Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd: "Best of The Herd" – March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

On this episode of "The Herd," Colin Cowherd and guests dive deep into the major sports storylines of the day, including top quarterback prospects ahead of the NFL Draft, the realities and misperceptions of late-season NBA winning streaks, red flags for college basketball stars heading to the NBA, the Lakers' current status, and contract talk around NFL stars. With his signature blend of sharp analysis and bold opinions, Colin is joined by regular contributors Jonas Knox, Jay, Nick Wright, and special guests Todd McShay, Tom Izzo, and Chris Broussard.

---

NFL Draft: Nitpicking Quarterbacks & The 'Silly Season'

[02:50 – 08:00]

Key Points

• Colin discusses the annual over-analysis ahead of the NFL Draft, focusing on QB prospects Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza.
• Media hype and "silly season" narratives are criticized, especially unsubstantiated claims about Ty Simpson’s upside.
• Colin believes Fernando Mendoza is a straightforward, high-upside, strong-armed QB prospect, comping him to a stronger Matt Ryan or a more accurate Daniel Jones with some Andrew Luck-like aggression.

Notable Quotes & Analysis

• Colin Cowherd [03:10]:
  "We're one month away. There's been no football since the end of the season. It's time to nitpick the number one pick. At no time during the season, late in the season when they were both playing good teams, nobody thought Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza."
• On Simpson vs. Mendoza:
  "Ty Simpson had 15 college starts, and the more film defensive coordinators got on him, the worse he got. Fernando Mendoza had 35 college starts, and the more film people got on him, the better he got."
  [03:25]
• On QB Evaluations:
  "I don't even think Mendoza is a hard evaluation... Think combine Matt Ryan, if he was bigger, stronger, and a little bit more mobility... more accurate than Daniel Jones... aggressive like Andrew Luck."
  [05:08]

Todd McShay Soundbite

• Todd McShay [07:23]:
  "He doesn't have the physical trait. The other part is the 15 starts, man. It's real... I've been doing this two and a half decades. As we get closer without other quarterbacks, someone's going to rise. I could see Ty winning over a lot of coaches in those meetings."

---

NBA: Lakers, Regular Season Streaks, and Playoff Realities

[08:00 – 15:28]

Key Points

• Colin calls for caution in overvaluing late-season NBA winning streaks, referencing recent history with teams like the Bucks and Lakers.
• Lakers’ recent defensive issues are spotlighted, especially after a surprise loss to a Cade Cunningham-less Pistons team featuring G-league players.
• Physical teams like the Pistons (4–0 against the Lakers in two years) "ugly up" games and provide a blueprint for exposing LA’s weaknesses.

Notable Quotes & Analysis

• Colin Cowherd [09:30]:
  "Be very careful about regular season, late NBA winning streaks. Milwaukee had an eight-game winning streak end of last year—bounced, first round. Lakers had an eight-game winning streak late in the regular season last year—bounced, rolled by Minnesota."
• Colin explaining the Lakers' struggles [10:33]:
  “Because the Pistons are physical and play ugly basketball and the Lakers are pretty... They push you around. They hang on you. Detroit is inartistic.”

JJ Redick on Lakers' Winning Streak

• JJ Redick [12:42]:
  "Our winning streak has also coincided with us being healthy. We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy."

---

College Basketball: Red Flags & Player Personality

[19:29 – 29:55]

Key Points

• Colin discusses red flags for Darren Peterson, a top college basketball player, ahead of the NBA Draft: Kansas had a better record without him, he's considered a "loner," and significant durability/injury concerns surface.
• Draws historical parallels showing that major "red flags" almost always manifest in NBA/NFL draft picks.

Notable Quotes & Analysis

• Colin Cowherd [20:00]:
  "If you're getting hurt in college basketball, what happens when you triple your games and go NBA basketball and the guys are just bigger and stronger?"
• On personality and teamwork [21:25]:
  "You're going to find that basketball players who elevate others are usually social animals. LeBron gets along with everybody... Steph Curry is playful. Magic Johnson was playful. Darren Peterson's like, yeah, I'm a loner. I don't love that."
• Chris Broussard [29:16]:
  "Peterson's obviously got a bright future, but the red flags are glaring... just missing so many games for bizarre or hidden reasons..."

Colin's Red Flag Roster Comparison

• NFL: Bryce Young (undersized), Jameis Winston (reckless), Sam Bradford (injuries), and others.
• NBA: Zachariah Ricochet (not elite athlete), Deandre Ayton (not engaged defensively), Ben Simmons (can't shoot), Anthony Bennett (undersized), etc.

---

NBA MVP Race: Offense, Defense, and the Luka/Wemby Debate

[38:03 – 45:18]

Key Points

• Colin and Nick Wright debate whether defense should be weighted more in MVP voting, with specific focus on Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama (Wemby).
• Nick argues historically MVP is an offensive award, citing players like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Steph Curry as examples.

Notable Quotes

• Nick Wright [39:00]:
  “The MVP has never been 50% offense, 50% defense. We can't all of a sudden say Luka, who creates 55 points a game, and Wemby, who creates 32—that that's a wash in the MVP race.”
• Colin Cowherd [38:03]:
  "My point is with Wemby, stats do not tell the story. He literally changes the geometry... Teams don't attack them."

---

Lakers’ Playoff Prospects, LeBron’s Future & Roster Needs

[49:00 – 52:41]

Key Points

• Colin and Nick Wright discuss LeBron James’ role and future with the Lakers, pondering if LA is a fit going forward.
• Nick speculates LeBron could leave for Cleveland, New York, or Golden State.
• Consensus is the Lakers are “live” in the playoffs but not the favorite, needing more youth and 3&D support around their stars.

Notable Quotes

• Nick Wright [50:21]:
  "I believe this is his last year with the Lakers. Now if they were to make the finals... If they were to win the championship, obviously, then you probably screw it, run it back. I don't think either of those is the likely outcome."
• On LeBron's adaptability [51:02]:
  “It's utterly remarkable to see LeBron in year 23... totally change his role in a way no other all-time great perimeter player ever has.”

---

NFL: Travis Kelce’s Contract & Chiefs Dynasty Window

[45:18 – 49:00]

Key Points

• Colin defends the Chiefs' decision to keep Travis Kelce, noting his unique on-field connection with Mahomes and his situational importance.
• Nick Wright critiques overreactions about the Chiefs’ “demise,” highlighting their consistent Super Bowl contention and sensible contract structuring.

Notable Quotes

• Nick Wright [46:23]:
  "The Kelsey deal is a one-year $12M deal. After next season, he is owed a $40M check—he's not going to get that check. So his agents can say 'we got him $18M a year' and the Chiefs can spread the money out."
• "The downfall of the Chiefs has been a little over-exaggerated by some, in my opinion."

