The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Best of The Herd – April 3, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd | Guest Co-Host: Rachel Nichols | Special Guest: Mick Cronin

Overview

This “Best of” episode showcases the day’s biggest sports headlines with a focus on NBA playoff implications, the current NBA MVP race, shifting college basketball dynamics, and deep analysis of the upcoming Final Four. Colin is joined by Rachel Nichols—standing in for J. Mac—and later by UCLA coach Mick Cronin, providing uniquely informed perspectives on both NBA and NCAA basketball. The tone throughout is engaging, insightful, and sometimes candidly skeptical of hype and conventional narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lakers vs. Thunder Blowout & the Lakers’ Flaws

Time: 01:06–06:08

• Colin scrutinizes the Lakers’ disastrous performance against Oklahoma City, highlighting how the Thunder’s defense exposed LA’s weaknesses and suggesting the Lakers are not real championship contenders.
• Luka's injury: Luka Doncic limped off in the third quarter (soft tissue issue), and Colin declares this knocks him out of the MVP race and likely costs the Lakers dearly in the short term.
• Thunder’s targeted defense against Luka and Austin Reaves, who, when guarded, allowed OKC shooters to go 70% and 65% (respectively).
• LeBron’s lack of impact: “LeBron was minus 37, a non factor, only took seven shots.” (04:17)
• Colin’s ongoing skepticism about the Lakers overcoming top-tier teams due to their defensive liabilities and overreliance on Luka.

Notable Quote:

“Sometimes it’s hard to tell a fake Louis Vuitton bag from a real one until they’re next to each other.” — Colin Cowherd (02:07)

2. NBA MVP Debate: Wemby vs. SGA vs. Luka

Time: 01:06–12:35

• Colin sees Wembanyama as his MVP pick, while acknowledging SGA and Luka as strong candidates.
• The Thunder are intentionally “humbling” the Lakers to boost SGA’s MVP case.
• Rachel Nichols later underscores how last night was OKC demonstrating Luka wasn’t ‘all that’ in the MVP race, especially with direct defensive intensity.

3. College Basketball’s Final Four – Strength & NIL Impact

Time: 06:08–12:01

• Colin celebrates the depth and star power of the 2026 Final Four: Arizona, Michigan, UConn, Illinois.
• He’s bullish on the variety of playing styles at the NCAA level versus the NBA’s homogeneity:

  “When college basketball is doing something, it offers something that the NBA is struggling with. In college basketball, you get a diversity of offense… NBA is homogenous. It’s repetitive. This college basketball is not.” (07:41)

• Analysis of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness): Despite fears, NIL has not disproportionately benefitted only the biggest college programs.
  • 14 out of last 16 Final Four teams are unique; only UConn has consistently returned.
  • Notable upsets and sustained competitiveness across non-traditional powers.

Notable Quote:

“People, especially men and young men that live on the Internet and are pulled in by fear… NIL is big money and big brands, and it’s just a bunch of nonsense.” — Colin Cowherd (08:35)

4. Interview: Mick Cronin on the Final Four’s Teams & Trends

Time: 16:10–31:32

Illinois

• Elite guards and size, hard to score on at the rim.

  “What the difference for them in the tournament has been… their defense has really stepped up in the NCAA tournament.” — Mick Cronin (17:20)

Arizona

• Young, much improved since early season, don’t rely heavily on threes but can shoot when necessary.

Michigan

• “Virtually unbeatable if they’re hitting threes.” Cronin notes their NBA-level passing and depth.
• NIL credited for keeping top talent in college longer, producing more mature, skilled teams.

UConn

• Cronin lauds their culture, championship DNA, and “fighting spirit.”
• “Imagine they’re playing with a guy with two championships. Caravan, Alex Caravan, has two championships… that just tells you about their DNA in their program.” — Mick Cronin (22:15)

On Tommy Lloyd Staying at Arizona

• Both agree that program alignment is more important than chasing a “bigger job” now:

  “If you’re happy there and you have support… there’s just no point in leaving.” — Mick Cronin (25:24)

On Tough Coaching Styles

• The best players embrace coaching and confrontation; great teams need leaders who want to be pushed.
• Colin & Cronin swap stories about tough coaching and parenting, emphasizing a ‘coachable’ mindset.

