Best of The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd"

Release Date: June 24, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced By: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a thought-provoking, opinionated exploration of the day’s top sports stories. In the "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin Cowherd, alongside co-host John Middlekauff and guest Nick Wright, delves deep into NBA drafts, team strategies, and NFL predictions, providing listeners with insightful analysis and spirited debates.

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I. NBA Pre-Draft Insights

A. Cooper Flag as a Top Draft Prospect ([03:11] - [05:00])
Colin Cowherd initiates the discussion by spotlighting Cooper Flag, a standout college player poised for a high draft pick. He praises Flag’s versatility, comparing him favorably to established stars:

“I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum... he can do everything pretty well.”
— Colin Cowherd ([03:11])

John Middlekauff echoes Colin’s sentiments, emphasizing Flag’s potential to average nearly 20 points as a rookie and his importance to the Dallas Mavericks’ defensive lineup.

B. The Evolution of Player Versatility ([05:00] - [09:00])
The hosts debate the shift from specialized to versatile players in basketball. Colin argues that modern players like LeBron James and Cooper Flag exemplify the ideal “general practitioner” approach, capable of handling multiple facets of the game without relying on a single signature move.

“I don’t need a go-to move. I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum.”
— Colin Cowherd ([03:59])

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II. Boston Celtics’ Strategic Moves

A. Trade Analysis and Salary Cap Management ([07:00] - [13:35])
Colin examines the Boston Celtics’ recent trade of Drew Holiday to Portland, highlighting the team’s efforts to manage their salary cap and acquire younger, cost-effective talent. He criticizes the Celtics’ approach of constantly shuffling players post-season, likening it to aggressive GM strategies seen in other leagues.

“Boston always gets multiple draft picks. They get a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract...”
— Colin Cowherd ([07:00])

B. Impact on Team Dynamics and Future Prospects ([10:00] - [13:35])
The discussion extends to the implications of these trades on team performance and future builds, emphasizing the importance of winning on margins through smart, incremental moves rather than big, risky trades.

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III. NFL Season Predictions

A. AFC and NFC Division Outcomes ([21:41] - [27:12])
Colin and John shift focus to the NFL, making bold predictions for the upcoming season. Colin forecasts the Los Angeles Chargers overcoming the historically dominant Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC West:

“Don't consider the Chiefs not winning their division.”
— Colin Cowherd ([09:00])

John supports this view by analyzing the Chargers’ improved roster under coach Jim Harbaugh, predicting a strong performance despite the Chiefs' longstanding success.

B. Specific Team Breakdowns ([22:36] - [27:12])
They provide detailed analyses of other teams, including:

• Indianapolis Colts: Predicting Daniel Jones to lead the Colts to the playoffs with a solid but not spectacular record.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Foreseeing their first losing season in 18 years due to defensive and offensive line challenges.
• Miami Dolphins: Anticipating a major reboot with a struggling offense and lack of depth.
• New England Patriots: Expecting playoff appearances under new coaching dynamics.

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IV. Guest Segment: Debate with Nick Wright

A. Ranking the Last Seven NBA Champions ([36:56] - [41:12])
Nick Wright joins the conversation to challenge Colin's rankings of recent NBA champions, particularly critiquing the placement of the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers. Nick defends LeBron James’ legacy against prevalent biases, arguing:

“There is not a single NBA myth or lie that you're like, oh, that's interesting. That one works in LeBron's favor.”
— Nick Wright ([37:11])

B. The Legacy of LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan ([39:15] - [53:51])
The debate intensifies as Nick and Colin dissect the careers of LeBron James and Michael Jordan, discussing signature moves, leadership, and their impacts on the game. Colin maintains that versatility negates the need for a singular signature move, while Nick criticizes the tendency to undermine LeBron’s contributions in favor of Jordan’s legacy.

“But he's not limited or boxed in or marginalized by having to go to his signature move.”
— Colin Cowherd ([05:00])

Nick counters by emphasizing that myths surrounding LeBron often skew perceptions, advocating for a more balanced view of his achievements.

C. Kevin Durant’s Trade to Houston Rockets ([41:12] - [45:22])
The conversation shifts to Kevin Durant’s strategic move to the Houston Rockets. Colin lauds the trade, highlighting Durant’s shooting prowess and the Rockets’ strengthened roster:

“You have to sign him a couple of big years... I think Houston is a great fit.”
— Colin Cowherd ([41:12])

Nick agrees, detailing how Durant’s addition transforms the Rockets’ lineup without severely impacting their bench strength.

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V. Impact of NIL on College Basketball and Draft Dynamics

A. Empowerment of College Programs ([19:06] - [21:41])
Colin discusses the influence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations on college basketball, positing that it has strengthened domestic talent pools by allowing colleges to attract top European players. He suggests this shift will lead to more mature and high-quality entrants into the NBA draft.

“My theory is, is that the NIL, not that it saved college basketball, but it has made college basketball much better.”
— Colin Cowherd ([19:06])

B. Decline of International Leagues ([19:06] - [21:41])
He further speculates that the availability of NIL benefits has caused international leagues, such as the Spanish league, to consider shuttering as talent migrates to the U.S. college system, enhancing the quality of players entering the NBA.

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VI. Concluding Analysis and Final Predictions

A. Recap of Key Predictions ([47:08] - [53:51])
Colin wraps up the episode by reaffirming his predictions:

• Chargers to Win AFC West: Despite Chiefs’ historical dominance, the Chargers’ roster strength under Harbaugh gives them the edge.
• Steelers’ Downturn: Anticipates a losing season for Pittsburgh due to key player losses and offensive struggles.
• Colts’ Playoff Run: Expects Daniel Jones to lead the team to the playoffs with around nine wins.
• Dolphins’ Reboot: Predicts significant setbacks for Miami, citing offensive line weaknesses and lack of depth.

