THE HERD – HOUR 1 – Celtics Are BETTER Without Jaylen Brown, LeBron To Cavs Is A Mistake

Summary

---

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 (July 10, 2026)

Main Theme:
Colin Cowherd dissects overrated sports star narratives, focusing on why the Boston Celtics may be better without Jaylen Brown, debates the implications of a LeBron James return to Cleveland, and touches on trending topics like the Kawhi Leonard trade drama, NBA Summer League standouts, and the rise of soccer's cultural influence in America.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are the Celtics Actually Better Without Jaylen Brown?

(Starts ~03:09)

• Cowherd's Thesis: Jaylen Brown, though talented and a future Hall of Famer, is a "flawed superstar" and not a top-20 NBA player analytically.
• Evidence Presented:
  • When Brown doesn’t play, the Celtics' win percentage and net ratings are consistently better.
    • "Last year, The Celtics were 9–2 when Jaylen Brown didn't play… Year before, they were 15–4… The title year, they were 12–0." (Colin Cowherd, 05:37)
    • "Point differential last year: nine points better when Jaylen Brown didn’t play." (Colin Cowherd, 05:57)
• Comparison to Other Stars:
  • Micah Parsons (NFL) and Luka Dončić (NBA) labeled as similarly "great but flawed."
  • Not all stars make their teams better or are truly irreplaceable.
• Paul George as a Better Fit:
  • Paul George is a better off-ball shooter, defender, and teammate, and offers roster flexibility.
  • "Paul George is a much better teammate with Tatum. Analytically, he plays off ball, he’s a better pure shooter, he’s money from three, and they’ll have more flexibility..." (Colin Cowherd, 08:30)
• Central Takeaway: The emotional connection to stars often blinds fans to the on-court reality. Celtics, statistically, are better without Brown, and Paul George fits more seamlessly next to Tatum.

---

2. LeBron-to-Cavs: Comfort Over Contention?

(Starts ~10:38)

• Cowherd’s Perspective: A third stint with Cleveland would be a "mistake" for LeBron James—more about comfort than winning.
  • "If he goes to Cleveland, that’s for comfort. If he goes to Golden State, that’s camaraderie… If he goes to Philadelphia, that’s contention." (Colin Cowherd, 12:40)
• Fit Concerns:
  • Cleveland is slow and defensively mediocre.
  • Adding Harden and LeBron (the two slowest players in the league last year) won't solve core issues.
    • "Cleveland’s slow. LeBron will solve the close game situation, but you’re not going to be in close games against better teams..." (Colin Cowherd, 12:28)
• Chemistry Issues:
  • Channing Frye chimes in: "Cleveland got too many what-ifs… 52-year-old LeBron ain’t going to solve them issues; they got soul issues." (Channing Frye, 13:18)
• Philadelphia as Best Option:
  • Youth, speed, and depth would help mask LeBron’s declining physicality and maximize his playmaking.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "There’s an old saying, you can’t go home again. Well, sometimes you can, but what you can’t do is go home again twice." (Colin Cowherd, 13:48)

---

3. Kawhi Leonard’s Trade to Toronto on Hold

(Starts ~25:40)

• Context: Kawhi’s planned trade to Toronto is stalled due to an NBA investigation into a no-show job, with both teams waiting for a league decision.
• Cowherd’s Diagnosis:
  • Kawhi, while talented, is undependable. Ty Lue (great coach) couldn’t get consistent results; injuries cloud every season.
  • “Everything with Kawhi. He’s kind of an enigma in the NBA. Like, he doesn’t communicate much. He’s not really a leader, but he’s talented…” (Colin Cowherd, 27:02)
• Jason McIntyre’s Take:
  • The trade is a mess, and it’s a "big black eye for Adam Silver and the NBA” due to the lack of quick resolution.

---

4. Jonathan Kuminga: Undefined Talent or Bust?

(Starts ~28:55)

• Discussion: Should the Lakers pursue Jonathan Kuminga?
• Cowherd’s Skepticism:
  • "I can't trust him to hit a jump shot. He's the classic—oh, he's a long, athletic guy. What's his game?" (Colin Cowherd, 28:55)
  • After five years, two top coaches (Steve Kerr, Quinn Snyder) have moved on, yet his role remains undefined.
  • Compares Kuminga’s lack of progress to Kevin Garnett’s rapid emergence: “By the second year, you’re like, whoa, Kevin Garnett is something.” (Colin Cowherd, 33:20)
• McIntyre Pushes Back:
  • Argues Kuminga’s physical tools and potential remain intriguing but concedes, “We don’t know what he is, but we know what he can be.”
  • Ultimately, they agree: Potential matters, but five years in, skills and identity must be clear.
• Broader Point: Success requires self-awareness and defined roles, not just athleticism or promise.

