The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode Summary

Episode: Hoops Tonight - NBA Mailbag: Bam Adebayo & Heat Trades, Steph Curry's Warriors Career, Jalen Williams Underrated?
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Introduction

In this episode of Hoops Tonight on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Devin welcomes listeners to a special mailbag edition focused on NBA player rankings. This segment invites fans to submit their questions and disagreements regarding player positions, rankings, and potential career trajectories. Devin emphasizes the interactive nature of the show, encouraging audience participation through various platforms.

Listener Question 1: Evan Mobley vs. James Harden

Question:
A listener asks about the rationale behind ranking Evan Mobley higher than James Harden, considering Harden's more impactful offensive skills despite his playoff struggles.

Key Points & Discussion:

• Advantage Creation: Devin highlights the importance of advantage creation in a player's skill set, categorizing players into tiers based on their ability to consistently create offensive advantages throughout the regular season and playoffs.

  “I view advantage creation as a more valuable trait, probably the most valuable individual trait that a basketball player can have.” [05:30]

• Tier Analysis: Harden is placed in a tier capable of high-volume advantage creation but with limitations in clutch playoff situations. In contrast, Mobley is lauded for his reliable night-to-night playoff impact, making him a more viable second option for championship aspirations.

  “James Harden's advantage creation is going to give him an edge over a lot of the guys that I had below him among that tier. But once we enter into additional tiers... Evan Mobley has so much reliable night to night playoff impact that I feel like with him I have a better chance as my number two.” [10:45]

• Team Building Context: When building a championship-contending team, having Mobley as a second option provides a more balanced and reliable foundation compared to Harden, whose high offensive output may not translate effectively in high-stakes playoff scenarios.

Conclusion: Despite Harden's offensive prowess, Mobley's consistency and playoff reliability make him a higher-ranked player in the context of building a championship team.

Listener Question 2: James Harden vs. De'Andre Hunter ("Cat")

Question:
A listener questions the exclusion of De'Andre Hunter from the top 25, arguing his defensive capabilities and offensive contributions, especially in clutch moments.

Key Points & Discussion:

• Defensive Limitations: Devin categorizes Hunter as a "sloppy" defender prone to mistakes, which undermines his overall value to a team.

  “Cat is so incredibly mistake prone he almost single-handedly lost them game six with his reckless crashing, poor floor balance...” [18:10]

• Offensive Engine vs. Scoring: While Hunter has offensive skills, Devin prioritizes advantage creation and playmaking over pure scoring ability. He argues that Hunter's defensive inconsistencies make him a risky centerpiece around which to build a championship team.

  “For a guy like Kate, he just has to learn to cut out the mistakes. If he does, he'll benefit more from his upside.” [25:50]

Conclusion: Hunter's defensive flaws and mistake proneness prevent him from being ranked higher, despite his offensive contributions.

Listener Question 3: Jad... Butler vs. Pascal Siakam

Question:
A listener challenges Devin's evaluation of Jad... Butler over Pascal Siakam, emphasizing Butler's postseason performances and defense.

Key Points & Discussion:

• Offensive Playmaking vs. Scoring: Devin appreciates Butler's role as a playmaker and his reliable ability to reach the foul line, which contributes consistently to his team's offense.

  “Jimmy Butler is playing for a Golden State team that literally was playing like two, three, sometimes four non-shooters at any given moment. That's a very, very limited offensive roster for Golden State.” [28:15]

• Experience and Mistake-Free Play: Emphasizes the importance of minimizing mistakes in high-pressure games, arguing that experienced players like Butler provide a steadier hand during critical moments.

  “Championship basketball teams don't make mistakes relative to their peers... that's why I lean towards vets in big spots.” [32:40]

• Youth vs. Experience: Discusses the balance between valuing youthful energy and experience, ultimately favoring experienced players for their reliability in clutch situations.

Conclusion: Butler's playmaking and experience make him a more valuable asset in playoff settings compared to Siakam, despite Siakam's higher scoring and defensive versatility.

Listener Question 4: Chet Holmgren's Ranking

Question:
A listener is surprised that Chet Holmgren wasn't included in the top 25, citing his defensive prowess and potential offensive growth.

Key Points & Discussion:

• Current Limitations: Devin points out Holmgren's current offensive inefficiencies and defensive vulnerabilities, suggesting he hasn't yet reached the consistency required for a top-tier ranking.

  “I don't view him as a high level passer. He had more turnovers than assists in this postseason run.” [34:20]

• Future Potential vs. Present Performance: While acknowledging Holmgren's potential, Devin emphasizes that his current performance doesn't justify a top 25 placement, though he remains optimistic about future improvements.

  “I think he'll figure all of this stuff out. But in this particular phase of his career, he's just way too limited offensively... prevent him from getting higher on this list.” [35:50]

Conclusion: Despite Holmgren's promising skill set, his present performance metrics and areas needing improvement keep him outside the top 25 rankings.

General Analysis: Advocating for Advantage Creation and Playmaking

Throughout the episode, Devin underscores the significance of advantage creation and playmaking as critical factors in player evaluations. He prioritizes these attributes over mere scoring ability, arguing that they contribute more effectively to a team's long-term success and championship potential.

“I value advantage creation and the offensive engine piece more than I value like tip of the spear scoring.” [30:05]

Devin also discusses the importance of minimizing mistakes in high-stakes games, favoring experienced players who can maintain composure and reliability under pressure.

“When you get into big basketball moments, it actually becomes more about not making mistakes.” [33:15]

Notable Quotes

• Advantage Creation Importance:

  “I view advantage creation as a more valuable trait, probably the most valuable individual trait that a basketball player can have.” [05:30]

• Mistake-Free Play in Championships:

  “Championship basketball teams don't make mistakes relative to their peers...” [32:40]

• Chet Holmgren’s Potential:

  “I do believe that in this particular phase of his career, he's just way too limited offensively and has a couple of big weaknesses on defense.” [35:50]

Conclusion and Upcoming Segments

Devin wraps up the episode by acknowledging differing opinions from listeners but maintains his evaluation criteria focused on advantage creation, playmaking, and reliability. He hints at future rankings, promising a Top 10 list in the next episode.

“We will be back on Monday with our top 10. I will see you guys then.” [36:05]

Final Notes

This episode of Hoops Tonight provides an in-depth analysis of NBA player rankings through listener interactions, emphasizing strategic team building and the nuanced evaluation of player contributions beyond surface-level statistics. Devin's focus on advantage creation and playmaking offers listeners a deeper understanding of what makes a player valuable in the long-term pursuit of championships.

For those who missed the episode, be sure to subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channel, follow on Twitter (@twitter_jasonlt), and join the conversation on social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.