---

Coaching Styles in College Basketball: "Barkers" and Team Success

[33:14 – 36:41]

Key Points

• Colin explains why “barkers” (vocal, intense coaches like Dan Hurley, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, John Calipari) are successful and why players need to adapt to their intensity.
• Tom Izzo joins to add perspective on tough coaching and players' receptiveness to it, even in the transfer portal era.

Notable Quotes

• Tom Izzo [36:12]:
  "The great players want to be coached. Everybody's got to be pushed... That's the way it needs to be if you're really going to be successful."

---

Memorable/Notable Moments

• Colin’s take on red flags:
  “If you're a number one in a loaded draft, it worries me... It would keep me up at night as a GM.” [22:20]
• JJ Redick on healthy rosters:
  "Our winning streak has also coincided with us being healthy. We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy." [12:56]
• Colin’s summary of why late-season NBA winning streaks shouldn’t fool fans:
  “Late season NBA winning streaks... that's not what a seven or an eight or a nine game NBA late season regular winning streak is.” [11:50]
• Nick Wright's challenge to Colin about the Lakers:
  “The Lakers are live. They're not my pick... But the Lakers... are live and you just got to accept it.” [45:00]

---

Summary Timestamps

• NFL Draft QB debate: [02:50 – 08:00]
• NBA: Lakers & regular season streaks: [08:00 – 15:28]
• Darren Peterson NBA Draft red flags: [19:29 – 29:55]
• NBA MVP offense vs. defense debate: [38:03 – 45:18]
• Chiefs/Kelce contract segment: [45:18 – 49:00]
• LeBron/Lakers future: [49:00 – 52:41]
• Coaching styles in college basketball: [33:14 – 36:41]

---

Conclusion

This episode of "The Herd" offered Colin at his best: challenging mainstream narratives, calling out lazy sports clichés, and combining analytics with insider perspective. Discussions around draft season misdirection, the true value of NBA late-season momentum, the interplay between team chemistry and personal red flags, and the delicate transitions of legendary players like LeBron James, are all handled with a mix of rigor and entertainment. If you missed it, you missed bold takes and classic sports radio storytelling—you’re now more than caught up.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human support is available 24. 7 with Verbocare. We're here day or night, ready whenever you need help because a great trip starts with the right support.

[Apple Pay Advertiser]

Security usually means extra steps and complications, but with Apple Pay, secure payments are simple. Your transactions are authenticated with face id, touch ID or passcode, so security is is built in when you check out. Plus, your name isn't shared with merchants and they don't see your actual card number. Whether you're shopping in store online or an app, protecting your money should be simple. Pay the Apple way Terms apply.

[Colin Cowherd]

We all want the best without having

[Domonique Foxworth]

to pay the most. That's where Verizon comes in. Get this now you can take your AT and T or T mobile bill into any Verizon store. They'll look at what you're paying and

[Colin Cowherd]

give you a better deal. Period.

[Domonique Foxworth]

You get the amazing coverage you want

[Colin Cowherd]

while keeping more cash in your pocket.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Visit your local Verizon store to start saving today. Must provide recent Consumer Mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms and conditions apply. March is here and Uber Eats is delivering deals all month long. Every game day, score big savings on

[Colin Cowherd]

all the delicious food you need to turn your couch into center court and fuel your fandom.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Whether you're ordering in or hosting the whole crew, Uber Eats is serving up deals on wings, pizza, burgers from your favorite restaurants, plus game day snacks from top stores.

[Colin Cowherd]

Bracket Busted still holding strong? Cinderella story or top seed?

[Domonique Foxworth]

However the madness unfolds these deals keep

[Colin Cowherd]

it going all month long.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Visit the game day hub on Uber Eats for all the latest deals and start saving today.

[Webull Advertiser]

The March tournament brings volatility upsets and momentum shifts. With webull predictions, you can trade strategic positions on college basketball outcomes, react to matchups and assess probabilities as the tournament unfolds. Whether your bracket is busted or you're on the way to the top of your leaderboard, bring your strategy to your trades in real time. Get started by downloading the Webull app today or visiting webull.com event Contract trading is speculative and may not be suitable for all investors. Customers should carefully consider the associated risk before investing.

[Colin Cowherd]

Visit webull.com disclosures thanks for listening to the Herd podcast.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Here we go. It is a Tuesday. We're live in Chicago.

[Domonique Foxworth]

It's the Herd.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wherever you may be and however you may be watching or listening, thanks for making us part of your day. Nick Wright stops by, as is customary, on Tuesday. Good to have you in. So we have officially entered the silly season. We're about a month out from the NFL draft, and one of the more popular personalities at the other place came out yesterday, and a lot of the media just, you can just reel them right in. Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza. He should be going number one to the Raiders. Oh, boy. All right. Ty Simpson had 15 college starts, and the more film defensive coordinators got on him, the worse he got. Fernando Mendoza had 35 college starts, and the more film people got on him, the better he got. So we're one month away. There's been no football since the end of the season. It's time to nitpick the number one pick. At no time during the season, late in the season when they were both playing good teams, nobody thought Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza. What we thought is, what the hell happened to this guy? He was pretty good early. If you go to their last six starts between the two teams, Mendoza completed almost 75% of his throws, and that includes that Ohio State defense, that Miami defense. Ty Simpson's last six games with with Calyn DeBoer, an excellent offensive coach with the elite wide receivers, he barely completed 60% of his throws. 17s. 4 picks. So I don't even think Mendoza is a hard evaluation. Think combine Matt Ryan, if he was bigger, stronger, and a little bit more mobility. So like Matt Ryan and some Daniel Jones, now he's bigger, stronger, with a better arm than Matt Ryan. Bigger, thicker, stronger, and he's much more accurate than Daniel Jones. Think of Andrew Luck in terms of aggressiveness, loves to throw the ball down the field and accurate. So I don't think it's that difficult to comp. I think there are quarterbacks coming out of college that are really difficult evaluations. Dak Prescott, there's a reason he went in the fourth round. His mechanics weren't good. He didn't have a great arm. He was kind of athletic, not super athletic. You know, his accuracy, ball placement was very streaky. That was a hard evaluation. Russell Wilson, even his college coach at North Carolina State benched him. Said, I'm going to go with. I'm going to go with Mike Glennon. He was shrimpy. I didn't know if he could See over the line, you had to roll him out. He was small. And Wisconsin had a huge offensive line. You're like, you run around a lot. I don't know if this really works well. He ended up being really, really good. Okay. And Dak Prescott came into the league with the Cowboys. Had the best offensive line in football easily at the time, and Zeke. So that helped. And by the way, Russell Wilson came into the league and he had the Seattle defense and Marshawn lynch, so both got some help. Those were hard quarterback evaluations.