---

5. NBA Summer League: AJ Dybantsa vs. Darrin Peterson

(Starts ~33:44)

• Game Highlights:
  • Dybantsa: 27 points in 26 minutes; compared to Chris Webber for his physicality and “attack mode.” (Colin Cowherd, 34:53)
    • “I watched two Summer League games and I’m like, I know what he is…He’s a willing defender...He’s not a soft player.” (Colin Cowherd, 35:15)
  • Peterson: Talented but struggles with turnovers and fits best as an on-ball scorer.
    • “When I watch Peterson…literally three possessions…and I said, oh, that’s what Kobe looked like at 18…But…he kind of plays in a silo.” (Colin Cowherd, 36:48)
• Team Potential:
  • McIntyre: Washington’s youth movement is promising: “This Wizards team’s dangerous.” (Jason McIntyre, 36:33)

---

6. Soccer’s Meteoric Rise in American Culture

(Starts ~42:31 and 46:31)

• Measuring Growth:
  • 50 million U.S. viewers for USA-Belgium—“a Super Bowl number.” (Colin Cowherd, 42:31)
    • "The difference is a number. USA–Belgium got over 50 million viewers, 50 million. That’s a Super Bowl number." (Colin Cowherd, 42:53)
• Why Soccer Wins:
  • Youth appeal, social media-friendly, quick games, international “cool factor.”
  • “Young people dictate cool in this country. Soccer now is cool…Soccer is the cool club.” (Colin Cowherd, 43:14)
• Star Power:
  • “Mbappé is cool…Jude Bellingham is an underwear model…they’re influencers; world’s largest IG following.” (Colin Cowherd, 44:03)
• Global Party Vibe:
  • U.S. World Cup described as a “five-week party…a vibe, a feeling.” (Colin Cowherd, 47:06)
  • Erling Haaland: “The World Cup so far here has been amazing. From the games to the stadiums to everything...” (Erling Haaland, 46:35)
• Messi’s Unique Brilliance:
  • Compared to LeBron’s first Cavaliers run—carrying Argentina well past its talent level.
  • “If they’re not on their teams, it’s not the same team…Messi’s unbelievably dominant, and he’s 39.” (Colin Cowherd, 48:02)
  • “Very few athletes…change a sport. LeBron, Curry, Brady, Messi. Not all Hall of Famers are the same.” (Colin Cowherd, 50:12)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Star Overvaluation:
  • "[Fans] overvalue the star. The numbers are all right in front of you... They've been winning with more Tatum, less Brown for nine years." (Colin Cowherd, 16:17)
• On LeBron’s Fit with Cleveland:
  • "He’s bailed on them twice. He once bailed on them because, yeah, nobody wants to play here. And then he bailed a second time...” (Colin Cowherd, 13:48)
• On Kuminga’s Role:
  • “You've got to define who you are in any company after five years. I just don't know what Kaminga is.” (Colin Cowherd, 29:11)
• On Soccer’s Appeal:
  • “Young people now think soccer is cool…Social media is great for good-looking people. It’s good for youth. The clips are fun, they're dramatic, they’re wild.” (Colin Cowherd, 43:14)
  • Erling Haaland: “I like the Americans. I think they are kind of hilarious as well. So I like the way they are…It’s been amazing.” (46:35)
• On Messi:
  • “I think Argentina would get boxed by England or France…half their starting lineup was 32 or older…they are totally driven by Messi.” (Colin Cowherd, 48:02)
  • Derek Rae (Broadcaster): “People will tell their grandchildren—remember that Lionel Messi inspired comeback against Egypt. It’s right at the top of the tree.” (49:42)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Celtics Better Without Jaylen Brown: 03:09 – 10:38
• LeBron to Cavs Debate: 10:38 – 16:17
• Kawhi Leonard Trade & Adam Silver: 25:40 – 27:58
• Jonathan Kuminga Lakers Rumors: 28:55 – 33:48
• NBA Summer League (AJ Dybantsa, Darrin Peterson): 33:44 – 36:48
• Soccer’s Rising Popularity: 42:31 – 47:06
• Messi’s Historic Impact: 47:06 – 51:52

---

Tone & Style

Colin maintains his trademark blend of instant statistical recall, sharp skepticism, and irreverent humor. He weaves numbers, historical analogies, and blunt assessments (“land the plane, don’t keep circling the airport”) into every argument, while guests like Channing Frye and Jason McIntyre provide counterpoints, banter, and further insights.

---

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode: This hour is a masterclass in cold-eyed sports critique, challenging casual fandom and media groupthink by unpacking “superstar” myths, team chemistry, and what real value means in both American sports and the shifting landscape of global soccer fandom.

---

Transcript

[Jason McIntyre]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. You know what deserves more attention? The assists. Everybody talks about the goal, a big moment that gets replayed on the highlight reels. But too often we overlook all the contributions and collabs that happen along the way. That's true in soccer and honestly, true in life. Halion is shining a light on the assists. As official partner of U.S. soccer, they got a whole lineup of brands ready

[Advertisement Voice]

to deliver for you.

[Colin Cowherd]

So here's Here they are. Sensodyne Dentist Recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science backed nutrients. Advil of course. Powerful inflammation fighting pain relief. Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and tums ready to counterattack with fast heartburn relief. These are brands that are ready to deliver your essential wellness assists. Because every goal starts with an assistant, learn how Halion can assist your game day [e-mail], indeed sponsor jobs gets you

[Indeed Sponsor Voice]

quality candidates when you need them most. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsor job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves. Indeed.com podC terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for indeed Sponsored Jobs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let me tell you about something most people have never heard of and probably should have. It's called Burna and here's the part that got my attention. It's a real self defense option that's legal in all 50 states. No permit, no background check. It ships right to your door. It did mine. It's not a gun. That's the point. It's a launcher. Burna byrna.com herd b y r n a.com herd burna be ready.

