The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Hoops Tonight

Episode Date: August 23, 2025
Main Topics: West Contender Rankings, Kevin Durant & the Houston Rockets, LeBron James vs. Donovan Mitchell, Steph Curry’s Longevity
Host: Jason Timpf (Hoops Tonight)

Episode Overview

On this mailbag-driven episode of “Hoops Tonight,” Jason dives into listener questions about the Rockets’ title credentials after acquiring Kevin Durant, whether Donovan Mitchell should be ranked above LeBron James, a possible Lakers trade for Jaden McDaniels, and the ongoing Steph Curry vs. LeBron debate—including Steph’s longevity. Jason brings his trademark basketball nuance, addressing not only player rank but the underlying factors that impact teams’ title aspirations.

Segment Breakdown and Key Insights

1. Houston Rockets as Contenders with Kevin Durant

[05:10 – 25:30]

• The Age/Top 10 Player Precedent Debate
  • The listener questions KD’s ability to anchor a contender at his age—pointing to precedents set by LeBron and Kareem.
  • Jason notes KD will be older than LeBron was in 2020; that level’s only been achieved by all-timers like LeBron and Kareem.

Jason’s Take:

• “Kevin Durant obviously makes the Rockets a better offense. The question is, will he be able to improve their offense enough?” [11:20]

• The Real Impact of KD in Houston

  • Houston’s strength last year was defense; their half-court offense ranked 22nd despite being a #2 seed.
  • KD’s elite shooting and attention will open up easier shots for others, but integrating a new engine into a defensive team is complicated. Lineup continuity and offensive timing will take time.
  • KD’s offensive value lies not just as a scorer, but as someone whose gravity can create dunks and open looks for Houston’s young athletes (e.g., Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun).

• Pitfalls and Variables

  • If KD is used as a brute-force, ISO-heavy anchor (like Phoenix last year), his age and load may wear him down.
  • If the Rockets maximize his gravity in pick-and-rolls and spacing, they can take the pressure off KD and unlock offense without wearing him down.

Notable Quote:

• “I think a big part of the job is going to be figuring out how to turn the attention that KD draws into easy offense for the rest of the guys.” [15:30]

• KD’s Age and Top 10 Argument

  • KD’s spot just outside the current “Top 10” is less important than his superstar function: “We’re in such a deep league now...KD is every bit as good as everyone else I have on this list, up to number five.” [24:30]
  • The style, role, and Houston’s offensive chemistry will define whether age is a factor.

2. LeBron James vs. Donovan Mitchell in Player Rankings

[26:30 – 40:52]

• Listener Challenge:
  • Argues Mitchell deserves to be above LeBron, given availability, health, and leading the Cavs to a #1 seed/team offensive rating, combined with LeBron’s playoff wear and health questions.

Jason’s Analysis:

• Donovan’s Real Role:

  • “Donovan Mitchell had the ball less. He was clearly in a different role...he literally dropped in time of possession by almost a fourth. That is a huge change in approach.” [28:20]
  • Despite raw numbers, Mitchell wasn’t as effective at managing the offensive flow as headline stats suggest.

• LeBron’s Case (High Floor, Chance at Huge Ceiling):

  • Even at “third-tier superstar” (2023 WCF), LeBron was 25/10/7 on 58% TS—a rarity in the league.
  • “There’s no guarantee he’ll be at that level when you get to the playoffs...but LeBron’s floor is just so high as a basketball player.” [34:30]
  • LeBron still brings elite defense, rebounding, and all-around playoff impact—his fit on a team like Cleveland would be transformative.

• Mitchell’s Case/Counterarguments:

  • 71 games was an outlier for Mitchell, who usually misses time.
  • “I didn’t think he did an amazing job in terms of flow of the game like floor management...” [32:00]
  • The Cavs had a great roster for LeBron’s style, making him an even better theoretical fit.