[Jonas Knox]

Really hard.

[Colin Cowherd]

Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson. I never thought Dak would be this good. I didn't think Russell Wilson would be that good in his prime. I don't think Fernando Mendoza is that tough of an evaluation. I think he's a. He's a thicker, better arm, stronger. Matt Ryan, he's got that deceptive mobility of Daniel Jones, but he's a much better accurate ball placement quarterback. And he's aggressive like Andrew Locke, but not as talented. He's not as talented as Andrew Luck. And like Justin Herbert, he can be a little stiff at times. But I. This is a. Matt Ryan was a B plus prospect, A minus. Daniel Jones was a C, C plus. I mean, Dak was like C minus, D. So there are surprises. But Ty Simpson better than Fernando Mendoza. We had Todd McShay on a month ago. I'm not saying he won't go in the first round. I have predicted he will. Somebody will reach. And he's better than like Kenny Pickett. He's got a good arm. He moves pretty well. Here's Todd McShay on him.

[Todd McShay]

What's the physical trait?

[Jonas Knox]

That.

[Todd McShay]

That's excellent. That's different. And he doesn't have the physical trait. The other part is the 15 starts, man. It is, it's real. We've talked about it before on this show. Like, there are a couple guys who are superhuman that have 25 starts that are great in the league. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. He's not that. I put him at 13 in this mock draft. As of right now, I don't think that that's going to happen.

[Colin Cowherd]

But wait for it.

[Todd McShay]

Like too many. I've been doing this two and a half decades. As we get closer without other quarterbacks, someone's going to rise. I could see Ty winning over a lot of coaches in those meetings.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think he'll go in the first round. You know, good army moves better than Mendoza, but 15 starts got worse the more film people got on him. I don't even think he's ready to start in the NFL. I think he should sit for a year or two. Mendoza is ready to play. Okay, well, I mean I can go back on vacation if you want. Laker fans. I mean, I left, you were awful defensively, you couldn't beat any good teams. And I leave and you go five and oh against good teams and your defense, you look like the bad boy. Pistons, I come back on vacation and a G leaguer, Dennis Jenkins had a career high 30 on you last night. The Pistons without Cade Cunningham. And by the way, speaking of G league, the Pistons without Cade Cunningham, that's a G league offense. And the G league, they couldn't stop him. So what does it mean they lose to Detroit without Cade Cunningham? What does it mean? Not that much. But what does the eight game regular season late season winning streak mean? Nine games not that much. And that's the truth. Somewhere in between. It doesn't mean that much. Be very careful about regular season, late NBA winning streaks. Milwaukee had an eight game winning streak end of last year bounced. First round Lakers had an eight game winning streak late in the regular season. Last year bounced, rolled by Minnesota. It's one of these. I've talked about this for 30 some years. the end of an NBA season, all of them, you're going to have five teams tanking. This year it may be eight. And you're also teams kind of know their seeds, they know what they are. A lot of veteran players rest, you know, I've got an ice cream headache, I'm taking the night off. You know, it's one of those things. So you've got, you've got tanking. The good teams are spanking the tankers and then you got some stars just taking some time off, getting ready for the playoffs, getting healthy. So you got to be very careful. Bucks and Lakers on fire last year late in the regular season meant nothing. I will say this though, that Detroit gave you a little bit of blueprint, a little bit of a blueprint on what gives the Lakers trouble. Pistons the last two years are 40 against the Lakers.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Why?

[Colin Cowherd]

Because the Pistons are physical and play ugly basketball and the Lakers are pretty. The Lakers play a beautiful half court. The Lakers and Pistons I could argue are the opposites. The Lakers are brilliant in the half court offense, aesthetically, optically beautiful. The passing, the layering, everybody's an offensive wizard. Detroit's the opposite outside of Cade Cunningham and he didn't play last night. They're tough and rugged and physical and they're a nightmare on the half Court they're bad, they can't shoot. Last night they shot 43% from threes. They're terrible three point shooting team. These are the opposite. If you asked God what could the Pistons really need you'd say a little bit more like the Lakers. And if you ask what could the Lakers use it'd be a little bit more of the Pistons. But they gave him a blueprint on how to beat the Lakers. Why? What did they do last night? They hunted down Luca piston players and I'm not talking great offensive players. Pistons players shot 60% if Luka guarded them. And Jenkins the G Leaguer shot 100% when Luka guarded him 4 for 4. So this was a little bit of a blueprint. We've said losing to the Pistons doesn't mean much. The nine game winning streak doesn't really mean that much. Late regular season NBA winning streaks. The spurs have won 22 or 24. That's not late season winning streak. That is great. That is a great basketball team that this morning I would take San Antonio to win the finals. That's a great team. 22 of 24 that was like the Heatles like year two was like okay, we're just, we're blowing people out. That's not what a seven or an eight or a nine game NBA late season regulars winning streak is that. That's not so losing didn't mean much last night. The nine gamer take a deep breath. Here's JJ Red.

[JJ Redick]

I believe that we're a good basketball team. I thought we could be a good basketball team. The entire season we saw flashes of it, we saw short stretches of it but we were a good basketball team and I think we can have to continue to

[Tom Izzo]

to

[JJ Redick]

play together and all that stuff. It is remarkable to me and this is again not an excus. Our winning streak has also coincided with us being healthy. We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. And you know LeBron's older and Austin Reeves feels like he's been banged up and Marcus Smart didn't play and Rui didn't play last night but either did Cade Cunningham and the Lakers could not stop a G leaguer. So take a deep breath. You know some teams are just built more ruggedly. Just like some people can move to Chicago and it doesn't bother them. Other people have to live near a warm beach. So my take is everything's going to be okay. But what the Pistons do is not what the Lakers like to face four no against them they just Ugly up the game. They push you around. They hang on you. Detroit is. Is inartistic. But by the way, also, the Knicks are a very pretty offensive team with Jalen Brunson and Cat. The Pistons have had success this year against the Knicks, another team that can play a little bit of finesse basketball. So Detroit gives you a little bit of blueprint of ugly it up that the Lakers don't like that style of basketball. That's why when the Heels were great and the warriors were great, they could play ugly basketball, too. When you had Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, the Warriors were beautiful, but they could get ugly really fast. That's the great Michael Jordan's Bulls. Pippen beautiful offensively, but Phil Jackson could turn the governor up and they could get choppy and ugly, too. Those are the truly great teams. The Lakers have a style they have to play, the Pistons have a style they have to play. That's why neither one's going to win the championship. But they're both very good at what they do. Really good.