[Advertisement Voice]

Being there for those we love can be so hard for people with chronic migraine 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Botox Onobotulinum toxin A prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. It's not for those with 14 or fewer headache days a month. It Prevents on average 8 to 9 headache days a month versus 6 to 7 for placebo. Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Botox effects may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as trouble swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be signs of a life threatening condition. Those with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions like rash, breathing problems, dizziness, neck and injection site pain and headache. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions like als, myasthenia gravis or Lambert Eaton syndrome, and medicines like botulinum toxins, which may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor About Botox, visit botoxchronicmigraine.com

[Colin Cowherd]

or call 1-844Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Oh, we got a good Friday show, baby. We are ready to roll the World Cup. Now getting really interesting. The best of the remain the Jalen Brown truth to be unveiled today. LeBron. Is it automatic that he's going to Cleveland? Welcome in live from Chicago, it's the Hurt. So over the course of the last several years, remember, we buy the shoes and the jersey of sports stars. And with all this social media, there's been an amplification of the stars. We get more and more of the stars. We fall deeper and deeper in love. Look at the Instagram followings of top athletes. The media has always overreacted. When a star gets traded, oh, he's irreplaceable. Well, that team got fleeced. The other team's got a dynasty. The latest example is Jaylen Brown. So when Micah Parsons got traded by the Cowboys, I was on an absolute island in the American sports media. It was me against the world. I said, Micah's overrated. He is a splash player, bad against the run, disappeared in playoff games. He will help Green Bay, who will lead games late. But Dallas will have flexibility and in one year. See where Dallas is. Well, it's one year later. I love Dallas's defense going into the preseason. I love it between all the moves they've made. Caleb Downs, defensive front, I think Dallas right now, today, Mike, it's not even going to play in September. I would take Dallas's defense early in the season and maybe late and I was on an island. The Cowboys will disintegrate. No defense is better. They were offered flexibility. The Luka Doncic trade. Home boy. Dallas got fleeced and I will acknowledge that they didn't get enough in return. But I warned you. I said he doesn't equal anything. He's a better Carmelo. No defense, conditioning and health issues are real. He will age very, very quickly. And even last year in the playoffs, it's 41 year old LeBron James that was healthy and leading them over Houston. Where was Luca hurt again? And even despite the moves this offseason, they're over under will go down because LeBron's gone even with roster improvements. Here we are with Jaylen Brown. So Micah was a great but flawed star. Luca was a great but flawed star. You didn't want to talk about the floss. Jaylen Brown is great but a totally flawed star. He's not a top 20 player analytically. And that's what drives the bus for the Celtics in the league. The since he arrived, since he has arrived, the Celtics have a higher winning percentage when he doesn't play. I'm not making that up. More Tatum, less Brown. Better the Celtics are. And now he was twitch, streaming, deteriorating relationships, getting more vocal. That stuff matters. Same thing kind of with Micah. So Micah, Luka and Jaylen Brown, I will again be in an island. I think the Celtics will be better next year. In fact, look at these numbers. Last year The Celtics were 9, 2 when Jaylen Brown didn't play well. Colin, that. That is a one year sample. Okay, let's go to the year before. Oh, they were 15 and 4 when Jaylen Brown didn't play. Oh, oh, okay. What about the title year? They were 120 when Jaylen Brown didn't play in the regular season. The point differential last year, nine points better when Jaylen Brown didn't play. Offensive defensive net ratings better last year when he didn't play. Go to his entire career. They win more games when Brown's not playing. Micah, great talent, flawed superstar. Luca, great talent, flawed superstar. Jaylen Brown, great talent. Guy's going to make the hall of fame. Flawed superstar. You did it with Micah. The data is all in front of you. You did it with Luka. The data was all in front of you and you're doing it with Jaylen Brown. Paul George is a much better teammate with Tatum. Analytically he plays off ball. He's a better pure shooter. He's money from three. And they'll have more flexibility because a year in they'll be able to move off the deal if they want to. Did you watch, did you watch Paul George against the Celtics in the playoffs when he was shooting 55% from 3? Was absolutely efficient and a dog defensively. So you did it with Micah, you did it with Luka. Very few stars change a franchise. Messi does. Mahomes does. Brady does. LeBron in his prime did. Curry does. Micah is just a great athlete. Luka is a great basketball player. Score. Jalen Brown is a great athlete. Really, really good player. Gives you a bunch of points, but he dribbles the air out of the ball. And every single number is right there for the taking. They're better when he doesn't play. Paul George much better fit. Now, how many games is Paul George going to play? I don't know, but if he gets to 54 games. Remember last year and Tatum was hurt most of the year? The Celtics were 9 and 2 when Brown didn't play, and that was often. Tatum wasn't there either. Remember, the middle and the bottom of the NBA is awful. The Celtics with their coaching depth, formula and system. Last year there were games where there was no Brown or Tatum and they were winning. Overvalue the start. In fact, I would argue more often what you see is a great coach leaves an organization, replaces him with a stiff, and that team bottoms out. Okay, so the question is, where is LeBron James going to go? Listen, let's be. Let's be honest about this. Philadelphia is the best chance for him to win a bunch of games. I told you yesterday, if you start putting all those players in there with. And again. Well, I thought you didn't like Jaylen Brown. I think Jaylen Brown, LeBron, Embiid, Edgecomb, Maxi is just too much talent in the east not to win a bunch of games. Okay, do I think it's going to be difficult? Because I think Brown and Maxey and Embiid, they all want to be number ones. That's why I actually think LeBron, though he's a superstar, added to this team makes them better than if it was just Jaylen Brown. I think LeBron would solve some close game issues, some distribution issues, because he just got such a high IQ EQ in big games. But this whole thing about Cleveland. Well, I mean, it's where the heart is. No, it's not. He's bailed on him twice. He's broke up with his girlfriend twice. Stop telling. Oh, my God. He loves Cleveland. Not that much. Not that much. Oh, but it'll feel so good. What? Losing to the Knicks by 20 points a game in the playoffs will feel good because LeBron will make you a worst offensive team. Slowest player in the NBA last year was James Harden. He's a cav. You know, the second slowest player LeBron James. If he goes to Cleveland, there'll be a worse team in terms defensively, and they weren't very good last year, even with rim protection. Now, will LeBron make you better in close games? Yes, Cleveland was lousy in close games, but against the Knicks, the average margin of victory was 20 points. The Knicks would blow you out. With LeBron, you're going to be slower, you're going to be worse. Defensively, Harden doesn't defend donovan Mitchell's mediocre. LeBron doesn't care anymore about that side. You have decent rim protection, but LeBron will absolutely make you slower. Slow is not winning in the NBA. Youth, speed, athleticism is. So this whole idea about like Philadelphia has youth, has size, has speed, you can mask some of LeBron's issues in Philly because Brown can move, Edgecombe can move, Maxey can move. They've got youth and speed and athleticism. Cleveland's, Cleveland's slow. LeBron will solve the close game situation. But you're not going to be in close games against better teams because you're going to be slow and not very good defensively. So Channing Frye is with me. This whole thing about, to me it's all about this. If he goes to Cleveland, that's for comfort. If he goes to Golden State, that's camaraderie with Steph and Draymond Green. Draymond and him are very close. If he goes to Philadelphia, that's contention. And I keep hearing is all he cares about is fun. Well, what's, what's more fun than beating the brakes off people by 20 points? You know what's not fun? Watching somebody fly by James Harden and dunk and you lose by 17. That's not fun. But all my friends are in Cleveland. Are they on the floor? Can they defend better than Harden? Okay. And by the way, during a regular season, how often do you see your buddies? You're on the road all the time. You're training all the time. So Channing, Fry and I believe the Same thing is LeBron will make the Cavs better in some close game situations. But the chemistry was bad last year. The defense was mediocre.

