The Herd with Colin Cowherd: "Hoops Tonight – Reaction to Lakers FIRING Buss Brothers, LeBron & Luka Impact + LaMelo Ball & Jonathan Kuminga Sagas"

Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Jason (Hoops Tonight) on The Volume

Episode Overview

In this episode of "Hoops Tonight," Jason delivers immediate, in-depth reactions to a seismic NBA news day. The show opens with the Lakers’ stunning firing of Joey and Jesse Buss, framing it as not just an organizational shake-up but also revealing deep family discord. The episode then pivots to the uncertain futures of LaMelo Ball in Charlotte and Jonathan Kuminga with Golden State, exploring trade speculation, franchise philosophies, and the emotional fallout within teams. Jason also fields questions from listeners, touching on roster construction, MVP frontrunners, and modern NBA challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lakers Fire Joey and Jesse Buss: Drama and Implications

(Segment Start: 04:00)

• Breaking News: The Lakers fired front office pillars Joey and Jesse Buss along with much of the scouting staff.
• Not a Simple ‘Clean House’: Initial coverage saw Mark Walter (new boss) as simply reshaping. However, a revealing Dan Woicke (The Athletic) interview with Jesse Buss hints at years of family tension and marginalization, especially since the 2023 draft.
• Quote:
  • "Jesse essentially said that they had been far less involved with personnel decisions over the last few years..." (05:16)
  • "He hadn't spoken to Jeanie Buss or Rob Pelinka in five months." (06:45)
  • Jesse’s jab: "Y’all better hope Mark comes in and runs things…if it stays with Jeanie, you guys are going to underachieve." (07:20)
• Two Perspectives:
  • “Oh my God, Jeanie Buss is a shit show”—turmoil and concern.
  • Optimism for Mark Walter's arrival: grimmer now, but likely more competitive and professional in coming years.
• Laker Bright Spots, Scouting: Joey & Jesse's track record (Caruso, Reeves, Kuzma, Christie) cited as rare successes; otherwise, the front office suffered from lack of basketball philosophy and identity.
• On the Future:
  • "Even with the loss of the Buss brothers…I think Mark Walter will be very competitive. He’s going to throw a lot of cash around…bring in competent professionals." (11:57)
  • Expects JJ Redick to help with consistent identity and approach.
• Memorable Moment:
  • "This will all eventually end with the Lakers being a dead serious basketball organization with a financial and leadership backing that actually meets the level of the Lakers brand itself." (13:56)

2. LaMelo Ball Saga: Disillusionment in Charlotte

(Segment Start: 15:00)

• Reporting: LaMelo Ball open to trade; team also growing "disillusioned."
• Stat Breakdown: Team is far better offensively when LaMelo plays (124 vs. 109 offensive rating), but defense suffers; Ball’s shot selection and consistency are ongoing issues.
• Jason's Take:
  • "He’s kind of the definition of a modern offensive engine. A guard that can push pace...but his shot selection on the ball can be downright silly sometimes." (16:52)
  • Notes LaMelo’s sixth season, poor durability (over 51 games played only once), plateau in development.
• Charlotte's Outlook: Good young prospects (Con Knipple, Scion James, Brandon Miller) but not enough two-way talent.
• Notable Quote:
  • "If I was running an NBA team, I would not trade for LaMelo. The upside is tantalizing, but…he's shown basically no progress towards becoming that more refined version of himself." (21:10)

Three Fun LaMelo Ball Trade Scenarios (Segment Start: 22:00)

• 1. LaMelo Ball to Mavs for Anthony Davis
  • Both are distressed assets, trade could rejuvenate both franchises.
  • "You also have four really good defensive players next to LaMelo. I really like that deal for Dallas..." (23:55)
• 2. Warriors Target LaMelo, Kaminga to Hornets
  • Pros: Golden State reboots post-Steph; Charlotte adds dynamic prospects.
  • "Moody and Kaminga is a really nice return for LaMelo...I think Kaminga just has...considerably more one-on-one potential." (25:22)
• 3. Spurs Pair LaMelo with Wembanyama
  • Could resolve San Antonio's timeline tension and maximize Wemby’s offensive opportunities.
  • "He could be the guy that could finally be the type of player that sets Wemby up with easy opportunities." (26:51)

3. Jonathan Kuminga Feels ‘Scapegoated’—Golden State’s Recurring Drama

(Segment Start: 30:44)

