The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast - Why Colin Is PRO Tanking, When Should LeBron Retire? 24 Team CFP? NBA Needs To Make Changes
Date: February 16, 2026
Guests: Colin Cowherd (Host), Danny Parkins (Guest Host)

Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd and Danny Parkins dive into the most pressing debates in contemporary sports: the merits and problems of tanking in the NBA, the impact of expanded college football playoffs, when (and how) greats like LeBron should retire, and broader questions about the health and evolution of major sports leagues. In a candid, reflective conversation with plenty of personal insights, they balance their trademark criticism with deep affection for the evolving games.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. NBA Tanking: “I Am Pro Tanking”

(Starts at 02:07)

• Colin’s Stance:

  • Colin defends NBA tanking as a necessity given the current structure of the league and limited ways for a team to become competitive.
    • “I am pro tanking … the only way to go from bad to good is the Spurs. You tank and get Stefan Castle. You tank and get Wemby. Then you make another couple moves … and all of a sudden you go from like 24 wins to 38 to 56.” (05:09)
  • Argues that dynasties make sense in an age of so much entertainment competition; they create compelling narratives in a distracted culture.
  • Suggests that removing draft picks is too punitive for teams that already struggle.

• Danny’s Counterpoint:

  • Sees sitting players for tanking as “anti-competition, anti-sport.”
    • “It is anti-competition. It is anti-sport … you can’t have the games mean nothing. They have to mean something.” (06:19)
  • Worries that fans, especially those in attendance, are cheated if teams are openly not trying to win.
  • Notes that recent collective bargaining makes it harder for teams to improve through trades or free agency, thus exacerbating reliance on the draft.

2. The State and Style of the NBA

(09:01 - 19:34)

• Unbelievable Talent, but a Flawed Product:

  • Danny admires the NBA’s superstars, noting the longevity and consistent excellence of KD, Steph, and LeBron.
    • “KD and Steph and LeBron not only are still here, they’re all still awesome … it’s a miracle.” (09:47)
  • Both agree the increase in three-point shooting has turned the game into a “jump shooting contest,” diminishing the artistry and physicality that once made the sport unique.
    • “The sport has become a jump shooting contest. 53, 63, 70 threes a game. And it makes it less exciting.” (09:57)

• Colin’s Vision for Reform:

  • Calls for reducing the prominence of the corner three to shift the balance back toward the mid-range game and physicality.
  • Suggests the arc of the three-point line be moved “right into the bench” to make three-point shots harder and return old-school interior play.
    • “If you took the three point line into the bench…players would move inside. What happens when you have a midrange game? More physicality.” (13:02)

• Experimentation and Potential Solutions:

  • Danny argues for using the in-season tournament to test experimental rules (such as the elimination of the corner three or a trapezoidal lane).
  • Praises MLB and Theo Epstein for using rule changes to improve the pace and entertainment value of baseball, suggesting NBA needs similar visionary reform from within its own ranks.
    • “I wish the mid-season, the in-season tournament … had different rules so we could experiment with some of this stuff.” (16:17)

• League Expansion and Schedule Tightening:

  • Discussion of expanding the NBA to 32 teams (adding Seattle and Vegas) to increase revenue and then cutting back to a 70-game season—giving players more rest, reducing injuries, and increasing the importance of each game.

3. The Problem (and Smartness) of Tanking

(25:25 - 32:08)

• Melting Pot of Incentives:

  • Colin and Danny agree tanking is the smart strategy under current rules, but question if it should be allowed.
    • “I’m not going to say that tanking isn’t smart. Sam Presti tanked in order to get some of the picks he got … it’s undeniably the right strategy. The question should be, again, should it be allowed?” (27:24 - 27:30)
  • Consider rule changes such as banning teams from selecting in the top four in back-to-back years, as is done in MLB.
    • “What’s wrong with the rule: You can’t pick in the top four in back-to-back years?” (28:13)

• Impact of NIL and the Transfer Portal:

  • Colin predicts the college/NBA draft pipeline will only get stronger as NIL and transfer rules result in better, older prospects.
    • “The truth is now last year’s draft was excellent. This year’s draft is legendary. The drafts now are much better.” (28:49)

4. LeBron’s Retirement and NBA Aging Stars

(32:56 - 37:36)

• Debating a Legend’s Ending:

  • Colin explores the idea of LeBron abruptly retiring at the top versus playing out his career into his 40s.
    • “I like LeBron. This would be so great if he just said, ‘I’m out.‘ And you’re like, oh my God. He ended like Brady.” (34:12)
  • Considers Michael Jordan’s much-criticized “Wizards” years—notes it’s not as damaging for legacy as people expect.

• Danny’s Perspective:

  • Predicts LeBron will want a “farewell tour” and may return to Cleveland for a storybook ending.
    • “I think he will want the farewell tour … he’s a showman.” (36:36)

5. CFB Playoff Expansion: Pros, Cons, and the New Reality

(39:02 - 45:32)

• 24-Team Playoff—Good Idea?