[Jay]

Yeah, Lakers definitely not winning the championship. You're sure about that? Interesting. I feel like that's a bit of a hot take for an early Tuesday. While you're taking jabs at me like I'm soft because I can't handle Chicago. The reality is you're right. Lakers take Detroit not seriously. No Cade Cunningham. No Marcus Smart. They gave up 65 in the first half, but I almost bet them at halftime. Colin. I almost did. A long road trip. I'll give you this. I'll agree with your take that the winning streak was meaningless if they lose to the tanking Pacers on Wednesday night. Indianapolis had lost 16 in a row before a win last night. They are definitely tanking. They want the number one pick, AJ DeVont.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't know what the line is, but the Lakers will blow out.

[Jay]

They should.

[Colin Cowherd]

The Pacers, absolutely. Coming up next, just because JSN got paid, don't tell me that I have to pay. George Pickens of the Cowboys. That's next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Jay (Producer)]

Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you, please don't listen to this show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't Listen to this show so it can get canceled.

[Colin Cowherd]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Tony Fusco]

What the hell are you doing in our studio?

[Colin Cowherd]

Get him, Paulie. Ignore that fool. Listen to the Paul and Tony Fusco show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. He's still moving

[Apple Pay Advertiser]

pay around the corner and around the globe. Apple Pay is accepted at millions of places worldwide. Wherever you see the contactless symbol in stores or the Apple Pay button online and in apps. Whether you're checking out on iPhone or Apple Watch, just double click pay and be on your way. Add your debit or credit card to Wallet and you're good to go. Pay the Apple way terms apply.

[Public Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from Public. If you look at your investing app, what do you see? An Interface stuck in 1997 or something that looks modern but feels more like a casino than a place to build wealth. Public is different. It's the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build your portfolio for the long haul. Stocks, options, bonds, crypto. It's all there. But what really makes Public different is the technology behind it. Imagine starting your day with an AI summarized market briefing, getting clear summaries of earnings calls the moment they end, or turning any idea into an investable index just by typing a prompt. This is what investing looks like when the tools finally catch up. Go to public.com and earn a 1% uncapped match when you transfer your portfolio. Public Investing for those who take it seriously Ad paid for by Public Holdings

[Tony Fusco]

Brokerage Services by Public Investing Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors SEC Registered Advisor Crypto Services by ZeroHash all investing involves risk of loss. See complete [e-mail] disclosures oh, I'm loving this.

[Viz Advertiser]

I've always had eye issues struggling to see up close. Make it visible with Viz. VIZ is the once daily prescription eye drop to treat blurry near vision for up to 10 hours. The most common side effects that may be experienced while using Viz includes eye irritation, temporary dim or dark vision, headaches, and eye redness. Talk to an eye doctor to learn if VIZ is right for you. Learn [e-mail] running a commercial plumbing or

[Domonique Foxworth]

H Vac company isn't easy. You're driving revenue, managing payroll, coordinating marketing, juggling projects, and keeping customers satisfied all at once. You need software that keeps up. It's time to upgrade to Service Titan, the all in one solution built to help companies like yours run smarter, grow faster, and scale with confidence. See how the most success contractors are doing it today with Service Titan. Visit servicetitan.com to learn more.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's servicetitan.com hey, it's Jonas Knox.

[Jonas Knox (Alternate)]

Every sports season is built on preparation, studying the trends, making necessary adjustments to reach the ultimate goal. Investing deserves the same approach. With We Bull, you have access to real time market data, advanced tools and an intuitive app designed to help you make informed decisions. Trade stocks, options, ETFs and more, or set up an IRA for the long term all in one platform. Get financial portfolio game ready by downloading the Webull app today or visiting webull.com Webull Financial LLC member SIPC FINRA Investing Involves Risk. For more information, visit webull.com disclosures Listen,

[Colin Cowherd]

I've said with the NFL, don't nitpick Fernando Mendoza There are no red flags. Fernando Mendoza Size, arm, competitiveness, gratitude, humility, commitment. No red flags in the NBA there was no red flags for AD Wemby, LeBron, Cooper flag, Tim Duncan, there's no red flags. But Darren Peterson at Kansas, Kansas was better winning percentage wise when he didn't play. Kansas was 9 and 2 when he didn't play. They were 15 and 9 when he did. That worries me. He plays in a silo and he kind of plays for himself. He doesn't, you know, he doesn't elevate anybody else. He has no assists. The other thing is major durability issues. And I mean like ankle missed games because of cramps. Ankle hammy. He missed it for a multitude of reasons. So he's got to me, multiple red flags. If you're getting hurt in college basketball, what happens when you triple your games and go NBA basketball and the guys are just bigger and stronger. They're older men. So the durability stuff worries me. And again, he you're going to find that basketball players who elevate others are usually social animals. LeBron gets along with everybody. I mean Luke, Kennard and LeBron. LeBron is playful. Steph Curry is playful. Is that Magic Johnson was playful. You know, Darren Peterson's like, yeah, I'm a loner. I don't love that. I want you to be a guy's guy. And everybody kind of gravitates around you. You know, a lot of the great players who elevate other Kawhi Leonard, odd loner, doesn't average many assists.

[Jonas Knox]

Why?

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, Luka, by the way, is a good time. Guys like Luka, Luka's funny. Lukas Luka's ready to hoist a beer at any one point, open a pack of smokes. But Luke is Also a great passer that elevates others, by the way. Kobe could be a little bit of a loner. Was difficult. Kobe didn't necessarily elevate others. Michael Jordan, you know, he's just. He's just the greatest offensive player I've

[Domonique Foxworth]

ever seen, so maybe that doesn't count.