B. Reflection on Sports Management Trends ([50:25] - [53:51])
The hosts reflect on broader trends in sports management, emphasizing the shift towards building depth and making strategic marginal moves rather than pursuing high-risk, high-reward transactions. This approach, they argue, is increasingly crucial in both the NBA and NFL for sustained success.

“It's winning on the margins because you know the salary cap in the NFL is pretty tight.”
— Colin Cowherd ([13:35])

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Notable Quotes

• On Cooper Flag’s Potential:
  “I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum... he can do everything pretty well.”
  — Colin Cowherd ([03:11])

• On Player Versatility vs. Specialization:
  “I don’t need a go-to move. I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum.”
  — Colin Cowherd ([03:59])

• On LeBron James’ Versatility:
  “He's not limited or boxed in or marginalized by having to go to his signature move.”
  — Colin Cowherd ([05:00])

• Nick Wright on LeBron vs. Jordan:
  “There is not a single NBA myth or lie that you're like, oh, that's interesting. That one works in LeBron's favor.”
  — Nick Wright ([37:11])

• On Kevin Durant’s Trade:
  “You have to sign him a couple of big years... I think Houston is a great fit.”
  — Colin Cowherd ([41:12])

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Conclusion

In this "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin Cowherd provides a thorough and engaging analysis of current sports narratives, blending statistical insight with passionate debate. From dissecting the intricacies of the NBA draft and trade strategies to forecasting NFL season outcomes, the episode offers valuable perspectives for sports enthusiasts. The lively exchange with guest Nick Wright adds depth, particularly in challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging a more nuanced understanding of player legacies and team dynamics. Whether you’re a casual fan or a dedicated follower, this episode delivers a comprehensive overview of the sports landscape as of mid-2025.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[John Middlekauff]

I did. I was surprised. My key card worked this morning, but I'm here, so I made it in the building bagel ready to roll.

[Colin Cowherd]

His key card worked again. So I saw this story. The draft is tomorrow, and Cooper flag is going to go number one. So he played at Duke. So obviously you, me and our dogs watch Cooper Flag play a few times. And he was in the tournament. He's a great player. I think he's a better version eventually, not now, but eventually of like a Jason Tatum, Brian Scalabrini, who does a really good job. He's a broadcaster in Boston. We've had him on the show before. He was talking about what is game, what, what, what, what? Cooper Flags game is like LeBron has scored 50,000 points, doesn't have a go to shot. I'm not sure he has a go to shot. It's just a basketball player that makes things happen. LeBron's a freak of nature defensively. He's a freak of nature defensively. LeBron can run point. He can run point. Six, eight point guard.

[John Middlekauff]

Six, eight point guard.

[Colin Cowherd]

