Steph in Purgatory, a LeBron Mini-Mailbag, Jaylen Trade What-Ifs, and the Revived Red Sox With Joe House and Bill’s Dad
July 27, 2026
AI Summary
5 min read“He's the saddest older NBA superstar situation since 2011 Nash on the Suns… of just guys now in purgatory who clearly have more to offer and it's not gonna happen.” That is how Bill Simmons described Steph Curry after LeBron James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers for roughly $4 million a year, effectively ending any chance the Golden State Warriors had of making one last run with their franchise player. The episode, recorded on a late July Sunday, runs through the fallout of LeBron’s decision, a sprawling mailbag, and a long overdue conversation with Bill’s father about the Red Sox revival and the Celtics’ decision to trade Jaylen Brown to—of all teams—Philadelphia.
The Biggest Losers of the LeBron Sweepstakes
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What you'll learn
- 1 (03:48) **LeBron to Philly: Biggest Losers** - Bill and Joe House debate the biggest losers from LeBron James signing with the Sixers.
- 2 (05:28) **LeBron Losers: Miami, Philly, and Golden State** - The discussion continues with more teams and individuals hurt by LeBron’s move.
- 3 (07:06) **LeBron Losers: Cleveland, Brad Stevens, and Lakers** - The final batch of losers, including the Celtics’ front office and the Lakers’ failure.
- 4 (10:26) **Mailbag: LeBron’s Motivation and the Assist Title** - Bill and House answer mailbag questions about LeBron’s decision-making and his potential stats.
- 5 (13:28) **Mailbag: Embiid vs. LeBron Games Played and the Brady Comp** - A series of rapid-fire questions on player availability and historical comparisons.
- 6 (15:40) **Mailbag: Conspiracy Bill and the Portland Blazers** - Conspiracy Bill is invoked to analyze the new Blazers owner’s controversial moves.
- 7 (19:14) **Mailbag: 1999 LeBron Comp and the J.R. Smith Play** - A historical comparison and a look back at a pivotal moment in LeBron’s legacy.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the biggest losers of LeBron going to the Sixers before diving into a mailbag. Then, Bill’s dad pops on to talk about the Red Sox turning the season around, the World Cup in Boston, the Jaylen Brown trade, and much more!
(0:00) Intro
(3:02) Losers of the LeBron signing
(25:46) Mailbag
(01:19:01) Catching up on Boston sports with Bill’s dad
Host: Bill Simmons
Guest: Joe House and Bill’s Dad
Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo
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