[Colin Cowherd]

But a lot of the. A lot of the guys that elevate others, it starts with the personality. It starts with. They just ingratiate themselves. This kid's like, I'm a loner. They were 9 and 2 without him. Worse winning percentage with him. There's durability issues. That's a lot of red flags. And I'll just give you. Now you can have red flags, but if you're a number one in a loaded draft, it worries me. I said this, I think yesterday, it would keep me up at night as a gm. So let's go to the NFL. Bryce Young, number one pick, major red flag. He's undersized. Jameis Winston, reckless. Sam Bradford, college injuries. Jamarcus Russell, immature. In fact, the Lions basically called Matt Millen, called Al Davis and said, don't pick up number one. David Carr, didn't play elite competition in only one huge year. Tim Couch, kind of a gunslinger. Not real mobile, limited athletically. Kajana Carter, medical issues. Jeff George, maturity. Well, they all. All of those have been true. You go to basketball. Number one picks. Zachariah Ricochet, Atlanta. What did they say? Not really an elite athlete. Well, he's not. Deandre Ayton. At Arizona, they were like, not engaged at all. Defensively, a lopsided player. Well, not a leader. Markell Foltz, where do I start? Ben Simmons, can't shoot. Anthony Bennett, you know, undersized power forward, played crappy competition. Greg Oden, not a polished offensive game. Kwame Brown, he's a high schooler. Michael Oluwakandi, again, you know, bad competition. He went to Pacific. They all. They all became that. They all played themselves out. So, I mean, again, I'm not saying Darren Peterson won't be a good NBA player, but if you're a number one pick, LeBron, AD WEMBY, there's no red flags. I mean, my concern about Wemby is he's so tall. Like, honestly, as a body built to be 7 4, can he stay healthy? You fall to the floor when you're 7 4. It's a little different than 6 4. But I mean, Peterson, I got durability stuff. He kind of plays in a silo. He's kind of a loner. I don't know. It seems like a decent guy and Bill Self likes him. But the red flags almost always bear themselves out. You know Peyton Manning, number one pick. There weren't a lot of red flags. You know what, Nathan Hutchinson, a number one pick if I recall, was he or no, he wasn't. He's been great for Detroit. I don't, I don't remember. I guess Aiden wasn't a number one pick.

[Jay]

Colin, can I bring up a number two? What's that to compare to Darren Peterson? So I don't know if you remember the Anthony Edwards draft. It was like lamelo ball. James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards. And there was this Anthony Edwards doesn't love basketball narratives. He went to Georgia, put up some empty stats, shot like 29% from three. But he loved football. That was his love.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jay]

And people shied off Anthony Edwards and he fell to Minnesota. Five years later. Is Anthony Edwards like going to be the face of the NBA? Like I think we need to chill a little bit.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, time out. No ant Edwards. Nobody questioned his durability, his athletic ability, his talent. There were no red flags. I thought it was kind of a weak red flag. He may like football more than basketball. That wasn't what you call Edward.

[Jay]

He wasn't saying the right things at the time to the draft. Lead up to the draft.

[Colin Cowherd]

18, 19 year old kids don't always

[Jay]

say I agree, I totally agree.

[Colin Cowherd]

And Edwards didn't have major red flags.

[Jay]

Not major.

[Colin Cowherd]

That was a terrible draft. And by the way, the guy with red flags, Lonzo, wasn't it? Lonzo ball.

[Jay]

Well it was lamelo ball.

[Colin Cowherd]

Silly, goofy, not gonna play defense, a showboat.

[Jay]

Six years later he's awesome. And they're going to the six years

[Colin Cowherd]

later he's not the best player on his team. The rookie from Duke is.

[Jay]

That's true, that's true. But I mean this Peterson stuff, are we calling them major red flags or just red flags? Major is like hey man, he's in trouble with the law.

[Colin Cowherd]

He missed 11 games.

[Jay]

He did, yeah. He had some problem. He had some cramping issues that I think his camp was nervous about. And they were like hey, slow down, we got the NBA.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think there's, I think there are, I think durability issues.

[Jay]

So how far do you think he falls? Like I understand not number one.

[Colin Cowherd]

I would agree, I would go is unbelievable explosive. Now people say, well Darius Akoff doesn't play defense. That's not a huge concern for a 62 guy. When Deandre Ayden came out, Deandre Ayton was at Arizona. He's a big. Yeah, he should be a rim protector. People like, he doesn't even like defense. He's moody. Those are red flags. A 6, 2 guard that doesn't defend well, that's not a red flag. That's a six. Two guys in the NBA, Chris Paul's an exception, generally aren't great defensive players. It's a big man's game. So to me, what do I consider? I guess what you're asking, what is a red flag? Okay, durability, Huge red flag.

[Jay]

How do we know durability for a 19 year old? Like he was after the issues early in the season. He was healthy the last month and change two months or whatever and put up good numbers. He was outstanding against St. John's brought him back.

[Colin Cowherd]

He did not take over the game against St. John's well, he kind of brought.

[Jay]

They were down seven and he ended up tying it up. He was good. He was really good. And he was a one man show because the rest of that team was putrid. I don't know. You're making it sound like I don't know. If you take him top five, are you saying?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I'm just saying I just gave you NFL college number one pick. If you get red flags. Chris, listen, Chris Broussard, who's talking to NBA people, Rosillo, Ryan Rossillo basically had Talked to a GMs like, I'm not taking him number one. Durability is a huge red flag. They were better 9 and 2 when he didn't play.

[Jay]

Did not play. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

With timeout. That's not the way it should work. That's why I say when Jokic doesn't play for Denver, like they're not good. Like there are players who kind of play in a silo, play for themselves. He's got a little bit of a Kawhi thing where like Kawhi, kind of a loner, doesn't necessarily elevate others, but is a great shot maker and to get a. Get a stop guy. So Kawhi is a great player. But Kawhi, there was some. He was a little, you know, he was a kind of. He's kind of an odd guy and I think so. I think Kawhi is great. But I think all the concerns early about you can't really. He's not a franchise guy. He didn't have the personality. You can't depend on him. There's durability issues. I mean, Kawhi Leonard's a great example. If Kawhi didn't have a durability issue. Even with his odd personality. We'd be talking about one of the 10 best players we've ever seen. You just don't know when he's going to play. Yeah, he's an un. He is in my opinion, the closest thing to kind of Jordan in terms of hand size, defensive man pressure, the ability to get a mid range jumper. Kawhi is an insane talent. Right. But personality off putting, durability, major red flag and they bear themselves out. Here's Broussard on Darren Peterson.

[Chris Broussard]

Peterson's obviously got a bright future, but the red flags are glaring. Colin like just missing so many games for bizarre or hidden reasons. I hesitate to overreact to one tournament game. But look, he'll be a top five pick without question and he should. But there are some other guys that I don't have the same reservations about.

[Colin Cowherd]

He did not have a single assist against St. John.

[Jay]

That is a, that's a, he doesn't, he doesn't, he doesn't play well with others.

[Colin Cowherd]

He, he plays for himself. Yeah, and I, you know, there's a, I'm telling you, man, this, this Acuff kid is special.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific

[Apple Pay Advertiser]

pay around the corner and around the globe Apple Pay is accepted at millions of places worldwide. Wherever you see the contactless symbol in stores or the Apple Pay button online and in apps. Whether you're checking out on iPhone or Apple Watch, just double click pay and be on your way. Add your debit or credit card to wallet and you're good to go. Pay the Apple Way terms apply.