Like, he. He trends like that. I have never been into guys with an absolute go to move. The best restaurants I've ever been at don't have a signature dish. They just do everything. Well, you can get a Cobb salad. You can get a chicken parm. The cocktails are good. So are the desserts. Everything's good. That's a good restaurant. And I always remember this when I was in college, when I was in college, I wanted to be a baseball announcer. I wanted to be like, you know, like a Vin Scully or something, right? Or a Dick Enberg. And I remember everybody had a home run call. Everybody had a home run call. And the two favorite guys. When I was in college, my two favorite broadcasters were a young Bob Costas and a young Al Michaels. And they didn't. They didn't need a gimmick. I didn't need a fly ball to left followed by get out those spats. Look, grandma, we're making fried potatoes and hash. Just call the game. Be Good at everything. I don't need a signature home run call. When I started watching UFC 20 years ago, every fighter had like one style. They were a kickboxer, a wrestler or a boxer. Now the best fighters can do everything. Quarterbacks, I want mobility. I want you to be good in the pocket. I want you to be good pre snap. Jaden Daniels is good at everything. Yeah, he can run. He's great in the pocket. He's smart, he's good pre snap. He's good early in games. He's good in the two minute drill. Like I. I'm not looking for specialization. I don't need a bag. James Harden's game feels sticky. He'll finish as one of the great scorers of all time. Carmelo Anthony would never take two steps back and hit a three. Like he didn't play defense. I think he'll be a good broadcaster. But his game, I don't need definition on one move. If you have one like Kareem, well, Colin, what about Kareem? Yeah, but Kareem wasn't a ball handler. He wasn't a playmaker. He didn't have the ball in his hands much. Back in his era, the point guard ran the show and always had the ball. You would never let the center or the power forward touch it until they got the ball down low. So Kareem had to develop a signature move and it was great for him. But the best guys now, like Wemby, Wemby can put it on the floor, he can shoot at three, he can drive, he can do everything. And that's Cooper Flag. I look at it this way, if I want specialization, it'll be for a surgeon, a heart surgeon, a brain surgeon. But I want my basketball players to be like a general practitioner. I got poison ivy, I broke my wrist. Can you help me with both? I got a rash. Help me fix it. I broke my ankle. Can you mend it? That's what I'm looking for. So I don't need a go to move. I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum. And what have I always said about Jason Tatum? He's an A player. If he was more aggressive, he'd be an A plus player. So that's what I think he's going to be. I don't need a signature dish at a restaurant and I don't need a signature move. Kareem had to have one. But in today's basketball, LeBron James led the NBA last year. Think about this. LeBron James at his age led the NBA in getting a bucket in the fourth quarter. And the knock on LeBron is. Well, he doesn't have a signature move. That's because he's a better ball handler than Michael Jordan or Kareem. He's a better ball handler. He elevates others. He's smart. LeBron always gets a really good shot when you need him to get a good shot. He's not limited or boxed in or marginalized by having to go to his signature move. So I think Cooper Flag is going to get drafted. I think he's going to average almost 20 a game as a rookie. I think he's going to have a great back wall of defense in Dallas and their bigs behind him. And the thing I like most about him, he doesn't have a go to move. He's not concerned about having a bag. And now this story, and I feel like it's the 13th time I've done this story. The Boston Celtics worked another NBA team on a trade as soon as the season ended. Between Danny Ainge and. And Brad Stevens, they seemingly work every team. It's like Howie Roseman and the Eagles. Don't pick the phone up. Just don't pick it up. So Drew Holiday, I've always liked Drew Holiday, but he got really old really fast. And the Celtics have new owners and their books are all messed up. They got to. They got to go work on their cap sheet. So yesterday they called Portland. Portland took his monstrous contract. And he's not the same player. He didn't make an all defensive team last year. And this happens with guys that play defense at a high level. You can age very quickly. Defense is hard. Defense becomes injuries. Defense, you're on the floor. Defense is hard work. And Drew Holiday has been a great defensive player. And for five years, I think it was all defense, right? He didn't make it. He didn't make it last year. And he looked suddenly kind of old. So the Celtics have to clean up their books. They move him and they get. And they get a younger player, a cheaper player, a better offensive player from Portland, and, and for Simons, who they're going to rent for one year because Tatum's gone and they need his scoring and then he's out. Now Simons doesn't really necessarily fit Boston's culture. He's not a great defender. He doesn't elevate others. But he can shoot threes, and nobody shoots more threes than Boston, so he'll be a good fit. But mostly what they did is got Drew Holiday off the books. They Got second rounders in this deal, a couple of them. They got a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract. How do they do it? But I'll tell you what's happening in the NFL and in the NBA. It's not just the big swing. You got to win on the margins because you know the salary cap in the NFL is pretty tight. And with the new aprons and CBA and the NBA, Phoenix went big with KD and Bradley Beal and it was a disaster. Dame Lillard, Milwaukee didn't work. But look at what Indiana did with Obi Toppin for a couple second round picks. That was a great move. TJ McConnell. And go look at Sam Presti's getting Isaiah Hartenstein or Alex Caruso. It's winning on the margins. Now you are limited on the big swings. And I said this yesterday. Most of our lives in the NBA we knew like Jerry west was a general manager or Pat Riley became a GM. We didn't talk GMs. We didn't talk. I mean one of the great GMs in league history. 90% of sports fans wouldn't know who San Antonio's GM was. R.C. buford. He was like the Howie Roseman of the NBA. We didn't talk about it. Now figure out who the GMs are. You have got to make these smart moves. Remember Denver wins a title a couple years ago and I fell for it. I'm like, okay, Jokic is the best player in the world. Gordon's a great defensive player. By the way, Gordon was one of those margin moves. But all of a sudden they lost kcp. Well, KCP was their shot maker. Later if Jokic wasn't and they lose it, was it Bruce Brown, they lost another and you start losing those guys. Well, Jokic is still great. Gordon's still great. Porter still Porter. Jamal Murray still Jamal Murray. Malone can still coach. It was the guys on the edges. They got bad, they got worse. Defensively, they became too Jokic dependent. If Murray got hurt, they didn't have another shot creator. So it is now becoming a margins league. And this is what Boston just did. They got a guy who's aging off the books. They get draft picks. Boston always gets multiple draft picks. They get a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract who can shoot a bunch of threes the day the season ends. The minute the season ends. They don't do it during like Phoenix. They don't do it, you know, Houston and Phoenix, they're doing it day of the finals. Lee does not like that. The minute the season ends, Brad Stevens, boom. Next day got a deal. Draft picks younger, cheaper player off the books in a year as Tatum's hurt. So you can go big game hunting. And I'm not opposed to big game hunting, but I don't consider Katie to Houston big game hunting. Giannis is big game hunting. But, but when I look at kd, you are accentuating a strength. You move some pieces, but you don't have to pay a 5 year max for KD. That doesn't feel like big game hunting. It's smart hunting, but boy, Boston does it. Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens, it's got a, it's got. This is what the NFL is really all about. You know, it's like that's why I kept saying for Chicago, they went and got DJ Moore, didn't win any more games. Watch Joe Tunney, Drew Dahlman, the center, Jonah Dak, all those interior offensive linemen, those feel more like what kind of marginal moves. We don't talk guards on this show. Watch Chicago improve dramatically. It's not just the wide receiver, the left tackle and the quarterback. So the Celtics do it again. You know, you know this as a former. You work for the Philadelphia Eagles. You know this is that the media, myself included, we love the big swing.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

But a lot of times it's, it's fixing your guard, center, guard combination. And in the NBA, it's, it's getting that first guy off the bench and adding depth. It's becoming a depth league because you can't stack your rosters.

[John Middlekauff]

I was with the Eagles when they signed Namdi. Awesome. Wa didn't go well last year. Howie signed Zach Bond, all pro super bowl, special teams guy, $4 million.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, that's that, that, that. It's a remarkable how this stuff works so good for Boston. We got a lot of stuff today. Caitlin Clark smartly turns down an offer. We find out today, draft tomorrow. And one player I think is pulling a little bit of a Shador Sanders and I don't love it. We'll talk about that. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartra.

[Nick Wright]

Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco show.

[Colin Cowherd]

Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you, please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who.

[Nick Wright]

Have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable.

