a playground for that.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I know, but here's the thing. But if you're in a pickup game and you're down six, you want SGA on your team so you stay on the court. You know what I mean? You always associate guys you want to play pickup with with guys that move the ball and get teammates involved. No, I want to stay on the court. Yeah, but you have SGA just to stay on the court. That's why he's good to play pickup.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Body Language Doctor doesn't love that duo as much as I wanted to when he signed. But we always, like, I think people are critical of Dame. It's like, he scores 25.7 points a game and gets 7.5 assists a game. Like... And he's like 37% from three now. Is that so bad? Yeah. Like, is that so bad? Like, is that... What are we being critical of, really?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
And, you know, Dairy Bird... Torian Prince is shooting 54% from three on, like... 3.6 attempts or something. It's not fake. They're surrounding two of the biggest offensive weapons in the league with shooting. Defensively, we can just pass over that. They're not stopping anybody. It's tough. And when they won it all, they were great on defense.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
It's the defense. It's just, it's on a different level than every other team. I don't want to play against this team. You can just see the frustration on the body language of the Mavs. They can't throw basic passes without being harassed. Like, you remember that lively rebound he got and the cruiser just knocked it out of bounds? It's just annoying. They're just swarming wasps.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Yeah, and even tonight, Suggs had Dame in front of him, and he dribbled between his legs like four times, then just shot a three. It was like, Suggs, that's Dame Lillard. Just put your shoulder down and go past him. And a key point, I was really disappointed in that particular possession because I think there's a reason that when Dame is guarding somebody that there's no screener.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
There's a reason.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I bought a lot of Suggs stock preseason because of defense. I didn't see this Suggs, but it is. This is Gonzaga Suggs. It just seems like Paolo's playing so well. And then Franz steps up and plays so well. And then Franz is out. Now Suggs steps up and plays. If Suggs has a legit hurt hand, it's going to be like Mo Wagner scores 30 and 12 and 10. It's like, what is happening?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
And it's so frustrating because I was rooting for the Mavs because I wanted a close game. And it's just impossible to do anything against them. It's awful.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
It just seems like someone on that team is going to play like an all-star no matter what happens.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Yep.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Totally different player. Totally different player. I was shocked.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Who's that? Oh, Anthony Black.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Hold on. This is just too much. Too much for me. They don't have a player that can hit a three-point shot in 2024. They don't have one. So can we just address that? They don't have a player that can hit a three-point shot.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Is that so scared to play? I'm so scared to play him in the playoffs.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I'm sorry. No one wants to see this team in the playoffs.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Jacob, did you know where it was? Yeah, because they're called love handles. That's all you have to do. For us, for athletes, they're called obliques. For us, they're called love handles. That's what they are. They're your love handles. Your love handles are your obliques. It's a love handle injury that is sweeping through the magic locker room. Love handles.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
He's like, I don't know. Did he get injected with COVID? Is that his COVID shot now?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
No, it's this fat guy from Serbia, actually.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
What the fuck is going on? What is going on? My questions for you, Bill, are what is the plan? Do his teammates like him? And all I hear about is how little he communicates with the team about his availability, how he's late all the time. Like, Verno knew some guy who said he missed the team buses the day after the report came out that he was late. It's just all like...
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
He's become, in the last three years, he's turned from one of the most likable stars in the league to someone who I'd like less and less and less every three months. And we're there right now. So here's where I've landed, Goldsberry.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I watched the game. It was weird. He started out terrible. He was 0 for 7 or something. Everything was short. That Memphis game was the same thing where everything was short. And he has this brace, his full leg brace on. And they started to get warmed up. And they're spamming this...
