Bill Simmons defends himself after Jalen Williams mixup

While everybody desires to speak concerning the officiating within the collection between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers, a unique and even greater controversy is looming – is Bill Simmons really watching?

The Thunder beat the Lakers in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal collection to take a 2-0 lead. The defending champions have not misplaced a sport but this postseason and are odds-on favorites to go back-to-back.

But when Bill Simmons was operating down the field rating, he made a peculiar assertion. He started speaking concerning the minutes of the Thunder roster and turned to backup middle Jaylin Williams, complicated him with Jalen Williams, who hasn’t performed since Game 2 of the primary spherical resulting from damage.

That might actually be forgivable provided that we’re speaking about two gamers with names that sound the identical however sound totally different taking part in for a similar workforce. But it was Simmons’ additional evaluation that prompted some fear amongst followers that possibly Bill Simmons, Mr. NBA, is not as plugged in to the league and even what he apparently simply watched in Game 2 of the Lakers-Thunder collection as he claims to be.

https://t.co/v9WqQA7rrz pic.twitter.com/DWptaeBa60

— Gur Singh (@HoopFocusX) May 8, 2026

“Let’s see. Chet 32, Mitchell played 30, Wallace played 30. They played 10 guys, they really played more than that. But really, they have this 10 man rotation. Jaylin Williams played 14 minutes tonight. He was their second best guy during the title run last year and now he’s I think their third best guy because I think Chet has officially put on the Robin costume to Batman, to flopping Batman SGA. I kid, I joke,” Simmons mentioned.

While Jalen and Jaylin Williams have related names, their video games are vastly totally different. Jalen Williams was a breakout star final yr, scoring 40 factors within the pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals. He’s an All-Star caliber participant who has missed a number of time this season resulting from varied accidents.

Jaylin Williams began 11 out of 65 video games in a largely reserve position on the Thunder frontline. He has confirmed to be a high quality affect participant off the bench for the Thunder, however in no universe he is among the prime gamers on the Oklahoma City roster. If you watch any quantity of OKC basketball, you possibly can simply inform the distinction between the pair.

The feedback are much more complicated given the truth that Jalen Williams hasn’t performed in a number of video games. If Bill Simmons would have actually been related to the NBA postseason, would not he have recognized that?

As the clip went viral with these questions hooked up to it, he stated it was only a “brain fart” and that sure, he had certainly watched each NBA video games on Thursday evening as at all times.

I spent 5 hours watching each video games, like at all times. Just mind farted. We recorded proper after sport and I used to be making an attempt to tear via 15 issues I needed to speak about as quick as doable and simply tousled. Shit occurs. My dangerous. I actually hope you possibly can forgive me, Josh Eberley. https://t.co/pjSnH99Gu2

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 8, 2026

“I spent 5 hours watching both games, like always. Just brain farted. We recorded right after game and I was trying to rip through 15 things I wanted to talk about as fast as possible and just messed up. Shit happens. My bad. Really hope you can forgive me, Josh Eberley,” Simmons mentioned in replying to an X consumer who referred to as him out on the error.

You have to offer Bill Simmons the good thing about the doubt given he is constructed a number of his media profession on his NBA superfandom. Everyone must be allowed at the least one mulligan in terms of the Jaylin Williams-Jalen Williams lure. But if it occurs once more, all bets are off.