[Colin Cowherd]

Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled. Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him, Paulie. Ignore that fool. Listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusco show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. He's still moving. The NBA Finals are here and this is your last chance to bet on the NBA until next season. And DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, is pulling out all the stops to make this a finals to remember. One team will be crowned champ and the other will be lost to history. Who do you have winning it all? Put your hoops expertise to the test. All season long, DraftKings has been the go to spot for NBA player props. And that doesn't stop now. Ready to place your first bet? Just download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Now lock in your bets, finish this season as a winner, and here's something special new DraftKings customers. All you have to do is bet $5. Bet five bucks to get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins, don't miss your last chance to bet on the NBA this season. Download the DraftKingsportsbook app. The code is heard h e r d herd for new customers to get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins by betting just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut.

[John Middlekauff]

Help is available for problem gambling.

[Colin Cowherd]

Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward minimum minus 500 odds. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co Audio. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan? Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Everybody loves a good MVP story and the story of Wasabi Technologies is one of the best. Wasabi is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs and unpredictable egress fees from old and top heavy legacy providers. You know the big guys. Wasabi is the world's hottest cloud storage company, becoming the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams and leagues around the world. And here's why. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage, Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cybercriminals, data deletion and ransomware. Wasabi has taken the lead in driving innovation in data storage, eliminating overhead where it matters to deliver you results you can count on and won't break the bank. In fact, Wasabi is up to 80% less than those other guys and doesn't charge a cent for businesses to access their own data. Wasabi Another championship story. Check them out for [e-mail] Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Proud partner of the Voluum Podcast Network the following heartwarming yet informative scene is brought to you by Trust and Will Son, your grandpa and I used to work on this car together and when I'm gone, I want you to have it. Wow. Thanks dad. Doesn't count. What you need is a will. Luckily, trust and Will makes it easy. Designed by attorneys but customized by you, you can easily create a state specific, legally valid document that actually counts. Now let's let the engine do the talking. Am I right? Start your [e-mail] use offer code count for 20% off and make it count. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. For details, see trustandwill.com Sunday on Fox.

[John Middlekauff]

With the Gold cup quarterfinal as the U.S. men's National Team takes on Costa Rica. No easy path, no second chances. Coverage begins Sunday at 6pm Eastern on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nick Wright joining us top of next hour. So a lot of things going on. Rick Patino will join us tomorrow. I am told it is a very good draft. Last year was very international. You know My take on this, I think going forward, college basketball players will mostly dominate the draft where it's been very internationally driven many times. And my theory is, is that the nil, not that it saved college basketball, but it has made college basketball much better. Nil. Now American colleges are able to go buy the best European players at 18. And like there's. There's been stories that they may consider shuttering the Spanish league because American colleges now with the NIL are buying up their best players. So they come over here and play, they get excellent coaching. Also the G League, which I've always thought is nonsense, it was like trying to hurt college basketball and marginalize it. Very few G League players. Amen Thompson is one of the few G League guys I really, really love. Most of them never kind of define their games. These finals were all about guys that went to college for at least two years. SGA is an exception. Chet Holmgren was an exception, but it was a lot of two and three year players. So I think college basketball is being empowered and, and Rick Patino. We'll talk about the draft. It is Rutger guys and it's Arizona guys and it's Duke guys and I think that helps the NBA. That's what makes college football in the NFL So great is the marriage is that you. You're rooting for against Baker Mayfield, but you know who he is. You're viscerally connected to Baker Mayfield or Caleb Williams. You may not like Lincoln Riley, but you were interested in Kayla Williams because of Lincoln Riley. And these college guys, there's just, you know, they're either not, they're going international, they're going G League, they're going to play college basketball. You're going to see them at least one year in March. But like a Zach Edie Purdue can pony up some money and he can stay another year. And I was interested to watch Zach Eddy last year in college basketball. If Purdue was on, I was watching. So I think this is going to empower college basketball. The drafts going forward are going to be more that they're going to be more domestic, but there's going to be higher quality, more mature players like Cooper Flag that can help you immediately. And I think Cooper Flag with that great back front line for Dallas, I think he comes in, averages 18 a game. They're a playoff team. I think Dallas, if healthy, will be the second best team in the west next year. It'll go, you know, okc Houston and Dallas could be very good. John, you're looking at me. You ready to Go.

[John Middlekauff]

I'm ready.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. I'm just gabfest over here. So we're going to do AFC today, we're going to do NFC tomorrow. These are our surprises. These would be surprising moves and big headlines if they happen all start. I think Kansas City is a wild card team and Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers now they have their running back situation and offensive tackle set upgraded receiver last year the only thing they were missing was juice offensively. Their defense finished almost near the top of the league. It went from last to near first in one year. They, they built the culture last year. But free agency and a draft and you know, you know Harbaugh is good at the draft. I think they're going to be one of the better teams in the league. I think they're an 1112 win team. And the Chiefs come into the season which would concern me with offensive line issues. So I like the Chargers to win the division.

[John Middlekauff]

You're going to think I'm nuts. Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs. This race is over. He's going to be the starting quarterback. You would have said two years ago. Baker Mayfield leads Tampa to the playoffs. No chance. Last year Sam Darnold leads the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins. No chance. What does he get in Indy? An offensive coach who created the start of Jalen hurts his career. Yes, a great running game a lot. Like a couple years ago when he had a healthy Saquon Barkley. Jonathan Taylor almost had 1500 yards last year. The division stinks. The Jags haven't been good ever. Obviously the Houston Texans a lot of moving, a lot of moving parts, a lot of question marks with the offense. And the Titans know depth. So when you just look at the division, you look at recent high picks, who's who've resurrected their career. The Colts have pretty good players. And just a couple of years ago, Lou Amaruno, their new defensive coordinator, one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. Did he just get dumb overnight?

[Colin Cowherd]

No.

