The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd

Date: March 11, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Notable Guest: Robert Horry (NBA Champion, Laker Analyst)
Location: Live in Chicago

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" delivers sharp commentary on a wild night in sports, focusing on Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, the failed Max Crosby trade, and the trajectory of the Lakers without LeBron James. Colin is joined by seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry for a thoughtful, open discussion about player legacies, team chemistry, and the state of basketball, both in the US and globally.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bam Adebayo's 83-Point Night and Reactions

Timestamps: 02:46–07:56, 29:57–30:37

• Historic Scoring Feat:
  Bam Adebayo drops 83 points, a stunner considering his defensive reputation (“If you’d have given me 15 NBA stars and said one of them's gonna drop 83 points, he’d have been number 15.” – Colin Cowherd, 02:55).

  • Context: Historic single-game scoring like Wilt’s 100 or Kobe’s 81 often comes against struggling teams.
  • Cultural Take: In America, rapid success invites immediate skeptics and detractors; Colin asserts “The minute there’s success, we got to tear somebody down. 83 is 83 and he’s an excellent basketball player.” (03:23)
  • Game Context: Bam’s night was aided by facing the tanking Washington Wizards — “It was essentially a college team, and not necessarily a great one.” (05:42)
  • Legitimacy: Colin defends the legitimacy of Bam’s feat, pointing out precedent for teams feeding stars during potential historic games (e.g., Kobe, Wilt).

• Robert Horry’s Apology and Analysis:
  Robert Horry clarifies previous comments doubting Bam’s achievement, offering an on-air apology after reviewing the highlights:

  • "I want to apologize for Bam saying it should be an asterisk. Bam, you deserve what you got. ... It should be no asterisks by your game... More importantly, his teammates should be proud of it because they got him that astronomical number." (29:57)

2. Max Crosby Trade Saga

Timestamps: 08:00–11:31

• Deal Fallout:
  The anticipated deal sending Max Crosby to the Ravens collapses after reported physical or front office cold feet.
  • Colin debunks overreactions, likening it to relationship breakups and reconciliations—“People break up all the time... who knows, maybe they’ll get back together.” (09:29)
  • Suggests the Raiders could shop Crosby to the Bears as an NFC team, fitting better with their youth-oriented rebuild and giving Max a fresh context.
  • “Max Crosby next year is going to be highly effective, disruptive. ... I would want him on my football team.” (11:20)
  • If Crosby returns, he’s not bitter, echoing the cyclical nature of NFL star-team dynamics.

3. The LeBron–Lakers Dilemma: Fit, Chemistry, and the Future

Timestamps: 11:40–16:10, 18:26–24:55, 30:37–38:30

• Team Fit without LeBron:

  • In LeBron’s absence, the Lakers (with Luka and Austin Reaves) have a strong winning record (“They’re now 10–2 when Luka and Austin are playing and LeBron’s not.” – Colin, 12:43)
  • The conversation shifts from LeBron's greatness to fit and evolving roles.
  • Colin: “It is a fit and an age thing... It’s not a shot at LeBron.” (12:48)
  • Defensive improvements and team energy surge when the younger core leads.

• Robert Horry on Team Dynamics:

  • “Luka and Austin are kind of the same. And then you throw LeBron in there, he’s similar. But... they’re not great defensive players. ... When you have those three in the game, you got to have really good defensive players.” (31:24)
  • Championship teams under Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich always maintained elite defenses.

• LeBron’s Legacy with the Lakers:

  • Colin examines the transient nature of modern NBA stars like LeBron: “Michael Jordan made the game global. LeBron empowered players... But he doesn’t feel like Magic to me as a Laker.” (32:55)
  • Robert Horry: “If he does get a statue out there, he’s deserving. ... Sometimes it’s not about the wins. It’s about the butts you put in the seat, and wherever he goes, he puts butts in the seats.” (33:51)

4. Austin Reaves’ Ceiling and Team Defense

Timestamps: 35:11–36:14

• Can Reaves Be a Title Team #2?
  • Horry: “I love Austin. I think he can be [a #2], but ... if that other number one out there can play defense. ... What you do with a great offensive player, you go at him defensively to try to wear him out.” (35:23)
  • The importance of defensive anchors around offensive playmakers is stressed.