Memorable Moment:

• “Anywhere from 5 to 12 you could argue anybody over anybody…you’re not wrong for putting Donovan Mitchell above LeBron.” [37:22]

3. Trade Mailbag: Lakers, Wolves, and the Value of Starters

[41:00 – 53:45]

• Proposal: Austin Reaves & Jared Vanderbilt for Jaden McDaniels

• Jason’s Response:

  • On the surface, both teams get needs filled—Minnesota gets guard help, Lakers get a defender—but both would create new holes by filling old ones.
  • “If you trade Jaden McDaniels, the Timberwolves suddenly have a gaping hole at the small forward position…” [46:30]
  • The Lakers’ front office undervalues the impact of elite role players (3&D wings) next to an offensive engine like Luka.

• Lakers’ Team-Building Philosophy:

  • Jason argues Lakers hold out for a superstar partner for Luka, but undervalue the immediate effect of surrounding him with high-level starters (a la Herb Jones, Andrew Wiggins, KCP).
  • “I just hope the Lakers value that sort of thing eventually…Luka is such a unique player in the way that he drives value for that type of role player.” [51:55]

4. LeBron vs. Steph – The Impact and Longevity Conversation

[53:55 – 1:04:00]

• Listener Claim: Steph has outplayed LeBron in impact for the last few years; stats alone overstate LeBron’s game.

• Jason’s Response:

  • “I do agree that Steph has been better in the last few years than LeBron has been…from 2022-2024, he’s been a more reliably great player.” [57:10]
  • Wins and losses (e.g., 2023 LAL v GSW series) aren’t everything—team context matters; Steph can play better yet lose.
  • “For the entirety of LeBron’s prime, LeBron was a better player than Steph. But Steph in his late prime has been better than 38, 39, 40 year-old LeBron.” [1:00:01]

• Longevity Notes:

  • LeBron’s continued second team All-NBA selections at age 40 is unparalleled and establishes his GOAT case.
  • Steph, for a small guard, is also compiling a rare “longevity” resume, but the recent playoff injury raises new questions. “If he gets hurt again this year…those same cases you’re making about LeBron now apply to Steph as well.” [1:02:35]

5. Show/Personal Update (Non-basketball, included for completion)

[1:04:10 – 1:07:20]

• Jason and his co-host on the Two Sons podcast are moving forward after life changes—Star Wars, big TV, and movie content will continue remotely.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On KD’s Impact in Houston:
  “KD is going to draw a lot of attention…The key will be taking advantage of KD’s unique ability to invert spacing.” [13:50]

• On LeBron’s Playoff Floor:
  “Injured foot LeBron in the Western Conference finals run: 25 points per game on 58% true shooting. Go look…how many players were averaging that type of scoring on that type of efficiency in this year's postseason run.” [35:10]

• On Steph’s Longevity:
  “He’s putting together a sneaky little case for longevity on his own…most small guards fall apart rapidly at this phase of their career, and Steph just hasn’t.” [1:01:44]

• On Team Building Next to Superstar Engines:
  “Luka kind of grants you the grace of not necessarily needing a top-tier superstar next to him. Same with Jokic…He can win with really high-level starters.” [52:25]

Timestamps for Key Topics

• KD/Rockets Age, Offense & Precedent — [05:10 – 25:30]
• Donovan Mitchell vs. LeBron Case — [26:30 – 40:52]
• Lakers & Wolves Trade Discussion, Starters’ Value — [41:00 – 53:45]
• LeBron vs. Steph, Impact & Longevity — [53:55 – 1:04:00]
• Personal/Show Update — [1:04:10 – 1:07:20]

Tone and Style

• Instructive, nuanced, and deeply analytical. Jason emphasizes context over raw stats, and routinely challenges conventional wisdom with evidence and explanation. He respectfully acknowledges counterarguments, often admitting, “There’s a case for both sides,” but justifying his rankings and philosophy with detailed reasoning.
• He frequently uses accessible metaphors and analogies, bringing complex basketball concepts down to earth (“Luka is such a unique star, he’s such an offense in and of himself…”).

Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers deep, informed analysis on how contenders are built and evaluated in the current NBA landscape, using current debates around aging stars (KD, LeBron, Steph), the impact of continuity, and underappreciated role players to challenge listener assumptions. Accessible to both dedicated fans and casual listeners, it’s a masterclass in the complexity of basketball success beyond the box score.