[John Middlekauff]

The Bengals let all their players go. So I think the Colts, Daniel Jones, a little like Alex Stevens Smith when Jim Harbaugh got to the Niners, they're not going to ask him to do some. They're not looking for 40 touchdowns here. Throw me 20.

[Colin Cowherd]

Interesting. Mike Tomlin. The Steelers, after 18 years without a losing record will have one. First of all, I think Baltimore, now they've upgraded their secondary, may have the second best roster to Philadelphia in the sport. I think Joe Burrow may be the best quarterback on any Sunday in the sport. Aaron Rodgers, the Quarterback. Well, he was 5 and 12 last year. He didn't do well with the defensive culture in New York. There's less dysfunction in Pittsburgh, but not necessarily on the offensive side. They lost their leading rusher, their left tackle, their leading receiver. I like DK Metcalf, but he can be booty too. I just think the reality is they spend too much money on defense, not enough on offense. The T.J. watt contract extension will be hovering over their head. I don't think they're going to be a six win team, but I think eight is probably the number. Mike Tomlin finally losing record.

[John Middlekauff]

Zach Taylor seems like a good guy, but I think this will be his last season in Cincinnati. The Bengals will have a new coach in 2026. This team feels like an NBA team. Star players everywhere.

[Colin Cowherd]

High price.

[John Middlekauff]

Something's missing. I mean, their star defensive player, which you kind of need a pass rusher, nowhere to be found. The guy they drafted to replace him showed up, said, I'm out. I mean, classic Bengals. Joe Burrow, pressure. We saw him throw a bunch of touchdowns last year. Have an incredible offensive season. They still couldn't make the playoffs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Crazy.

[John Middlekauff]

Division's hard. We're all going to pick the Ravens. The conference is really hard. How good the AFC west is now. The Patriots are going to be much better. We think that the, the AFC south will be a little more competitive. I just think this Bengals thing, you could see it coming from a mile away. And the other thing, when you have Joe Burrow and you have Jamar Chase, some of these guys under contract think how desirable that job would be for some of these coaches. And I just think that Zach Taylor again seems like a nice guy. They always start slow and they do a lot of negative momentum. I feel like coming into this season.

[Colin Cowherd]

For, for the Bengals and my final one, Dolphins blowout. Mike McDaniel and the GM they went from number two scoring offense to 22 last year. Inexplicably bad offensive line and no backup to tua. If you have two as a quarterback, the two things you have to have are a good old line and a capable backup. They have neither. They overpaid for Jalen Ramsey. Now they're looking, you know, Tyreek Hill, a lot of splashy moves. I don't feel like there's a lot of stake. It's a lot of sizzle. The best teams in this league, none of them have bad O lines. They just lost. Armstead just retired. So I don't like their direction. I think McDaniels, this is a team that's run through coaches. Scott Greer, don't know him, but I haven't loved the moves. I think both Greer, Chris Greer. I think Chris Greer and Mike McDaniel are gone after a. Remember, New England now is really good, potentially really good. Buffalo is winning the division. Third place gets both the GM and the coach removed.

[John Middlekauff]

Speaking of the Patriots, I think they make the playoffs. I mean, is there a bigger coaching upgrade? I mean, Pete Carroll and Mike Frable, but Mike Frable's got more to work with. Like you said, the defense stinks. And the other thing is they got an offensive coordinator to go with drake may. Josh McDaniels not a great head coach, excellent offensive coordinator. Patriots schedule not very difficult. I like the Patriots to be playing some games in January like old times, you know.

[Colin Cowherd]

So here we go. I got the chargers winning the AFC West. The Steelers will have a losing record probably 8 and 9. The Dolphins start over, total reboot. And then John, I don't think Daniel Jones leading the Colts to the playoffs. He made the playoffs in New York.

[John Middlekauff]

I know. And way more talent on this roster. Again, they're just looking 9, 10 wins. I'm not talking 12, 13. Could he save Chris Ballard and Shane Siken's career? Owners, you passed away recently. Obviously the girls are now in charge.

[Colin Cowherd]

I've said, you know, I think I've said this. You've heard me say this. I like everything about the Colts. When Andrew Luck retired, they get wins. It was pretty good. And then they get Philip Rivers for a year. It was actually excellent. But they felt like the the late owner had a strong opinion on the quarterback situation. And Andrew Luck leaving really illustrates how hard it is to find a quarterback because their O line's good. They get a pass rush, they've got nice receivers. They have a star backfield. They have maybe the first or second best guard in the league in Quentin Else. They have really good pieces. But when Andrew Luck retired, they did a remarkable job. Wentz into Philip Rivers. They're just trying. It's a life preserver offensive situation and Daniel Jones may be it. We're not talking 13 wins, but playoffs in that division may be nine for sure. Nick, right around the corner, one more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered. But you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake. That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn or it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Everybody loves a good MVP story. And the story of Wasabi Technologies is one of the best. Wasabi is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage cost and unpredictable egress fees from old and top heavy legacy providers. You know the big guys. Wasabi is the world's hottest cloud storage company, becoming the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams and leagues around the world. And here's why. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage, Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cybercriminals, data deletion and ransomware. Wasabi has taken the lead in driving innovation in data storage, eliminating overhead where it matters to deliver you results you can count on and won't break the bank. In fact, Wasabi is up to 80% less than those other guys and doesn't charge a cent for businesses to access their own data. Wasabi Another championship story. Check them out for [e-mail] Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Proud partner of the Voluum Podcast Network. The following heartwarming yet informative scene is brought to you by Trust and Will Son. Your grandpa and I used to work on this car together, and when I'm gone, I want you to have it.