[Channing Frye]

Here's Channing A. Cleveland got too many what ifs. Now after seeing what I saw, like 52 year old LeBron ain't going to solve them issues. They got soul issues. They got like, like I don't like you issues. What happened if like, let's say Bron goes there and how does he fix anything? He doesn't fix the guys Liking each other. He doesn't fix the continuity of the game.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, there's an old saying, you can't go home again. Well, sometimes you can, but what you can't do is go home again twice. That means you bailed twice. Oh, it'll wrap a nice bow. All right. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, it's comfortable. He knows people. He's got his mansion there. I'm not denying that. But he has bailed on them twice. He once bailed on them because, yeah, nobody wants to play here. And then he bailed on a second time because it's like, yeah, I got him the championship, but this is not really where I want to play. So, I mean, to me, this would be the worst version of LeBron. The slow LeBron. For a team that's not very good defensively anyway. I said this yesterday. All the Cavs will be is the Lakers with better rim protection. That's it. Three guys that need the ball. LeBron, Mitchell, Harden, that's the Lakers. Luka, Austin, LeBron, that's all they are. He will solve late game meltdowns in close games. LeBron will help, no question. He's just such a smart player. He's so good. I mean, the Lakers with Luke Austin, LeBron, did you look at their numbers last year in clutch games? They were great. LeBron is just really. He's got a Magic Johnson thing. Like, he's just. When LeBron's on the floor, when Magic Johnson the floor, there's a minute left and it's tied. You know, the right decisions will be made and the hot guy will get the ball and it will just work out. That's what LeBron adds. Like, I mean, maybe only in my lifetime. In my lifetime. Magic, LeBron, it's not always them taking the shot. The right guy that's open, gets the ball in his hands. Magic and LeBron feel like above everybody that's ever played the game. Even Bird, Kobe, mj, Those guys. The only people that are allowed to do the homecoming thing more than once is high schoolers. You know, you gotta go to homecoming every year in high school. Doesn't work in pro sports. Yeah, just, you know. No, I'm hurting your feelings, but the Jaylen Brown thing, you fell for Micah, you fell for Luka. You're falling for it. The numbers are all right in front of you. You can't deny any of them. Well, Paul's older, all right? He's going to play 55 games. They're going to be pretty good. Get a number one, two or three seed. I don't know. I watched the Celtics series last year against Boston. Paul George was a problem. Brad Stevens watched it was a problem. But this idea. Boston is just going to go, ooh, no they're not.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

They're not.

