The Knicks (and a Crowded East) With Zach Lowe, Plus Anthony Jeselnik on Book Clubs, Roasts, and Stand-Up Comedy in 2026

On a June afternoon in 2026, the Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973, and the city of New York hasn't been the same since. Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe, who have known each other for 15 years, sat down to talk about what that title means for the Knicks' future, the crowded Eastern Conference, and the brutal math of NBA contention. Then comedian Anthony Jeselnik joined to explain why he's launching a book club for men who don't read, and why he thinks stand-up comedy might have a shelf life.

The Knicks' Championship Window and the Curse of Long Playoff Runs

The Knicks did what they set out to do when Leon Rose and World Wide Wes took over in 2020: they won a title. But Simmons and Lowe both wonder how much runway is left. The core—Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges—is not old, but Simmons argues that NBA history suggests a hard two-year window remains. He points to the Warriors' five-year run, where playing 100 games a year for six seasons broke them down by the fifth, and the Celtics' recent four-year cycle that ended in exhaustion. "I just wonder if the NBA is like that," Simmons says. The Knicks have already played three straight deep playoff runs. By the time two more years pass, the key guys will be in their early thirties, and the salary cap will force tough decisions. Towns has a $61 million player option. Brunson already t