[Public Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from Public. If you look at your investing app, what do you see? An Interface stuck in 1997 or something that looks modern, but it feels more like a casino than a place to build wealth. Public is different. It's the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build your portfolio for the long haul. Stocks, options, bonds, crypto. It's all there. But what really makes Public different is the technology behind it. Imagine starting your day with an AI summarized market briefing, getting clear summaries of earnings calls the moment they end, or turning any idea into an investable index just by typing a prompt. This is what investing looks like when the tools finally catch up. Go to public.com and earn a 1% uncapped match when you transfer your portfolio. Public Investing for those who take It Seriously Ad paid for by Public Holdings

[Tony Fusco]

Brokerage Services by Public Investing Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors SEC Registered Advisor crypto services by ZeroHash all investing involves risk of loss. See complete [e-mail] disclosures struggling to see

[Domonique Foxworth]

up close make it Vizz Able with Viz B I Z Z Vizz is a once daily presc eye drop to treat blurry near vision for up to 10 hours. It works. The most common side effects that may be experienced while using VIZ include eye irritation, temporary dim or dark vision, headaches, eye redness. Talk to an eye doctor to learn if VIS V I Z Z is right for you. Learn [e-mail] check it out Running a commercial plumbing or H vac company isn't easy. You're driving revenue, managing payroll, coordinating marketing, juggling projects and keeping customers satisfied all at once. You need software that up. It's time to upgrade to Service Titan, the All in one solution built to help companies like yours run smarter, grow faster and scale with confidence. See how the most successful contractors are doing it today with Service Titan. Visit servicetitan.com to learn more.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's servicetitan.com hey, it's Jonas Knox.

[Jonas Knox (Alternate)]

Every sports season is built on preparation, studying the trends, making necessary adjustments to reach the ultimate goal. Investing deserves the same approach. With WE Bull, you have access to real time market data, advanced tools and an intuitive designed to help you make informed decisions. Trade stocks, options, ETFs and more, or set up an IRA for the long term all in one platform. Get your financial portfolio game ready by downloading the Webull app today or visiting webull.com Webull Financial LLC member SIPC FINRA Investing involves Risk for more information visit webull.com disclosures here we go.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Hour 2 Nick right in a few

[Colin Cowherd]

minutes we're live in Chicago. It's the herd warming up here. May wear a tank top on the show tomorrow. It was so nice out couple days you see the flowers start blooming so beautiful. The Friday night is going to be great. Dan Hurley and Yukon face Tom Izzo and Michigan State and I'm one of these. If you want to play for Dan Hurley or if you want to play for Tom Izzo, you have to adapt to their style. Their job is to not make you comfortable. These guys bark. So does Rick Patino and John Calipari and Coach K did. Now not every coach has to bark. Hurley really gets after officials and Pitino can really get after players and so can Izzo. But my take is I know that Hurley and Izzo and Pitino's teams are going to be excellent. I Don't know if you as a player are going to be excellent. You need to adapt to them. They work. Izzo's made the tournament 28 straight years. His style works your game, there's no guarantee it works. You adapt to them. The, the media, especially the print media, has always been uncomfortable with like volume, but they call it a 30 second timeout. There's no time for paragraphs and diplomacy and nuance. The arena is loud. This is not the NBA where you get seven game playoff series. It's sudden death basketball. I gotta make a point quickly, move on. And it can be one bad call by an official or one defensive mistake by you as a college player, the season's over. In the NBA, it's different. You know, you see Andy Reid barking at players. One bad snap, you lose the game, you start getting a multi, you know, three, five, seven game series until you get to like a game six or a seven. How much is urgent, right? So when I look at it and all these coaches that bark, you also find the players love them. Players love Izzo and love Coach K and Calipari. Totally loyal to these guys. I'm not saying Jay Wright didn't do it that way. Mark Few doesn't do it that way. I'm comfortable. Hurley yells at officials more than players. Coach K yelled at both. But my take is, guys, it's March. We got eight minutes left. One bad defensive possession, you know, one bad defensive stand, season's over. So I don't, I don't, I don't think there's a lot of time for diplomacy in March and basketball. So I don't have a problem with it. I talked to Tom Izzo. I said with a transfer portal now, players can leave at any time. Has it changed the way you coach?

[Tom Izzo]

I'm at the point in my career where I don't need to worry about it, but, you know, I've had the privilege of being, you know, around guys like Magic Johnson or, you know, watching the NBA. I've had some chances to go there and I think they all think the same thing. You know, the great players want to be coached. Everybody's got to be pushed. I mean, everybody pushes people. That's the way it should be. That's the way it needs to be if you're really going to be successful. If it was easy, as they say, everybody would do it.

[Colin Cowherd]

I would argue the three best coaches in college basketball now are Patino, Izzo, Hurley, Calipari. They all bark, they're all loud. I'm okay with it. And I always said this. Peyton Manning would bark during a game. Andy Reid and Mahomes bark at each other during games. Tom Brady, Josh McDaniels. Nuance is for the film room. Nuance is for practice in game. I'm okay with intensity and volume. I mean, there's a line between intensity and insanity. And the late Bobby Knight crossed that about four times a season. That's different. And with that, first things first. I gotta get to this. I don't know if Nick's gonna like this. Nick Wright is now joining us live. So I said I used the 6 foot 6, 290 pound bouncer to nightclub. Doesn't get into a lot of fights because nobody challenges him. If I was a bouncer or J. Mac, you get into people with challenges. And I said the reason, I mean,

[Jonas Knox]

J. Mac's always showing off the guns. You're like six, two, like. I mean, I think people would be intimidated by both you fellas, but go ahead, your point taken.

[Colin Cowherd]

My point is with Wemby, stats do not tell the story. He literally changes the geometry. He leads the NBA by 40 blocks, has missed multiple games. Literally. Teams don't attack them. And so Luke is so bad defensively. I know it's an offensive. Wemby is so historically, do you know

[Jonas Knox]

it's an offensive league?

[Colin Cowherd]

Do you?

[Jonas Knox]

Because you're telling me about. So I mean, is it though, is it an offensive league and is it an offensive award and are we changing the rules because everyone loves Wimby and nobody likes Luka. Just tell me.

[Colin Cowherd]

Because you can't be the worst defensive star in the league and win MVP when the greatest historical defensive player is also B on offense.