[Colin Cowherd]

More Tatum, Les Brown. They've been winning for nine years. All right, you thought it was Friday and I was mailing it in. Good luck with that one. Good luck with that. In the US there's a break in every 26 seconds.

[The Herd Promo Voice]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Jason McIntyre]

Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast Straight fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the Sportsbook and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight fire with Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

All right, quick quiz for the hiring managers out there. What's worse, being understaffed or being poorly staffed? Well, that's a trick question because both are recipes for chaos. Either way, just say to yourself, this is a job for Indeed sponsored Jobs. You'll get matched with candidates that meet the skills, certifications and everything else you're looking for. Or go a different way and get no traction. Seriously. Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed are 95% more likely to report a hire than non sponsored Jobs. It really is a no brainer. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help your job get the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast, just go to Indeed.com podcast right now. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Alienware's back to school events the perfect time to score top gaming gear with incredible features and Intel Core processors. To go beyond performance, save big on gaming desktops, laptops and more. Start your Alienware journey with the Alienware 15 gaming laptop featuring Intel Core processors smoothly game live stream and multitask for hours on end. Plus play through every game exactly how you want with customizable Alien FX lighting across your Alienware ecosystem, creating your very own gaming profile and more. Finally, pair your incredibly smooth gaming experience and immersive visuals and sound by saving on sleek Alienware monitors, headsets and more. This limited time sale awaits you [e-mail] deals. That's alienware.com deals

[Advertisement Voice]

being there for those we love can be so hard for people with chronic migraine 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more Botox Onobotulinum toxin a prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. It's not for those with 14 or fewer headache days a month. It Prevents on average 8 to 9 headache days a month versus 6 to 7 for placebo. Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Botox effects may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away. Way as trouble swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be signs of a life threatening condition. Those with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions like rash, breathing problems, dizziness, neck and injection site pain and headache. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions like als, Myasthenia gravis or Lambert Eaton syndrome and and medicines like Botulinum toxins which may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor About Botox, visit botoxchronicmigraine.com or call 1-844botox here's something I've thought

[Colin Cowherd]

about more as I've gotten older. Keeping my family safe, not living in fear, just being prepared. It's why I use Burna. They make self defense tools that actually work that anybody can use even if you've never picked one up before. And here's what got me it's legal in all 50 states. No permit, no background check, ships right to your door. Shoots up to 60ft. Way more distance than pepper spray and the rounds will stop a threat and give you the time and space to get your family somewhere safe. What I like is the distance and how easy it is to use. You don't have to let a problem get close to you. You've got options and they're built right here in America. Fort Wayne, Indiana hand assembled burner is trusted by the pros. Over 500 government agencies, police departments and private security firms use byrna burna.com herd b y r n a.com herd burna be ready. Argentina feels very much like the old LeBron Cleveland Cavalier team that got to the final swept by San Antonio. LeBron had to save him all the way through the playoff run. But Mbappe had a moment yesterday where he made this run up the left sideline and he is just brilliant. It was jaw dropping, speed, he flew up the left side, he had a little Usain bolt to him. And eventually Mbappe got tackled. And that set up the pique, the penalty kicks. Now, I've said before, I don't mind penalty kicks at all in any part of soccer, but what was funny is, and you watch him up the left side, he's just flying past other world class athletes. He puts on a great move, gets tackled, Boom, penalty kick. Then he goes to the penalty kick. And the best athlete in soccer overthinks the room, tries to be tricky, waffles overthinks, hesitates. It's just awful. And he gets stopped on his penalty kick. It's awful. And I've seen Messi miss him too. This herky jerky, it doesn't work for pro athletes, for the great ones, by the way, Harry Kane, 93% lifetime on penalty kicks. Howitzer bombs, no hesitation, rifles it through. He's two for two in the cup. And I've thought about this years and years ago. I was talking to an athlete and the athlete said, you know, the key to this whole thing is as an athlete, prepare like hell and let it rip. Don't think when a rod used to get into playoff slumps, he'd overthink the room. He'd get on the call with his therapist. Derek Jeter was once asked about a slump. He goes, yeah, I just go to the plate and I just want to hit it hard. Exactly. Okay. Tricks are for Alex Caruso taking the charge. Knuckleballers throw the knuckleball because they have to. Aaron Judge should never bunt. When you are Mbappe, when you are Messi Kane, Jude Bellingham, Erling Holland, Attack. Be fast, be powerful, be confident. Let guys like me and the media overthink stuff. This is a prime example of. You know, I like reading interesting articles about thoughtful athletes, but on the pitch, I don't care if it's hockey, basketball. When LeBron had his worst NBA moment ever, it was against Dallas in the finals. It got into his head. A rod would get into his head. Mbappe had to get into his head. It's like the reason Mbappe got the penalty kicked was sheer athleticism, training, cardiovascular, superiority. Harry Kane's got it right. Just smoke that puppy. When you're a great athlete, you attack, you dictate terms. Here's John Strong on the call. From that sequence, Mbappe has it. Masrawi trying to recover. Kelly and Mbappe going first up. Penalty for France.