5. Star Hierarchy and Team Chemistry

Timestamps: 36:14–38:30

• Iconic Alpha Presence:
  • Colin draws an analogy: “You could put a bunch of young actors in a room, but if Denzel Washington walked in... It’s Denzel’s room.” (36:14)
  • The presence of a superstar like LeBron naturally shifts attention, sometimes to the detriment of younger stars’ assertiveness.
  • Horry: “You sacrifice your game for the betterment of the team. ... AR has finally gotten to that point after coming back from the injury, saying, ‘You know what? LeBron, I have the mismatch.’” (37:18)

6. NBA Trends: International Takeover & Player Development

Timestamps: 38:30–41:37

• International Stars Taking Over:

  • Colin notes, “Wemby looks like he’s going to take over the league. He’s an international player. The last six or seven MVPs have been international players.” (38:30)
  • Horry credits the overseas academy system for superior fundamentals: “Our AAU system... is flawed. ... International players’ form is almost perfect.... We’re not able to teach players [here] because players now are so sensitive... sometimes you need a kick in the butt to get you started, not a pat on the back.” (39:05)

• Wemby’s Emergence:

  • “Wemby [is] extraordinary... I see Dirk Nowitzki at 7’6”. ... Even though Dirk didn’t play no defense... Wemby is a game changer.” (40:38)

7. Personal Legacy: Playoff Heartbreak

Timestamps: 41:37–43:00

• Robert Horry on Tough Losses:
  • Remembers “haunting” playoff series loss as a Laker vs. Spurs in 2004.
  • Missed a crucial game-winning shot:
    “If I make that shot, you know, we probably win that series because it gives us life. But ... the Lakers don’t pick up my option and I lose a lot of money.” (42:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“The minute there’s success, we got to tear somebody down. 83 is 83 and he’s an excellent basketball player.”
– Colin Cowherd (03:23)

“I want to apologize for Bam saying it should be an asterisk. Bam, you deserve what you got… More importantly, his teammates should be proud of it because they got him that astronomical number.”
– Robert Horry (29:57)

“It is a fit and an age thing. … They’re now 10–2 when Luka and Austin are playing and LeBron’s not. That is not a shot at LeBron.”
– Colin Cowherd (12:43)

“You could put a bunch of young actors in a room, but if Denzel Washington walked in... It’s Denzel’s room.”
– Colin Cowherd (36:14)

“Our AAU system... is flawed. ... International players’ form is almost perfect.... Sometimes you need a kick in the butt to get you started, not a pat on the back.”
– Robert Horry (39:05)

“Wemby [is] extraordinary... I see Dirk Nowitzki at 7’6”. ... Wemby is a game changer.”
– Robert Horry (40:38)

Segment Timestamps for Key Discussion Sections

• Bam Adebayo’s 83-pt Game Explained: 02:46–07:56, 29:57–30:37
• Max Crosby Trade Drama: 08:00–11:31
• Lakers without LeBron – New Chemistry: 11:40–16:10, 18:26–24:55, 30:37–38:30
• Robert Horry Interview (Full): 29:57–43:33
• International Basketball and Wembanyama: 38:30–41:37
• Personal Reflection: Robert Horry Playoff Loss: 41:37–43:10

Tone and Style Recap

• Colin Cowherd: Witty, direct, sometimes playful, invites big-picture thinking.
• Robert Horry: Humble, honest, reflective, insightful about team and player psychology.

This episode offers a sharp blend of sports analysis, historical perspective, and insider anecdotes – putting Bam Adebayo’s monster game, star egos, and NBA globalization in contemporary context.