[Jonas Knox]

Okay, so hold on. So here's my problem. I agree that the stats don't tell the story fully. On Wimby's defense, Wimby is the best defensive player in the league and one of already the highest defensive ceilings ever. Maybe en route to being the best defensive player ever. That is all objectively true. I do think for Wimby, the stats do tell the story. On his offense, he's not Steph Curry in 2015, where his gravity is getting people open. He's 24 points, three assists a night on offense. He is a good but not yet great offensive player. I don't think he is yet one of the 10 best offensive players in the sport. Now one can argue being the 12th best offensive player and far and away the best defensive player makes you the best player in the sport. Like that is a legitimate argument. What is not a Legitimate argument is that MVP has always equally weighed offense and defense. Well, defense is half the game, guys. Colin, at the end of the year we vote on the All NBA team, the 15 best players and then as a sidebar, the all defense team. You know what? There's not the all offense team. You know why? Because they're like, yeah, that's the all NBA team. We have MVP and we have defensive player of the year. You know we don't have offensive player of the year. You know why? Because that's the mvp. That's one of the. We can't all of a sudden say luka who creates 55 points a game via points and assists and Wimby who creates 32 points per game via points and assists. That, that's a wash. When it comes to the MVP race. When Steve Nash has two, Dirk has one, Step has two, Joker has three, James Harden has one, Russ has one, the MVP has never been 50% offense, 50% defense. And I know you were out of town luckily when Luca was lighting the league on fire. Yeah, but at some point you're going to have to come to terms with your Luca take is just, what's the word? Wrong. It's just wrong. He's a great, great, great, great, great player.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, I'm not disputing that. Let me say this, I said this last hour that be very careful of late season NBA winning streaks because nine teams are tanking and we kind of know the seeds. People know who can. So by the way, last year, Bucks went on an 8 gamer late in the season bounce first round Lakers went an 8 gamer late in the season, knocked off their shoes by Minnesota. Is that late season NBA winning streaks? Be careful because ultimately it's the only pro league of all of our pro leagues that's literally officiated differently in the playoffs. Is that what Detroit did last night? Detroit hasn't lost the Lakers in two years. Detroit's not going to be able to beat the really good teams without Katie Cunningham, but they did give a blueprint why the Lakers will struggle. Teams that get physical with the Lakers, even if they're totally limited offensively, give LA big drill. Louisiana. Is pretty. They're finesse, they're gifted offensively, you push them around a little. A G league drop.

[Jonas Knox]

I totally disagree with you.

[Colin Cowherd]

A G league on the Lakers last night.

[Jonas Knox]

Well, listen, they are they they and this is a precarious spot to be in, but they are wildly reliant on Marcus, smart defensively and a player his age and his injury history that is A precarious spot. But the idea that the way you're gonna beat a team led by Luka Doncic who is a tank and LeBron James who is still one of the most physically imposing athletes in the league is by pushing him around. I just flatly disagree with you. I do agree all winning streaks are not created equal. But when you there are four teams in the west fighting for the three seed and Houston's one of them and you won back to back games in their building, Denver's one of them, you beat them on the winning stre. You beat the Knicks, they played high quality opponents and beat them. The Lakers this year Colin have the best record in the league when leading entering the fourth they are undefeated. This is courtesy shout out. Brian Windhorst came up with this stat 30 times this year. They have had a big lead up 14 or more. They're 30 and oh, so they haven't blown a big lead all year. They have the best record in clutch situations and the best record in one score games. I'm sorry, in single digit games. Games decided by between 1 and 9. That is a recipe of a real contender. Now do I have them on the same level as okc? Absolutely not. Have the spurs been better?

[Colin Cowherd]

Clearly.

[Jonas Knox]

But the spurs starting lineup has Victor Wynman Yama 0 playoff games, Castle 0 playoff games, Dylan Harper 0 playoff games, De' Aaron Fox 7 and then their 1 vet, De' Aaron Fox has 71, the Lakers starting 5. Every single one of the guys has been to what? The NBA Finals. Except for Austin Reaves. Marcus Smart's been to the Finals, Ayton's been to the Finals, Luke has been to the finals. LeBron's played 300 games. They're in the playoffs. There is a path for the Lakers to upsetting everyone's beloved precocious San Antonio spurs and then we'll see what happens. I know everyone wants to give the title to okc. We're on six years in a row, Colin of the defending champion looking unbeatable and the defending champion not even making the conference finals. Six champs in a row have lost in round one or round two. The Lakers are live. They're not my pick. I think Boston's going to win it and I think OKC is the best team. But the Lakers, much to your and Charles Barkley's chagrin, are live and you're just got. You just got to accept it. You just have to accept it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. All right. So I defended the Travis Kelce contract yesterday because you can't trust Rasheed Rice maturity worthy is a gadget guy. McColl Hardman, if he's. If he's still around, forget it.

[Jonas Knox]

So no, he's gone. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Okay. So the reality is Reed Mahomes, Travis Kelsey, there's a lot of trust and I do think he's very good situationally. I'm over. He's not a 90 catch guy and 12 touchdowns. But he's good on third. He's good in the red zone. He's good situationally. There's a connective tissue tissue meld between him. He connective tissue. But you gotta. Let's be honest here. Like the warriors, it is hard to let go of dynasties and the feeling. And he makes Mahomes comfortable. I don't know if he makes them an elite team in a division with the Chargers roster.

[Jonas Knox]

Oh yeah, the terrifying Chargers. The Chargers who last won a playoff game with Phillip Rivers. I got a bow at the altar of your silly Chargers who every year either miss the playoffs in embarrassing fashion or make the playoffs and lose in even more embarrassing fashion. I don't want to hear about the Chargers. Now the Broncos, they were the 1 seed. They won 14 games. Bo Nix played his ass off in that playoff game against Josh Allen. They got unlucky, broke his ankle. And I like the Jalen Waddle edition. I didn't believe in the Broncos last year. Give them respect. They actually earned it. Unlike your Chargers which are born on third base. Think they hit a triple. Everything about the Chargers is not something you would like. For some reason the Southern California air has infatuated you with them for a decade. Now to the Chiefs who Listen, last year was a down year and now they've only been to five of the last eight Super Bowls instead of five of the last seven. The way it was the Kelsey deal. And this is not your guys fault. This is honestly NFL reportage fault. Three years, 54 million is not the deal. This is a one year $12 million deal. After next season, the fifth day of the league year, he is owed a $40 million check. You know what, I don't think he's going to get that check. It just called this. So his agents can be like we got him 18 million year and the Chiefs can spread the money out. Is Travis Kelce even in a down year last year and the year before by any metric was a top five tight end at 12 million bucks. He is obviously worth it. Yes, he makes Patrick more comfortable. Yes, he is still a legitimate third down and red zone threat. And yes the Chiefs need to do a Lot of work to make sure last year was a blip rather than a trend. I know a lot of folks have been preying on the downfall of the Chiefs, including your beloved co host who four years in a row have said they're cooked. And finally he was right once and now he's taking a victory lap for six months. But hey, they won six games. Such is life. Chiefs fans gotta eat it. But Vegas gives them the fourth best chance to win the super bowl and favors them to win the division. There's a reason for that. Patrick should be back at the beginning of the year. They finally have a running game. They have the ninth pick of the draft. I think Kelsey coming back is a bonus. And the downfall of the Chiefs has been a little over exaggerated by some, in my opinion.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I want to circle back. I want to end it with LeBron so LeBron hears everything he does. It's the phone generation. Any criticism LeBron about a week ago during the winning streak is like, oh yeah, I heard the Lakers are better without me. I'm like him.

