NBA Lie Detectors, Duren’s Future, Tomlin’s TV Splash, and a 2026 Sports Media Check With Kirk Goldsberry and Bryan Curtis
September 30, 2026
AI Summary
5 min read"Five years, two hundred million dollars at age twenty-two. That's a great deal." Kirk Goldsberry was not mincing words about Jalen Duren's contract standoff with the Pistons, and his blunt assessment set the tone for a sprawling conversation spanning NBA labor economics, the new points of education rule changes, the Mike Tomlin broadcasting phenomenon, and the state of sports media in 2026.
The Duren Dilemma and the Center Market
The most substantive basketball discussion centered on Jalen Duren's refusal to accept Detroit's five-year, $200 million extension offer. Goldsberry argued forcefully that Duren needs to take the money, framing the issue within the new reality of the second apron—which he called a hard cap. "Overpaying top talent is a cardinal sin in the league," he said, noting that of the six centers making $35 million or more, probably four teams regret the contract. The only centers worth that kind of money, in his view, are Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, players who have "completely reinvented the position" by dribbling, passing, and shooting.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (06:04) **Kurt Goldsberry Joins: Jalen Duren's Contract Standoff** - The Pistons center turned down $200 million, creating one of the weirdest contract stories in the NBA.
- 2 (17:30) **The Only Duren Trade That Makes Sense: Atlanta** - Simmons and Goldsberry land on a deal with the Hawks that could salvage the situation for both teams.
- 3 (19:47) **NBA Points of Education: Stiff Arms and Moving Screens** - The league announced new rule enforcement points, which the hosts greet with optimism and heavy skepticism.
- 4 (24:47) **Media Day Quote Game: "Do You Believe This?"** - Simmons and Goldsberry rate the honesty of a series of quotes from the NBA's annual media day.
- 5 (32:11) **The Celtics' Paul George Trade & Jason Tatum's Alpha Role** - The conversation pivots to Boston's bold move, with Simmons having "talked himself into it."
- 6 (35:54) **Hot Mics, Lakers Concerns, and the Pelicans Stagnation** - A series of rapid-fire takes on awkward media moments and team outlooks.
- 7 (42:58) **Nuggets, Clippers, and the Kawhi Leonard Enigma** - The group debates the health of contenders and the strange vibes coming out of Toronto.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kirk Goldsberry to talk about the Jalen Duren contract drama in Detroit and the NBA rule changes before reacting to quotes from NBA media day. Then, Bryan Curtis joins the pod to discuss the NFL broadcast, sportswriting, and much more!
(0:00) Intro with Red Sox–Yankees Game 1 reactions
(7:04) Jalen Duren pushing his way out of Detroit?
(19:09) NBA rule changes
(24:09) “Do you believe this?” NBA media day quotes
(58:37) NBA Vegas expansion
(01:03:45) Football broadcast discussion
(01:09:28) Tomlin, Brady, and the best NFL broadcasters
(01:28:29) College football and Herbstreit
(01:34:32) Charles Barkley’s retirement
(01:40:47) MLB playoff announcers
(01:49:12) Sportswriting
Host: Bill Simmons
Guests: Kirk Goldsberry and Bryan Curtis
Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo
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