The Bill Simmons Podcast An NBA Holiday Mailbag and the Jokic Scare With Rob Mahoney
164 snips
Dec 31, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Rob Mahoney, a seasoned sports writer known for his deep NBA insights, joins to analyze Nikola Jokic's injury and its implications for the Nuggets' playoff push. They explore the Clippers' resurgence with Kawhi Leonard back in form, and address the Cavaliers' improving trajectory. Diving into the NBA mailbag, Mahoney and Simmons debate the idea of splitting the Most Improved player award into breakthrough categories while also sharing thoughts on trade regrets and the future of young stars like LaMelo Ball. Expect laughs and hot takes!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Jokic's Absence Rewrites The Season
- Nikola Jokic's injury will reshape standings and MVP conversations because missed games reduce award eligibility and narrative momentum.
- His absence reveals how uniquely central his playmaking is to Denver's identity and title odds.
Kawhi Sparks Clippers Resurgence
- Kawhi Leonard's return-to-form suddenly makes the Clippers competitive even after their lethargic start.
- A healthy Kawhi plus regained role players like Brook Lopez can materially change a flaky team's trajectory.
Health Helps But May Not Cure Cleveland
- Cleveland's improvement largely tracks with getting players healthy, but structural issues may persist beyond returns.
- Rob Mahoney cautions that health alone might not fix deeper roster or fit problems.
