\n<\/p>\n
While everyone wants to talk about the officiating in the series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers, a different and even bigger controversy is looming \u2013 is Bill Simmons actually watching?<\/p>\n
The Thunder beat the Lakers in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series to take a 2-0 lead. The defending champions haven\u2019t lost a game yet this postseason and are odds-on favorites to go back-to-back.<\/p>\n
But when Bill Simmons was running down the box score, he made a peculiar statement. He began talking about the minutes of the Thunder roster and turned to backup center Jaylin Williams, confusing him with Jalen Williams, who hasn\u2019t played since Game 2 of the first round due to injury.<\/p>\n
That could certainly be forgivable given that we\u2019re talking about two players with names that sound the same but sound different playing for the same team. But it was Simmons\u2019 extra analysis that caused some worry amongst fans that maybe Bill Simmons, Mr. NBA, isn\u2019t as plugged in to the league or even what he apparently just watched in Game 2 of the Lakers-Thunder series as he claims to be.<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/t.co\/v9WqQA7rrz<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DWptaeBa60<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Gur Singh (@HoopFocusX) May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s 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\u2019s 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,\u201d Simmons said.<\/p>\n
While Jalen and Jaylin Williams have similar names, their games are vastly different. Jalen Williams was a breakout star last year, scoring 40 points in the pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals. He\u2019s an All-Star caliber player who has missed a lot of time this season due to various injuries.<\/p>\n
Jaylin Williams started 11 out of 65 games in a mostly reserve role on the Thunder frontline. He has proven to be a quality impact player off the bench for the Thunder, but in no universe is he one of the top players on the Oklahoma City roster. If you watch any amount of OKC basketball, you can easily tell the difference between the pair.<\/p>\n
The comments are even more confusing given the fact that Jalen Williams hasn\u2019t played in several games. If Bill Simmons would have really been connected to the NBA postseason, wouldn\u2019t he have known that?<\/p>\n
As the clip became viral with those questions attached to it, he stated<\/a> it was just a \u201cbrain fart\u201d and that yes, he had indeed watched both NBA games on Thursday night as always.<\/p>\n
\nI 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. https:\/\/t.co\/pjSnH99Gu2<\/a><\/p>\n