[Jason McIntyre]

Correct decision to award the penalty.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now what can Kelly and Mbappe do with it? Here we go. Mbappe against Yasim.

[The Herd Promo Voice]

Bono saved

[Colin Cowherd]

and Mbappe trying to just wait for Bono to go. And when he did go, he went the right way. Yeah, like, don't wait. You're the star, you're the great one. As Derek Teeter said, just go hit the ball hard somewhere. Just. I mean, he didn't even get a lot of velocity on it. By Mbappe standards, out thinking sports is like a lot of jobs. I don't care if you're a trial attorney. Self doubt's a killer. Prepare like hell and then in the moment, let it rip. Go with your instincts. Attack. And it was just fascinating to me to watch juxtapose the brilliance that got him the PK and then the hesitation once he got it. J Mac with the news. No, no, no.

[Channing Frye]

Turn on the news.

[The Herd Promo Voice]

This is the Herdline news.

[Jason McIntyre]

All right, Colin, let's dive right into an interesting story in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard and that trade to Toronto, it's on hold. Adam Silver and the NBA keep dragging their feet with this aspiration issue, this investigation into the no show job Kawhi had. And now Colin, Both teams have essentially announced, whoa. The trade is on hold until the NBA wraps things up. Adam Silver has totally botched this situation. You've been investigating this for months and there's no resolution. So now remember, Kawhi was going to go back home to Toronto. The Clippers said we're rebuilding. The trade is on hold. Colin, this could go multiple ways. Just a big black eye for Adam Silver in the NBA.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ask yourself this. In, in the last five years, what has worked with Kawhi? Tyloo's a great coach. What has worked? Oh, he's a great playoff performer. Well, when he's healthy. Has he been healthy? Not really.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

Really?

[Colin Cowherd]

Is he dependable? Not really. Okay, well, trade him can't really work. I mean, the whole thing with Kawai is Toronto is doing it right because they, they've got this soft spot for. Well, it worked the last time and he's using Toronto to just get paid. He doesn't want to live in Toronto. I mean, most pro athletes, even hockey players, would prefer the States over Canada.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, and also the, the Clippers don't want to extend him. They're, they're not, they're not paying him. So I was like, we'll pay him, we'll pay him.

[Colin Cowherd]

So Kawhi is doing this for the bag. I'm not. I'm not critical of that. Pro athletes want to, you know, the last. Your back nine, last couple holes. You make whatever you can make pro athlete. I got your back on that one. Go join the best team, you know, hit from the blue tees, don't have to hit from the black tees, don't have to get on a cart, don't have to walk the course. Talked about it yesterday, but I mean, everything with Kawhi. He's kind of an enigma in the NBA. Like, he doesn't communicate much. He's not really a leader, but he's talented. I mean, the Clippers haven't won a playoff series. Think about this. Since 2021,

[Channing Frye]

with, with.

[Colin Cowherd]

With, you know, I mean, when they brought him there and Steve Ballmer and pounding the podium and it's Paul George. Paul George has ended up in a great spot. Great gm, very good coach, great teammate. Paul George has had injuries, but when he's healthy, he plays and delivers. Kawhi, there's just a cloud that always hovers. Oh, I just wouldn't want to get into the Kawaii business.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, it's ugly. I don't know what the ramifications are going to be if this, if, let's say Kawhi suspended for a year. The NBA says, oh, we found you guilty. Suspended for a year. Raptors aren't doing that deal, no way. And then you have to unwind it with, hey, Kawhi, you got to go back to the Clippers and then you're suspended. I mean, it's just a total disaster for the league. You know, we've seen this in the NFL. Other sports just make decisions, guys, quickly so we can move on. Like, I don't want to be talking about Kawhi and aspiration. What I do want to talk about, Colin, is the next story, and that's the Lakers. Now, when you were out sick on Wednesday, I came out and I said, listen, this Jonathan Kuminga stuff is huge for the Lakers. He is being rumored to Maybe head to LA. There's a report the Lakers offered him a two year, $20 million deal via sign and trade. He's due, I think, 24 million with the Hawks and they do not want to pay him $24 million. This is the same Kuminga who kind of beefed with Steve Kerr in a weird situation.

