Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode Title: Hoops Tonight - NBA Player Rankings #20-18: Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Cade Cunningham
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Hosted By: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Introduction

In this episode of Hoops Tonight, hosted by The Volume, the conversation delves into the NBA Player Rankings from positions #20 to #18. The focus centers on three promising young talents: Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, and Cade Cunningham. Host Jason provides an in-depth analysis of each player's performance from the previous season, their growth prospects, and their potential impact in the upcoming NBA season.

#20: Jalen Williams (J Dub)

Season Performance Overview: Jalen Williams, affectionately known as J Dub, showcased significant improvements in his third NBA season. Playing 69 games, he averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game—all career highs. Notably, he also posted 2.3 steals per game, ranking 10th in the NBA despite missing 13 games due to a wrist injury.

Statistical Insights:

• Field Goal Percentage: Dropped to 48% (career low)
• Three-Point Percentage: Declined by 6% to 37%
• Free Throw Percentage: Fell to 79%
• Effective Field Goal Percentage (EFG%): Slid to 54%
• True Shooting Percentage (TS%): Down to 57%

Injury Impact: Jason attributes the decline in Williams' shooting efficiency primarily to a surgically repaired wrist injury post-NBA Finals, which hampered his shooting mechanics. Additionally, Williams' usage rate surged from 21% to 28%, naturally leading to a dip in efficiency due to increased shot difficulty.

Playoff Performance: During the playoffs, Williams elevated his game, averaging 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on a 57% TS%. Highlights include a 34-point game against the Wolves in the conference finals and a 40-point outing in the NBA Finals.

Projections and Development: Looking ahead, Jason anticipates Williams recovering his shooting prowess with a healthy wrist, projecting his stats to reach 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game with a 60% TS%. Williams is expected to excel as a shot creator and continue his defensive contributions.

Key Quote:

"I expect J Dub to be a very impactful shot creator in this league."
[Timestamp: 10:30]

#19: Paolo Banchero

Season Performance Overview: Paolo Banchero's season was marred by an oblique injury, limiting him to 46 games. Despite this setback, he posted impressive averages of 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, alongside 1.4 steals. His shooting statistics included a 45% field goal percentage, 51% on two-pointers (a career high), and 32% from three-point range.

Efficiency and Usage: Banchero enhanced his scoring volume and maintained a 55% TS%, a notable achievement given his increase in mid-range jump shots, where he faced tough defenses, yet still improved his overall efficiency.

Team Context and Play Style: Playing for a team with one of the worst three-point shooting records, Banchero's role as a primary offensive initiator often forced him into difficult shooting situations. Jason emphasizes the need for the Orlando team to refine their offensive strategies to better support Banchero's talents.

Areas for Improvement:

• Mid-Range Shooting: Banchero needs to enhance his efficiency in pull-up three-pointers and eliminate low-percentage long two-point shots.
• Playmaking: Despite a high usage rate, his assist numbers lag, suggesting room for improvement in facilitating team play.
• Decision Making at the Rim: Improving layup efficiency by making smarter decisions in high-pressure situations.

Projections and Development: Jason is optimistic about Banchero's future, projecting him to develop into a top-tier player with refinements in shot selection and increased support from his teammates, especially with the addition of players like Desmond Bane.

Key Quote:

"Paolo is one of the most naturally gifted young players in the league, barely scratching the surface of what he's capable of being."
[Timestamp: 23:50]

#18: Cade Cunningham

Season Performance Overview: Cade Cunningham delivered a breakout season, participating in 70 games and achieving personal bests across the board: 26.6 points, 9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 9 assists per game. His shooting efficiencies were notable with 47% from the field, 36% from three, and 85% from the free-throw line.

Accolades:

• All-NBA Team: First-time selection
• All-Star Team: First-time selection
• MVP Voting: Finished seventh

Play Style and Efficiency: Cunningham excels in the pick-and-roll and post-up situations, averaging 1.04 points per possession in pick-and-roll scenarios and 1.16 points per possession in post-ups. His ability to create advantages for his teammates and maintain a high offensive floor is a cornerstone of his game.

Defensive Capabilities: Notably, Cunningham has shown significant improvement on the defensive end, with commendable performances such as guarding Jalen Brunson effectively during the regular season.

Areas for Improvement:

• Turnovers: High turnover rate in the postseason necessitates better ball-handling and decision-making.
• Three-Point Shooting: Needs to refine his pull-up three-point shot to increase consistency.
• Layup Efficiency: Must enhance decision-making to avoid difficult layups and improve his overall efficiency at the rim.

Comparative Analysis: While Jason draws comparisons between Cunningham and stars like Luka Doncic, he also highlights Cunningham's superior defensive instincts, positioning him as a potential two-way superstar with the capability to rival top players in offensive engines.

Projections and Potential: Cunningham is projected to rise further, with Jason believing he could become a top-tier superstar within the next few years, potentially ascending into the top five players in the NBA.

Key Quote:

"Cade's combination of being a legitimate offensive engine and having two-way potential makes him one of the special franchise cornerstones."
[Timestamp: 45:10]

Conclusion

In this episode of Hoops Tonight, Jason provides a comprehensive analysis of three emerging NBA talents, highlighting their current performances, areas for growth, and future potentials. Jalen Williams is seen as a rising shot creator with expected improvements, Paolo Banchero demonstrates significant scoring prowess despite team challenges, and Cade Cunningham stands out as a promising two-way superstar with high upside. The discussions underscore the importance of player development, team dynamics, and strategic enhancements to maximize each athlete's impact on the court.

Closing Remark:

"I believe both Cade and Paolo are a few years away from truly impacting the NBA landscape due to their current room for growth."
[Timestamp: 50:15]

This summary captures the essence of the episode, focusing on the detailed discussions surrounding the NBA player rankings for Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, and Cade Cunningham, while excluding non-content segments such as advertisements and introductions.