The Bill Simmons Podcast An NBA Scoring Boom, NFL Holiday Picks, 'Landman' Is on Fire, the Return of 'Stranger Things,' and the Future of TV With Kirk Goldsberry, Joe House, Chris Ryan, and Zoe Simmons
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Nov 26, 2025 
Kirk Goldsberry, an expert on NBA analytics, discusses the surge in league scoring, trends in defensive tactics, and player styles reshaping the game. Joe House provides insights on Thanksgiving NFL betting picks and culinary favorites. Chris Ryan dives into Philadelphia sports and the hit show 'Landman,' while also exploring the future of TV and the streaming landscape. Zoe Simmons shares her generation's love for 'Stranger Things,' reflecting on nostalgia and the show's cultural impact.
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73-Win Warriors Would Rank Low Today
- Kirk Goldsberry recalls the 73-win Warriors' offensive rating would rank 22nd today, illustrating scoring evolution over a decade.
- He uses that to show how modern offenses and shot selection transformed league scoring benchmarks.
Modern Offenses, Old-Era Totals
- NBA scoring is surging to levels unseen since the pre-three-point era due largely to smarter shot selection and more talented depth.
- Kirk Goldsberry highlights a big recent spike in free throws as the main driver of this year's scoring jump.
Free-Throw Explosion Explains Scoring Spike
- Nearly all of this season's scoring increase comes from free throws, with teams making about 3.1 more free throws per game.
- Single players drawing an extreme number of fouls (e.g., Luka Doncic) explain much of the anomaly in free-throw rates.