[Colin Cowherd]

I've never understood the fascination with. He's a G league star. I still don't know what his game is. I can't trust him to hit a jump shot. He's the classic. Oh, he's a long, athletic guy. What's his game? What is his game? I can't figure. If you don't. If five years in the NBA. Stop using youth as an excuse. Excuse? You've been. I don't care how old you are, if you're on the air for five years, I gotta have a feeling what you are. Kaminga's long and athletic. I'm not denying that. Good dunks long. He. He is a. I mean, he can, like. You'll see highlights and you're like, wow. Steve Kerr would have loved to have kept it. They needed his length. They let him go. Atlanta, another great coach. I can't figure out what to do with him. I mean, I. I'm looking at guys getting paid in this league. Quinn Snyder's an elite coach. No, thanks. Steve Kerr is a great coach. No, thanks. I mean, so you can. I mean, I see this all the time. I understand the love of length and the athletic ability, and he can be kind of productive. But ask yourself this. When you're building a business, I don't care if it's a podcast network or a team. What is he? What is she? Caitlin Clark is our distributor and shooter. Okay. Sophie Cunningham, she can be the intimidator and the defender. Okay. Angel Reese, rebounds and defense. I know what they are. You've got to define who you are in any company after five years. And I just don't know what Kaminga

[Jason McIntyre]

is, I would go. Slight disagreement. Yes, he is on the young side, sure. But we're not going to use youth as an example. I think what the problem is is we don't know what he is, but we know what he can be, right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, but I've been hearing that for five years.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, okay, so if you. If you put him in the right system with the right players and maybe the right coach.

[Colin Cowherd]

So you think Steve Kerr is also. Okay. Okay. So Quinn Schneider, again, this is classic Laker fanboy. Steve Kerr knows basketball. He couldn't figure it out.

[Jason McIntyre]

Couldn't fit him in.

[Colin Cowherd]

Quinn Snyder, brilliant. Couldn't figure it out. But you, you're going back to. Well, if you. If a coach can fit, two of the top five coaches are like, we give up.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, the problem is he wanted to start in Golden State. He wasn't ready, so he wanted to start in Atlanta. And he did do well. If you look at the numbers, he was good. The problem is they have Jalen Johnson, they've got a great defensive wing.

[Colin Cowherd]

Jalen Johnson, I know what he is, and he's a much better player.

[Jason McIntyre]

He's awesome. So here's where Kuminga fits. The Lakers don't have a small forward right now to play that PJ Washington role. Hey, stand in the corner, catch some lobs and play lockdown defense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, timeout. He doesn't want to be a lockdown defender.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, he's struggle with the three point shooting and he thinks he's a star. That's the one big thing. Can J.J. redick be like, dude, you're not a star yet. You could be a star.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, he'll never be an NBA star. He'll never ever be an NBA star.

[Jason McIntyre]

Okay, so here, here's the. The comp that I keep seeing and talking to people about.

[Colin Cowherd]

T.J. washington defends. He doesn't want to defend.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, that's the thing. He's got. He's got it. He's got to do some more things. But Colin, I'm just telling you, when OG Anunoby came to the NBA out of college, he had. You could see there's something there. By the way, OG's never made an All Star game. Never made one All Star.

[Colin Cowherd]

Every GM in the league loves og. Every team in this league. Everyone. I said this during the Knicks playoff run when Brunson was killing. I'm like, oh, geez. The guy. Every NBA scout I've ever talked to loves OG on an obi. Like, there's no he. He is the rare player. And even great players. This isn't always true. Like, Donovan Mitchell's great, but he wouldn't fit on every team. OG would start for every NBA team. San Antonio, he would start for all 30 teams. Jonathan Kaminga, two coaches are like, we give up and we're not even paying him anything.

[Jason McIntyre]

Oh, geez. In his late 20s, Kaminga still early 20s. He's got to be selfless. If. If Kaminga is willing to be selfless and accept a bit of a role, you know that's not what he thinks he is.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

If Luke is willing to play defense. How many years am I going to hear this?

[Jason McIntyre]

That then this is. I'm being negative. Come on. That is so negative. Kaminga, essentially, Redic is not promising a starting spot. But dude, we don't have a small forward. Okay, Grimes is a little too small.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't root against anybody. I didn't root against Baker Mayfield. I'm not rooting against Kaminga. Yeah, but I don't want to hear like, like when people say he's young, okay, that's the first three years in the NBA. But by the time it's year four, second great coach, second team, I'm over it. Nobody takes that long to develop. Like, Kevin Garnett came into the league out of high school, you're like, he's gonna be good. But by the second year, you're like, whoa, Kevin Garnett is something. I could see what Kevin Garnett was. So even these guys that come out of high school, their first year, they're flawed. But by year two, they have a defined sense of self, maturity. It's kg second year in the league out of high school, you're like, he was an all star. You're like, holy God. And he got better fast. Kaminga. I got nothing against the kid, but

[Jason McIntyre]

