Bill Simmons is making headlines again, this time after his comments about Dallas Mavericks guard D’Angelo Russell went viral. Star point guard Kyrie Irving immediately took over his teammates’ defense against Simmons.
Kyrie Irving is no stranger to speaking up when given the opportunity. Bill Simmons is one of the most vocal analysts in basketball, so Irving has clashed with the likes of The Ringer founder and CEO on numerous occasions.
The two are currently at odds again, and this comes after Simmons criticized Dallas Mavericks recruit D’Angelo Russell. Simmons noted that Russell is like a friend, and that he would love to spend a day with him, but would hate to be with him for a long time.
As a teammate who wanted to protect Russell, Irving made sure to answer the X and called out Simmons.
Russell has become the Mavericks’ de facto starting point guard due to Irving’s injury, so most officials within the organization want to give him confidence. It’s a good sign that Irving is upfront about Russell’s criticisms, and it shows he has complete trust in his teammate.
Some, like Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves fans, may agree with Simmons’ point, but it may seem like they’re not giving him a chance to prove himself in Dallas. Russell is a talented player who could reach his full potential during the 2025-26 season with the Mavericks.
He had a tough 2024-25 season, averaging just 12.6 points across stints with the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets. However, he’s not that far off from averaging 18 points per game in the 2023-24 season.
In “X,” Irving always responds to Simmons’ opinions, accusing him of not having the courage to say them to his face.
“Oh, Bill, you would never say this directly to Doro. And we both know it,” Irving said, along with a GIF of Omar, a character from the popular TV show “The Wire.”
The Mavericks have a promising season ahead of them in 2025-26. Anthony Davis is back and ready to lead as a superstar. But he’s not alone, as the Mavericks have a deeper roster than most expected.
They also have Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who performed well in training camp and is poised to establish himself in the league.
They hope Irving is healthy and ready to play for the Mavericks, but he will have to wait until he recovers from a torn ACL. During that time, Russell has been the starting point guard alongside Klay Thompson in the backcourt.
After a tough few years, Russell was able to become a reliable player again in Dallas, and it was time for him to prove himself within Jason Kidd’s system. He is already familiar with many of his teammates, including Thompson and Davis. That approachability could make him an overlooked player who can surprise people like Simmons.