Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose to debut “The Grantland Basketball Hour” on ESPN

ESPN’s Bill Simmons and NBA analyst Jalen Rose have good chemistry together. They seemed to be the only two really vibing previously during ESPN’s “Countdown.” Simmons won’t be featured this upcoming NBA season though. Instead he and Jalen will launch The Grantland Basketball Hour.


The hour long special will be shown throughout the upcoming NBA season. The first episode airs October 23rd, and features special guests; Michelle Beadle, Jeff Van Gundy, Zach Lowe and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.

The show is shot in front of a live studio audience and will give Bill Simmons plenty of time to speak without having to share the mic.

Doc is an interesting choice as a guest. I assume they’re going for shock value right out the gate as Simmons and Rivers traded verbal jabs in the media a few years back when Doc made the decision to leave Boston – Simmons favorite team – for LA.

Simmons just recently returned to the airwaves following a three week suspension for comments he made on his podcast calling NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a liar, and daring his bosses at ESPN to say something to him about it.