[Nick Wright]

Wow.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks dad. Doesn't count. What you need is a will. Luckily, trust and will makes it easy. Designed by attorneys but customized by you, you can easily create a state specific, legally valid document that actually counts. Now let's let the engine do the talking. Am I right? Start your [e-mail] use offer code count for 20% off and make it count. Trust and Will is an online Estate planning service. For details, see trustandwill.com at the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game. With an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate. The BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine. Electrified. Here we go. It's hour two tomorrow at this time, Rick Pitino, NBA draft Nick Wright in five minutes live. Live. We're in Los Angeles today. It's the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. You know, John, like everybody else, I have to be on my phone from time to time. I'm not a huge fan of sort of the sky is falling sort of narrative. Constantly on the phone. It gets a lot of clicks. It's grievance, it's outrage, it's the sky is falling, it's doom. I don't buy into that. My, my favorite sandwich is still peanut butter and jelly. I take naps every day. I still watch television. I've been hearing for years, TVs D, everything's up on TV. So I, I was, I was thinking about this a number, John, and you still, you're like me when everybody says you got to get rid of your cable. I'm like, I like college football. How do I get rid of cable? Yeah, I need to watch my big ten football. There's games on cable. So I was thinking about this. Game seven on ABC delivered the most watched NBA finals game in six years. People are starving for content. I've been hearing for you. Oh, television is dying. I don't know. I watch a lot of it. The NFL's up. The WNBA is up. IndyCar racing is up. The Gold cup, our B team against Haiti was up from last year. I don't know. Everything's up, baseball's up. Now I do think there are challenges in hockey and basketball and baseball during the regular season because we're becoming a very much an event country. But I've never bought into the television it's going away. I heard that about newspapers 40 years ago and I have never been a subscriber to more newspapers than I am today. I like content. The other thing I don't buy into is the NBA is doomed. Global League. 76 billion dollar TV deal, Amazon and NBC and ESPN's involved. The Lakers just sold for 10 billion dollars and their number one sponsor is YouTube. The NBA is just fine. The other thing I don't believe in is that market size. For years and years I banged on this. Stop being afraid of New York. Look at the NFL the last five years. You could argue the two New York teams in Chicago are the biggest tire fires. You know who's great? Buffalo, Kansas City, Green Bay, Buff. Did I say Buffalo? Look at the NBA. Indy, Oklahoma City, boring. Denver. I mean Boston actually didn't get the number OkC and Indy just got. Look at the WNBA, the Indiana Fever and their star players from Iowa. So I've never bought into the NBA's dying. Everybody's getting rich in the NBA. It works with young people. It's amazing. On social. Look at how much money the players now make on shoes and apparel. The league is fine. You may not like it, but there's a lot of stuff. 14 to 33 year olds, it's their favorite sport. It's fine. The TV deal shows that and the rating shows that. The other thing is, you know, big markets, the, the league is rigged for big markets. Let me tell you, if the NFL and the NBA are rigged for big markets, they're doing an atrocious job. The NFL's dominated by small markets. I mean, Cincinnati should have made the playoffs with Joe Burrow. We already got Buffalo, Baltimore, Green Bay, Kansas City. The New York team stink. I'd argue the New York teams are the most hopeless in the NFL this year. The two New York teams. So I mean, we had a Pac 12 with all big markets. LA, San Francisco, Seattle. It dried up. They moved over to the Big Ten because there's a lot more money in the Big Ten than the glamorous Pac12. With the LA, San Francisco, Seattle markets, we're all going to be okay. Shaq talked about market size recently. You know, when I was coming up, it was small market. You're too small, you probably need to go to a big market. I took advantage of that. But now every market is the same. Nobody cares what city you're in anymore. This ain't the 90s. Bigger market doesn't matter. Social media is the market now. Yep, social media is the market. So yesterday I Don't know why I got heat for this. I thought it was incredibly rational. I said, over the last seven years, we've had seven different champions. We know they're not as good as the KD Splash Brothers Draymond team. We know they're not as good as the Duncan Ginobly, Parker Popovich. We know they're not MJ's bulls, they're not Shaq and Kobe. They're not Showtime. They're not the. The McHale bird, the Walton team. We know they're not that. It's more 70s, which I grew up with. I love the Rick Barry warriors and the Bill Walton Blazers and the. In the DJ and Gus Williams, Jack Sick Masonics. I love those teams. The Washington Bullets with unselled Hayes Cheniere, Bobby Dandridge. I love those teams. But the following decade, sort of, there was a rebirth of the NBA. So Nick Wright is joining me. So yesterday I ranked. I ranked the last seven champions.

[Nick Wright]

Catching a lot of heat, Colin, which I know, listen, I know you're not checking your mentions, but I know you got plenty of people on your multiple staffs that come to you and they're like, colin, the Internet's ripping you. So can I if I just can jump in?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

My. My only major gripe would be I would. I would at the very least flip flop. Thunder, Warriors. I think you're underselling the Thunder a bit. And I think that warriors team, it was a great postseason run and Steph was unbelievable. But when their second best offensive players, Andrew Wiggins, I think that there's. And they weren't a dominant regular season team. So I would have the Thunder at least at 4, if not at 3. But what people are ripping you for is a version of LeBron James Derangement Syndrome. How could you have the 2020 Lakers number one, when. Here are the facts about one of the most disrespected champions, maybe the most disrespected champion of the last 25 years. I agree that Laker team started the year 24. Three, they earned home court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. Did not get that home court advantage because it was in the bubble and still swept through the west in five games in every series and then won the finals in an easy six despite remarkable Jimmy Butler performance. They then followed that up. Well, how. How did they defend their title the day LeBron James got hurt when Solomon Hill did a somersault into his ankle? Yeah, the Los Angeles Lakers, it was. They were 28 and 13. It was the midway point of the next season. They had the best record in the entire NBA halfway through the season following their title. I would then add this. Take the best player on all of those champions, 2020. LeBron is eye to eye with 23 Joker and 21 Giannis, and take the second best player on all those champions, 2020. Anthony Davis is markedly better than any of these other teams. Second best player.