  • Colin praises expansion for making November games meaningful and reducing the subjective influence of the committee.
    • “You expand to 24, it helps November, which is kind of a dead period. Now November gets good, December’s good, the committee doesn’t mean as much.” (40:18)
  • Attributes a rise in talent and parity to the transfer portal and NIL, with older, “pro” level rosters making CFB look more like the NFL—a positive change in his mind.

• Danny’s Reservations:

  • Worries too much expansion might diminish the magic of regular season rivalries like Michigan/Ohio State, making regular-season games less do-or-die.
    • “I want games to matter. I want to care about games … that was not an elimination game anymore. And I will admit, like it makes me care about it a little less because I can just tune in for the playoffs.” (44:17)

• Colin’s Rebuttal:

  • Points to strong TV ratings as evidence that fans will watch regardless, especially with more teams in contention.
    • “Half of college football fans went to the school. … Now you have a chance to get into the playoff. So that’s my take on 24 teams.” (45:32)

6. Wealth, Motivation, and the Modern Athlete

(54:54 - 62:18)

• The Personalities and Incentives of Rich Athletes:

  • Both note that as athletes and golfers get richer, some seem less “hungry” on the court, course, or field.
    • Colin: “The downside of athletes getting richer is to a percentage of them, they get other interests. They are athletically gifted, but they don’t care as much.” (55:05)
  • Danny pushes back, suggesting that pacing is also just a reality of long seasons and intense modern competition.
    • “I don’t see like not caring as a huge issue in, in sports … the sport is hard. You know, you have to pace yourself.” (57:30)
  • Both give golf as an example of how wealth changes things: from “pumping your fist” wins of the pre-Tiger era, to today’s jet-set, brand-building pros.

• Changing Consumption & Eventization of Sports:

  • Point out how, amid so many entertainment options, events (“majors,” playoffs, in-season tournaments, etc.) increasingly define what’s valued and watched.
    • Danny: “We have so many different options … it’s harder to capture the consumer’s attention like I used to as a kid.” (62:23)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On NBA Tanking and Dynasties:
  • Colin: "Dynasties actually make much more sense now than they did in the 70s when we were less distracted. And I'm okay with tanking if the rules currently disallow big, sweeping trades ..." (06:09)
• On the Overuse of the 3-Point Shot:
  • Danny: "The sport has become a jump shooting contest. 53, 63, 70 threes a game ... it makes it less exciting." (09:57)
  • Colin: "...We've taken the artistry out of it. Now outside of Steph ... we've taken Ant Edwards, Wemby to shoot a bunch of threes... what do we like about NBA playoffs? It's physical. It's like man battling.” (13:02)
• On LeBron’s Legacy & Retirement:
  • Colin: "It would be so great if he just said, I'm out. And you're like, oh my God. He ended like Brady. ... And LeBron could too ... except for now he's so expensive." (34:12)
  • Danny: "He's box office, man. LeBron plays ... people would want to pay to see it." (35:50)
• On Playoff Expansion and College Football:
  • Colin: “You expand to 24. It helps November … the committee doesn’t mean as much. Miami and Indiana felt like the NFL … the rosters are older … like that’s what makes college football great.” (40:18)
• On Athlete Motivation in the Era of Wealth:
  • Colin: "The downside of athletes getting richer is...they are athletically gifted, but they don't care as much ... it's hard to get up for that 4:00am jog when you wake in silk sheets." (57:08)
  • Danny: “I don't see not caring as a huge issue in sports. ... The sport is hard. … You have to pace yourself." (57:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:07 – Colin’s opening on tanking and dynasties
• 05:09 – How NBA teams rebuild and why tanking is smart
• 06:19 – Danny’s objection: tanking harms competition
• 09:47 – NBA’s undeniable, unprecedented talent
• 13:02 – How the three-point shot changed (and broke) the game
• 19:34 – Potential rule changes and MLB as a model for reform
• 28:13 – Recipe for curbing tanking: no top-4 picks in back-to-back years
• 32:56 – On LeBron’s legacy, retirement, and farewell
• 39:02 – College football playoff expansion and its implications
• 45:32 – Why college football will remain compelling
• 54:54 – The impact of generational wealth on athlete motivation
• 62:18 – Changing sports viewing habits and end thoughts

The Episode’s Tone

Opinionated, candid, sometimes nostalgic yet optimistic—Colin and Danny combine critical analysis with an evident love for sports, never shying from critique but always returning to what makes the games great and relevant.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode provides a lively, insider-informed critique of how pro and college sports are evolving—and sometimes struggling—to keep up with changes in talent, technology, economics, and culture. Colin’s pro-tanking stance is sharply tested by Danny’s concerns over fairness and fan experience. They lament the NBA's repetitive style and brainstorm reforms, debate how superstars should walk away, and assess college football’s radical transformation into semi-pro territory. Their conversation is packed with historical perspective, actionable ideas, and respect for what sports can—and should—mean.