Memorable Moment Quote:

“It was a little bit different growing up in our era, Colin. A little bit different than it is now.” — Mick Cronin (31:16)

5. NBA Playoff Picture Breakdown (East & West)

Time: 33:06–43:32
Rachel Nichols brings her trademark candor and analytical chops, making predictions with nuance:

Eastern Conference

• Pistons vs. Hornets: Rachel picks Pistons, “but it really depends on Cade Cunningham.” (33:06)
• Cavs vs. Hawks: Cavs, with James Harden’s reduced usage being a good fit for playoff stamina.
• Knicks vs. Sixers: Knicks, but Rachel’s “conflicted” due to NY’s inconsistencies and Sixers resurgence.
• Celtics vs. Raptors: Celtics in a probable sweep.
• Conference Final: Celtics easily.

  “Jaylen Brown is going to be in MVP conversation this year… the more you see them play, they’re the class of the conference.” — Rachel Nichols (37:33)

Western Conference

• Thunder vs. Blazers: Sweep for OKC.
• Nuggets vs. Rockets: Nuggets advance; Rockets lack playoff composure.
• Lakers vs. T-Wolves: Rachel picks Lakers with an asterisk—Luka’s health makes it close, but Laker firepower could prevail.
• Spurs vs. Suns: Spurs easily, “I think [Wembanyama’s] going to be a top 10, top 5 player of all time.” (40:14)
• Thunder vs. Nuggets: Rachel edges OKC amidst “little issues” for Denver but praises Jokic.
• Lakers vs. Spurs: Spurs’ youth and Wemby’s drive outweigh Laker experience.
• West Final/Championship: Both Colin and Rachel favor the Spurs, cementing the generational shifting of power.

  “I just love Wembanyama’s focus and the way he’s so determined this season to not just, just do better than last year, but do best.” — Rachel Nichols (41:29)

• Special mention of the Spurs’ record depth: 8 players averaging double figures, “never happened in NBA history.” (42:05)

Notable Finals Prediction:

• Both pick San Antonio Spurs over Boston Celtics in a bold call, declaring “the energy in the NBA, that shift you’re talking about, generationally… if the Spurs can go out and win this, I mean, how great would that be for the league.” — Rachel Nichols (43:13)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Fake vs. Real Louis Vuitton Bag: Colin’s colorful metaphor for Lakers’ pretensions as contenders. (02:07)
• Luka Doncic’s MVP Hopes Fade: “His body just collapsed in the third quarter. And that’s all those minutes.” — Colin (05:32)
• On NIL Fears: “It’s just a bunch of nonsense.” — Colin (08:35)
• On toughness in coaching: “It’s hard to have a really good team if your best players don’t want you to coach him.” — Mick Cronin (29:42)
• Spurs Endorsement: “I’d rather be early than late on this team.” — Rachel Nichols (43:13)

Key Timestamps

• Laker Meltdown & MVP Talk: 01:06–06:08, 12:01–12:35
• College Basketball & NIL: 06:08–12:01
• Mick Cronin Interview: 16:10–31:32
• NBA Playoff Predictions (East): 33:06–37:56
• NBA Playoff Predictions (West): 38:06–43:32

Summary

This episode delivers a rich mosaic of critical sports analysis—a brutal autopsy of the Lakers’ playoff viability, spirited NBA MVP debate, an in-depth look at the Final Four and NIL’s true effects on college hoops, and strong, sometimes daring NBA playoff picks. The coaching perspective from Mick Cronin grounds the basketball talk, while Rachel Nichols provides sharp and flexible playoff logic, taking team health, chemistry, and shifting trends seriously. The episode is both a reality check for hype (especially around the Lakers) and an affirmation of basketball’s generational evolution, with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs symbolizing the league’s bright, disruptive future.