[Colin Cowherd]

That was my only yesterday.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, it is. Here's the deal, Colin. Here's why you know that there is a fan and some media obsession with misremembering the career of LeBron James. Almost all of the NBA's biggest myths or biggest lies either have to do with tearing down LeBron or uplifting a guy he's competing with. There isn't a single NBA myth or lie that you're like, oh, that's interesting. That one works in LeBron's favor. No, they're all. They all go in one direction. And the idea that the 2020 Lakers got lucky by the bubble being no home court advantage when they had home court advantage is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. But it's what everybody says.

[Colin Cowherd]

And by the way, it should be noted, it was the only time in my life in the playoffs where young teams overwhelmingly flourished because the older married players missed their kids and family. And the Lakers were an old team. They were the only old NBA team with veterans that crushed all the other. So they had to fight, you know, because as you get older, you have kids and family, you have kids and family, you don't want to go to four week roadie in Orlando. So the bottom line is, I'm with you. I. People forget how good they were to start that season. They were dominant through 27, 30 games. Okay, go ahead.

[Nick Wright]

Absolutely, go ahead. No, no, no. They were dominant that year. They rolled through the playoffs. They then had the best record in the NBA at the midway point of the next season, they were the favorites. The day LeBron got hurt, they were the Vegas favorites to go back to back. And so it's just total recreation of history we all agree with. I think the only real other controversy. You're probably underselling Thunder a bit, but otherwise fine list. You shouldn't have gotten dragged on Twitter. I have your back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, So I said this about Kevin Durant, is that I didn't understand his lack of market. I'm like, listen, players like him, he doesn't need the ball in his hands. He's arguably the best jump shooter in the league. He's not a great defender, but Houston has so much damn length and so does San Antonio. I'm like, this guy is a, this is a. You don't have to bake him. He's a microwave player. You need about four practices in two games and he'll give you 25. I think Houston is a great fit. Let's start with this. Were you surprised at the pushback on. Well, you'd have to sign him a couple of big years. I'm like, bench guys make 15 million. I'm. I was surprised there wasn't a livelier market.

[Nick Wright]

Well, so I, I wasn't surprised by the market because I do think you have to thread the needle of like, I don't think Kevin Durant would have made as much sense for San Antonio or Miami because neither one of those teams are Kevin Durant away from winning a championship. And when you trade for him, what you are really trading for is this coming season and you hope next season as well, the 27 season and then after that he'll be 40 and it's probably in a different situation. So I understood the market, but I agree with you wholeheartedly in this regard. This is the perfect trade for Houston. So Houston replaces Jalen Green, who in the playoffs, despite having, I think, a 37 point single game, averaged 13 points on less than 40% from the field, less than 30% from three. He could not make a shot. He could not create a shot. And you replace him with one of the best shot makers and shot creators for himself in the history of the league. You have now a starting lineup of Van Vliet, who's a steady champ, Amin Thompson, who is a future star defensive player of the year caliber guy, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, the top five pick, and Shingoon. And you didn't decimate your bench. Coming off the bench, you still have Tari Eason, Steven Adams, Reed shepherd, who they took in the top five last year, but Udoka didn't, you know, want to play a rookie. But he'll play a lot in Cam Whitmore. You go nine deep, you can defend, you have a great coach, you now have a bucket at the end of games and Shingoon is the connector. And so the critique on Durant has been about leadership stuff. Udoka will take care of that. I think right. As we sit here today. And you know, it's early, obviously, season ended two days ago, but when I look at next year, I think the Rockets have a real path to being the Western Conference champion. And I would. I miss seeing Kevin Durant in big games. Some of that has been bad luck, some of that's been bad choices, some of that's been bad teams like, you know, it's a big stew, some of it's on him, some of it's not. But the fact of the matter is this, Colin, in the six years before he went to Golden State, his final six in Oklahoma City, he made the conference finals four of those six years and the NBA finals once in the three years in Golden State, obviously three straight NBA finals in the six year sentence then he has won two playoff series. He has never been out of round two. For a guy who lived at, you know, mid May, end of May, beginning of June, NBA playoff basketball for the first decade of his career, I want him to have one last act. And I still think he's right around the 10th best player in the league. He is. It is a great addition and I do not think they gave up too much at all.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so I'm looking at my topics here. I, I don't. You get so agitated when I pick the Chargers over the Chiefs, so.

[Nick Wright]

Because you do it every year and it's not. And I don't. It's not. I don't. And by the way, it's not out of Chief's defense. It's out of Colin Coward protectionism. You know how much you've meant to me. You know how much I love you and I hate that every year you do this to yourself, that every year it's either the Broncos, you flip a coin. Is it Sean Baten and the Broncos or is it my friends, the Chargers who are going to beat the Chiefs? And then you're just wrong. But go ahead, I'll let you do it again, I guess.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. So John and I, John Middlecoft. You know John. Have you met John before?

[Nick Wright]

Yes, of course. Never in person, but I obviously know John. He does a great job and his three bold predictions made a lot of sense, unlike yours.

[Colin Cowherd]

So let's just go to mine. Let's not, let's not throw shade at John. So.