• Report (Anthony Slater/ESPN): Kaminga feels scapegoated; has voiced desire to be “coached harder.”
• Symptoms of a Broken System:
  • Kaminga's effort waned as his knees hurt and minutes decreased; coaches cite shot selection.
• Jason’s Analysis:
  • "The Warriors are 9 and 8 because of their schedule. That’s it...everyone’s been beaten into the ground by the schedule." (33:10)
  • "Is Jonathan Kaminga a great fit with the Golden State Warriors? Obviously not...But I don’t think he’s to blame for the 9 and 8 start." (34:20)
• Blame Game: Stars call out young guys in pressers; organization seems stuck between asset protection and real player development.
• Memorable Rant:
  • "One of the sides is a bunch of grown ass middle-aged men who know better and the other side is a 23-year-old talented basketball player who’s been jerked around for four and a half years… I lack any form of sympathy for the Warriors in this situation and I cannot wait for the saga to be over." (35:32)

4. Mailbag: Listener Q&A

(Segment Start: 36:00)

a. Warriors’ Need: Scorer vs Defender? Trey Murphy or Herb Jones?

• Jason leans “scoring pop”—Warriors have approximations of a shutdown defender (Moody), but lack a 20-point wing who can spark the offense when Steph sits.
  • "Trey Murphy represents something you don’t have, like a legit heat check wing scorer... That’s the kind of guy that I would be targeting if I was the Warriors." (38:20)

b. Should the NBA Lengthen the Season to Avoid Back-to-Backs?

• Jason opposes: season already too long; supports reducing games instead.
  • "I don't think you're going to be able to convince NBA players to buy into that idea… just find ways to make it much more manageable for the players." (40:02)

c. Lakers’ Defensive Needs: Athletic Wing or Point-of-Attack Guard?

• Jason wants a versatile “three” who can guard ones and wings, rather than a traditional point guard.
  • "To me, I still look at that roster as needing kind of like length and athleticism rather than just speed on the perimeter, you need both...If you can find a three that accomplishes a version of both, that is where you're cooking." (44:20)
• Names Herb Jones, Andrew Wiggins (as a prototype); stresses the importance of size and versatility defensively.

d. NBA’s Injury Wave: Is It About Prep or Modern Game?

• Pushes back on Tim Legler's old-school critique; sees faster, multi-directional, more physically demanding modern NBA as root cause—not lack of toughness.
  • "The game is insanely fast... It's just much harder on the body... We're seeing soft tissue injuries and ligament injuries..." (48:00)

e. Raptors’ Secret Sauce?

• Defensive re-identity, stellar playmaking, and transition game; creative, star-level moments from Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.
  • "They’ve recaptured some of their defensive identity from last year... they're a very good defensive team, getting out in transition a ton..." (49:23)

f. MVP Race at the Quarter Mark

• Luka Doncic, Giannis, Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all have strong, distinct cases.
  • "I'd give the edge to Luka because I think he's done the most with the least while also combining it with wins to this point." (53:07)

Memorable Quotes

• Jesse Buss on Family Rift:
  "We had nothing to do with any of that shit." (05:59)
• On Future of Lakers’ Front Office:
  "This will all eventually end with the Lakers being a dead serious basketball organization..." (13:56)
• On Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors:
  "One of the sides is a bunch of grown ass middle-aged men who know better and the other side is a 23-year-old..." (35:32)
• On LaMelo Ball as a Trade Asset:
  "If I was running an NBA team, I would not trade for Lamelo. The upside is tantalizing, but..." (21:10)
• On MVP Race:
  "I'd probably give the slight edge to Luka at this point, but I think it's roughly a tie between all four of those guys." (53:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:00 — Lakers fire Buss brothers, family turmoil vs. new front office era
• 15:00 — LaMelo Ball & Hornets disillusionment, three possible trades
• 30:44 — Jonathan Kuminga scapegoat saga with Warriors
• 36:00 — Mailbag: Warriors needs, NBA season structure, Lakers roster needs, injury discussion, Raptors’ rise, early MVP picks

Overall Tone and Takeaways

Jason is unsparingly direct, blending analysis, skepticism, and some sarcasm. He’s hopeful about the Lakers’ long-term prospects post-Buss brothers, skeptical of LaMelo’s true star trajectory, and empathetic toward players caught in organizational dysfunction (like Kaminga). He encourages teams to find philosophical clarity, trusts the numbers over nostalgia, and fields fan questions with depth. This is one for listeners who want both NBA gossip and big-picture X’s and O’s, all delivered with a healthy dose of insider frankness.

Useful for Listeners Who...

• Want the biggest stories explained, not just reported.
• Need informed trade speculation with cap and roster context.
• Like deep dives into team organization and leadership shakeups.
• Value blunt, data-driven Q&A about league trends and MVP races.
• Appreciate a podcast that separates news from noise.