[Jonas Knox]

Yeah, yeah, he was talking to you. Did you apologize? I know you have. Did you reach out to Maverick and say, Tell LeBron I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's wait to the playoffs. I do think there's a reality in the postseason that if you have Luka and Austin reaves that it. LeBron last night didn't score in the first half. There are situations for. Yeah, you know, at this point in his career he's not as consistent. And I do think in the playoffs Luka's going to get hunted. Austin's going to get hunted. That's what Detroit did last night with Luka and LeBron in his prime could protect him more. It's not who he is. You are the GM of the Lakers. You can build him a statue. What do you do? What do you. Knowing, knowing right now that defensively Luka is what he is and Austin is completely limited the roster outside of Marcus Smart is actually in dire need of youth. 3&D catch and shoot. What do you do with LeBron?

[Jonas Knox]

Listen, I don't think it's going to be up to the GM. I think it's going to be up to LeBron. I think LeBron, I believe this is his last year with the Lakers. Now if they were to make the Finals, which I'm not picking them to, I think they can. If they were to win the championship, obviously, then you probably screw it, run it back. I don't think either of those is the likely outcome. And I think LeBron, I have believed he's going to go to Cleveland. The James Harden thing might really throw a wrench in that. New York has always been attractive to him and a lot of folks seem to believe Golden State for him. And Steph, one swan song at the end that it could be there. I don't think he'll be on the Lakers next year, but LeBron was absolutely, unequivocally correct in getting mad at you and your ilk for implying they're worse with him. Is it a clumsy fit? Sure. Is the fact that Luca modeled his game after LeBron James and now he is on a team with LeBron James, does that make them a little redundant? Obviously. Is it utterly remarkable to see LeBron in year 23, a year off being sixth in MVP voting, totally change his role in a way no other all time great perimeter player ever has. Okay, I will go to third option. I will be Swiss Army Knife lebron. I will expend more of my energy cutting to the basket and defending because Luke and Austin need the. Yeah, it's remarkable. But when you're the smartest player ever, the best leader ever, and one of the best connectors ever, you make things work as best as you can. So, yeah, I do think that there are better fits for him elsewhere and there are better players that could be playing that role for the Lakers. But the idea that you know what would be good for the Lakers? If LeBron pulled his hamstring and missed the playoffs, then they have to worry about it. That's always been ridiculous. Of course they're better with him than without him. And they're showing it by being the best team in the west for a month, which is what they've been with respect to okc.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, well, I hope they can get past the Pacers. That's on deck.

[Jonas Knox]

That's a. I mean, yeah, I mean, they're going to about to win three straight again. They have Pacers, Nets, Wizards. By the way, bonus take Luka, one more Tech, he gets a suspension.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[Jonas Knox]

At the tail end of tonight's blowout against the Pacer or tomorrow's blowout. He should intentionally get a tech so he misses one of these tankers and then he can reset the clock. They're going to be the three seed. They're going to get Houston in round one when they're up three one, you're going to lead your show killing Kevin Durant. We're going to get ready for a LeBron Wimby round two. I can't wait. I missed you. I haven't talked to you in a while.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's great to see you, buddy, as always.

[Jonas Knox]

Yeah, you too.

[Colin Cowherd]

First things first after our show.

[Jonas Knox]

Yeah, the

[Colin Cowherd]

you know, I know it's an offensive league, but it is hard to give the MVP to somebody who the Pistons G leaguers were hunting last night. It's like, you know, it's, it's, it's kind of a hole defensively, but hey, you know, and maybe I'm a little

[Domonique Foxworth]

favorable to the Chargers, but you know, the Harbaugh Herbert thing, it's hard to argue about it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Live in Chicago, it's the Herbert Every

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Lenovo is built to let them move. Let them put a chicken on a skateboard, please. Let them scale, copy and change it up. Let them make a purple sky with raining soccer balls incoming. Let them launch their vision to the world. Let's then make Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, Lenovo gives creatives everything they need lenovo.com let creatives create Lenovo Lenovo

[Radhi Devlukia]

this is Radhi Devlukia from A really Good Cry. I absolutely love getting outside, whether it's a quick walk or a mindful few steps between meetings or even a longer run to just clear my head. But the one thing that can really ruin that for me is shoes that just don't feel right. That's why I started wearing Altra running with the Altra Fit, every step feels comfortable, balanced and strong. Like my feet can finally move freely. What really stood out to me was the roomy toe box. My toes actually now have room to spread out, which makes movement feel more natural and comfortable. And when your feet aren't cramped, you feel more balanced. Like every step has a strong, stable foundation. I've noticed that with extra space, my foot muscles get to work building strength so I can actually move with more confidence. Altra fits and moves with you, no matter your pace or your goals. Beginner or marathon runner. They've really become my go to for any kind of running or training, and I always feel like my feet can do exactly what they're meant to do. Feel the difference by visiting altrarunning.com and use my code CRY10 for 10% off. That's Altra A L T R-A running.com Experience Altra and stay out there with

[Venmo Advertiser]

the Venmo debit card. A taco in one hand and ordering a ride in the other means you're stacking your rewards. Nice. Get up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash on your favorite brands when you pay with your Venmo debit card. From takeout to ride shares, entertainment and more, pick a bundle with your go tos and start earning cash back at those brands. Do More stash Get more cash Venmo Stash Bundle terms and exclusions apply. See terms at Venmo me stash terms max $100 cash back per month if

[Grainger Advertiser]

you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H VAC and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock, so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Domonique Foxworth]

Imagine never buying gas again. EVs are as easy to charge as your phone and perfect for everyday life. Drive daily with confidence everywhere you go. Most Americans drive 40 miles a day. Most EVs are equipped with 200 to 400 miles of range. They've got fewer parts, fewer repairs, and fewer headaches. With hundreds of new and used EV models available today, there's an EV to fit every lifestyle and every budget. I love my electric vehicle.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's easy.

[Domonique Foxworth]

No more gas stations. The way forward is electric. Learn more@electric for all.org this is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Announcer]

Guaranteed human.