[Nick Wright]

No, John's was great.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. And you, and you probably do agree the Dolphins are no steak and a lot of sizzle. I think they're gonna. I think they're. They're gonna. And I think Steve. So the one that bothers you are the Chargers win the AFC West. And here's my take is that I've watched Harbaugh and year two everywhere. First year he builds the culture, but he needs two years to build the roster and their roster is now really, really good. And I don't know what the Chiefs O line is. I don't know what it is. They're receivers. I hope they stay out of personal issues, but that's been sketchy. Don't you think it's time? Didn't you see the vulnerability of the.

[Nick Wright]

Chiefs last year when they, when Mahomes played and they went 15 and 1 and were 17 and 1 Mahomes playing going into the Super Bowl? Yeah, listen, I said it before and I'll say it again. The 2024 Kansas City Chiefs were without a doubt the worst one loss, two time defending champion I've ever seen. Now they're the only one lost two time defending champion.

[Colin Cowherd]

But.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, but I just, I somebody and the. I know the Chiefs look bad in the Super Bowl. They did. I also know your beloved Justin Herbert is, I think he just threw another pick against the Texans. That game's been over for four months but I'm sure they're flying high going into the offseason. But here is the problem. The problem is this. Patrick Mahomes in his career is 35 and five against the AFC West. Patrick Mahomes in his career has started seven years. They have won the division seven times. They have played in the AFC championship seven times. They have won the conference five times. To pick against Reed and Mahomes is just lunacy. And I would evidence it by whenever you do your other divisions, every other team in the league that you believe clearly has the best coach and quarterback in its division, you will pick to win that division except for the team that always wins the division that is always there. And so I think that I do think like maybe because sometimes, you know there's like take Osmosis and J. Mac has just been, he's, you know, he is playing, he's betting zero on the roulette wheel every time. He's like when it comes up, I'm gonna be a genius. And so he's just betting against the Chiefs every year and I think it has rubbed off on you a bit now. So maybe with Middelkoff there now, I thought John's predictions were excellent. I also though if he has the Patriots and who's the other team he has in the playoffs? Oh, the Colts. I respect that because that's going to mean there are some teams everyone has penciled into the playoffs that are going to be left without a chair. And so obviously the Bengals are one of them according to Jon. So I do respect the non chalky prediction. But I'll tell you this much. It's not going to be the Chiefs without a chair. And it's not going to be the Chiefs not winning their division.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, that's fair. Let's see. Okay, one more thing. The draft is tomorrow. I said earlier, I always, I never like going to a restaurant that's got a signature dish. Like, just do everything. Well, last night I, by the way, overlooking palm trees in the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, I had a Vichy swan, a nice cocktail, thinking of you. And as I had dinner, I was in a restaurant where everybody ordered a bunch of stuff and it was all a amazing. And my take is I don't want to go to a place that's got a 16 egg omelette. Just dude. And I've always, I've always said LeBron doesn't have a signature move. And my take is, because he does everything well, I don't need a sky hook. He just gets the best players, the best shots. So they're saying, Cooper flag doesn't have a bag. And my take is it's been the most overrated thing of my life. Kareem had one because he didn't have the ball in his hands. You didn't give centers the ball like you do now mid court. Like you had to wait for the ball late in the shot clock. What do you make about the criticism? You know, LeBron, he doesn't have a go to signature move like MJ.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. So I also again, Cooper Flag for this. Right, of course, this is. But this is again, to go back to what I first said. Every NBA myth starts and ends with the same theme. We must elevate Michael Jordan at the expense of LeBron James. And so there's just there, it's never the other direction on the myths. There's some of that on the facts, but not the myths. So, like, does LeBron have one single move? Like, you close your eyes and you think of LeBron. That's what he did. And the answer to that question is it's actually probably a chase down block. Right? That's. You close your eyes, you think of it. But on offense, when you can do everything, then you don't have to do any one thing. Specifically, people will say, for Jordan, his signature move was the mid range turnaround. But that's only, only young people think. Young ish people think that because that was a 96 to 98 Jordan signature post. Baseball Jordan's signature early in his career was, I'm going to go down the middle of the lane, jump in the air and figure it out. About four seconds later because I, I can hang and I'm such a great athlete.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

That I can figure this out on the fly. It was. He wasn't this mid range assassin he became later in his career.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[Nick Wright]

Here is what I will say about Cooper Flag. There is not a single person alive who was a finished product at what they ended up being at 18 and a half years old. The most important number with Cooper Flag is his date of birth. He reclassified. He is. When he gets to the league, since we're talking about LeBron, he will be only two weeks older. Two weeks older than LeBron was when LeBron entered the league. And LeBron skipped college. He turns 19, 19 in December of his rookie year. So the fact that Cooper Flagg does basically everything pretty well is to me a brilliant place to start. He'll figure out a couple things he does great. But what I think sometimes happens to young star athletes, and maybe this is why signature moves can be at times overrated, is they figure out what they do really well and they end up spending all their time or a lot of their time perfecting that as other things atrophy a bit. It feels to me like Cooper Flagg, you know, is a B to an A minus at almost everything you can be. And so he'll figure out, you know, where his ultimate strength is. But listen, I do, I think he's a future league mvp. I think that's a little strong. Do I think he's a. No doubt consensus first overall pick? Absolutely. And I think he'll be just fine.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nick Wright bringing the heat. Really enjoyed it today. You know, basically I'm, I'm your. A little bit of your speed bag. But I enjoy that. I enjoy our friendship.

[Nick Wright]

Well, no, I gave you credit. I had you. Listen, you. Our relationship on this show is actually a perfect. It's just a homeostasis where when you're right, I affirm you and when you're wrong, I try to prevent you from public embarrassment. And if I can't, then I just have to inflict it. That's all it is. Talk to you later.

[Colin Cowherd]

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