Derek Thompson on the American Sports Plutocracy, the NBA’s 2016 Black Swan Event, and the WNBA’s Growing Pains

Step by step

1. Open Spot Sports. Get the free Spot Sports app for background play, lock-screen controls, and offline downloads.
2. Or stream right here. Tap play on the episode card above. No app needed.
3. Browse the full podcast. Jump to the The Bill Simmons Podcast page for the rest of the catalog.
4. Or subscribe in any podcast app. The Bill Simmons Podcast ships on a standard RSS feed, so Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and Pocket Casts all work too.

Quick FAQ

When was this episode published?

August 21, 2026.

How long is this episode?

1 hr 40 min.

What podcast is this from?

The Bill Simmons Podcast. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.

Sources

• Get the Spot Sports app
• Derek Thompson on the American Sports Plutocracy, the NBA’s 2016 Black Swan Event, and the WNBA’s Growing Pains
• The Bill Simmons Podcast