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
They're spamming this high pick and roll with him and Maxie and Maxie would just give him a pocket pass and he would just shoot from like 16 feet and Busevich just didn't do anything about it. And even if Busevich was on him, he would just jab step and then shoot over him. And he was like, I don't have the numbers for him.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
He's like eight for 10 from like around the foul line, which is where, in my opinion, when he was best with actually Doc was coach, he would just like operate from the foul line, but he would do a lot of distributing and like, driving, but it got to the point where in the third quarter, he was just absolutely wet from the mid-range.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
He scored a ton of points after starting over seven, looking like he might as well just go back on the bench.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
You know, one of the things that analysts always say about Luka is, like, you can't speed him up. You can't speed him up. There's a part of me that's like, hey, Luka, can you speed up? Like, you know, it's like, oh, you can't speed him up. He's always at his own pace. It's like, cool, cool, cool. How about you, like, move a little bit off the ball?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
100%.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
My favorite rookie?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
In terms of like to watch or like I would want on my team. Because, I mean, my favorite rookie is obviously Jared McCain, just like as a vibe. Yeah. You know what I mean? Because he's so much fun and just sort of like so himself off the court. But I am also on Reese's Shea Island.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
That team of Johnson, Daniels, Risa Shea, it's like Trey or no Trey, that is a core that I really, really like. I'm much higher in Atlanta than I should be, and I'll admit that, but I feel the same about Risa Shea. He had a huge game. I forget who it was against. It was early in the season. He had like 30 points or something. I was like, this dude looks like a number one pick in the NBA draft.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Like, there's a couple of sessions he was just, like, in the corner. Like, he's kind of getting that James Harden off-ball energy. They're like, oh, someone else has the ball, so I'm just going to stand here with my arms at my sides, like, straight up and down. It's like... It was a frustrating Luka day.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
They were doubling him early, which I think was smart because they doubled him early and kind of got the ball out of his hands and didn't let him catch a rhythm until the second half for like a brief spurt.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Huffing Aldama. Yeah, you can't take minutes away from Huffing Aldama. What are you crazy? No, those guys are just... He's also not available. He's just not available right now. We haven't seen him too much.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I mean, you're leading the witness, so I'm going to try to go with another team.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I'm trying to. But, I mean, obviously the most disappointing team is the Sixers, but I think there's a reason for that. It's just availability. I think the Sixers will turn around and end up being a playoff team. Let's not forget they were in the play-in last year. and ended up in a really good series against the Knicks. But it has to be the Pacers and Halliburton.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Remember this time last year, during the in-season tournament, it was called at the time, they were the bell of the ball, and Halliburton was this rising superstar. They put him in this stupid commercial with Rosario Dawson, and he's not even a factor whatsoever. And his home road stuff is really strange. I don't think I've seen anything like that.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
But, yeah, I would say the Pacers because it's, you know, the expectations were at a point where they're just not reaching.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
They don't have KD. Okay.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
They've made the Beal trade where you're like, that's great. Well, like no one liked that trade.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Yeah, I can see it. Counterpoint. You don't want to draw them in the first round of the playoffs. Because let's imagine KD plays well, gets back. They're going to climb in the standings. Like right now, I think they're 10th or whatever. They're going to climb in the standings. And then you see them in the first round. And you're like, man, Booker and KD can get on a heater. You know?
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
It feels a little bit like they're basically the Sixers.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
No. No, the Rockets have zero. They're one of the best teams in the league. But they can play defense, though. Yes. Yeah.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Yeah. Smells like new owner decisions.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I don't think any of these teams would be a favorite in a series against the Thunder. And watching the Thunder tonight, watching them just fly around and watching SGA be like a true go-to weapon on offense the way that some of the Rockets don't have, to be honest with you.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
And then every once in a while, they cut to this guy in a velour sweatsuit in the second row with a big beard who looked like he leveled up. Chet, obviously I'm talking about. It's like he's coming back. They have a major weapon.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Yeah. I think that people sleep on the fact that they're doing all of this without him. And a lot of teams are missing players, but he's like, I don't know, second or third best player. Probably the third best player.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I think 65 might be a little high, but I think they're going to run away with the number one seed in the Western Conference, which is obviously the stronger conference. They're 19-5 right now for the record. I try to stay away from the MVP stuff. You know what I mean? On December. In game 24? Yeah. Yeah, but what Jokic has done has been very impressive.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
What he did this weekend, as you mentioned, I'm sure he's like, I don't want to take 39 shots in a basketball game.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
I know.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Hey, what did he do this weekend? Lose to the Wizards? Is that what caught your eye? Lost to the Wizards. Lost to the Wizards and beat the Hawks. Yeah. He scored 104 points. That's true. Killed the Hawks. It is crazy. It is crazy how little he has around him. The... What really jumped out at me about those two games was the Westbrook-Jokic connection. Westbrook was just feeding him.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
OKC’s Revenge, NBA Cup Nitpicks, and NFL Season Fun Grades with David Jacoby, Kirk Goldsberry, Kyle Brandt, and Craig Horlbeck
Westbrook was like, the best player on the planet is on my team. Let me just get him in a position to score. It was really impressive. I was impressed by Westbrook this weekend.