I can unequivocally tell you he's not going to be Kevin Garnett or anywhere near that. But again, OG Anunoby, really good player, accepted a role. And after five years, it's like this guy's pivotal. If Kuminga's willing. And by the way, his measurables are right there with OG size, length, weight. Like if in an ideal world he accepts that. And Luka is known as a raiser of people's talents. Playing with him, we'll see. I'm optimistic. I'm being a fanboy. Yeah, I have the Laker jersey on underneath. This final story. Colin, let's go to the NBA Summer League. We had a great showdown last night. AJ DebonSA versus Darren Peterson. DebonZA had 27 and 26 minutes. Really nice dunk as well. Wizards got the win. Peterson was good, but people are, you know, he nearly fouled out, which is a little goofy at nine fouls, eight turnovers. But this is what people are talking about today. Darren Peterson was asked about, you know, how did it go after the game? And he said, I'm back to having fun. Colin. I wasn't really experiencing it that much at Kansas. I was off the ball a ton. So I feel like myself again.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, that's. That's been what scout said coming in is that he's a bit of a silo player. They don't know about the hamstring injuries, but he's better with the ball in his hands scoring than he is off ball. Kansas used him a lot off ball. I think Peterson's going to be fine. I would have taken DebonSA number one. Fewer questions, by the way, have you. I watched the bonca highlights on YouTube twice. I already feel like he's defining what he is. I mean, I watched two summer league games and I'm like, he's a willing defender. Not great, but willing. He has to become a better shooter. But there's a physicality with DeBonta. There's a toughness, there's an attack mode. Like, I watched DeBonta and I am. And this is probably a bad comp. There's a little bit of Chris Weber here with debons. So there's a little bit of Chris Weber where I love his hands, I love his feet, I love his size, I love his, you know, emotional intelligence on the floor. I see a little Chris Weber. Now, I'm not a scout. I mean, I could be totally wrong, but I. When I watch Chris Weber in college, I'm like, I knew what his game was going to be in the Pros. I'm watching AJ DeMonta two games and I'm like, oh, I know what he is. He is a high end score, long attack mode. I think he's going to be a shot will get better. Willing defender, not great, but willing to put a body on somebody. He's not. He's not a soft player. It can't take that long for me to go, oh, I see what you are.

[Jason McIntyre]

DeBonsa is a stud. Just remember who was calling Washington a 45 win team. Did you see the entire Washington roster came out to watch him last night? They're already bonding. The young kid, Trey Johnson from Texas is cooking. This wizard seems dangerous. Just quickly on Peterson, Colin, so we just talked about being selfish versus selfless.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Darren Peterson doesn't seem to have that. He wants the ball. He wants to control everything. I don't know that I love that. Unless he thinks he could be a one because the kid George is already there in Utah. He's good. Well, and there's going to be a bit of a clash there over who's handling.

[Colin Cowherd]

Anderson is going to be. They're both going to be good scores. Peterson's going to be a great score. I worry about the hamstring creatine stuff. I worry that he kind of plays in a silo. It's summer league, so let's not go crazy. It looks like when I watch Peterson, this is where I said, I remember Doug Gottlieb said, watch this kid play. I remember I was on a phone call. He said, I want you to watch this kid play literally three possessions with Darren Peterson. And I said, oh, that's what Kobe looked like at 18 years old. I mean, literally looked like Kobe. And so there's no question the kid's talented. But there's a. We know this. Are you a good teammate? Are you good analytically? Do you share the ball? Do you have self awareness? Are you willing to be physical like AJ debona? I can see the frame, the shoulders, the butt that he's going to bang up on people. And like, that's a big part of the NBA, that physical component. J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news.

[Jason McIntyre]

And thanks for stopping by the herd lie news.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I, I don't root against anybody. I got nothing against Kaminga, but, yeah, five years of telling me what you're gonna be. Land the plane.

[The Herd Promo Voice]

Okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

Don't keep circling the airport. What are you. Show me. And I also, I'm a big believer, like, if really smart people in sports can't figure you out, you become kind of a Rubik's Cube. It's like, it can't be. I mean, there are players now, in fairness, there are players like Steve Nash, who was very, very good in Dallas, and then he went into. Was it Mike d' Antoni system and in Phoenix, and he flourished. Jalen Brunson was a very good player. Luka always said, he's a really good player. When I got hurt and Brunson had to play a playoff series, I mean, he lit people up. So, like, Brunson was good in Dallas, but he got into an offense where he could be the star and he flourished. So, you know, there are players that leave, and all of a sudden it's like, wow. But, man, Steve Kerr and Quinn Snyder, these guys have been in basketball combined 100. It feels like 80 years in basketball forever. Quinn Snyder's been around forever. College coach, pro coach, player. And if he's like, yeah, it's not like Atlanta wants to get rid. You know, they. They gave the Knicks trouble for a couple games. They. They want to keep everything they can that helps them win. And they're like, nah, we're gonna move on. You know, Steve Kerr was dying for his length. No one feels like the warriors are too small. They were dying for his length. Yeah, we give up.

[The Herd Promo Voice]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9:00am Pacific.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

All right, quick quiz for the hiring managers out there. What's worse? Being understaffed or being poorly staffed? Well, that's a trick question, because both are recipes for chaos. Either way, just say to yourself, this is a job for. Indeed, sponsored jobs. You'll get matched with candidates that meet the skills, certifications and everything else you're looking for. Or go a different way and get no traction. Seriously. Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed are 95% more likely to report a hire than non Sponsored Jobs. It really is a no brainer. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help your job get the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast just go to Indeed.com podcast right now. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? This is a job for Indeed Sponsored

[Colin Cowherd]

Jobs Alienware's Back to School Events the perfect time to score top gaming gear with incredible features and Intel Core processors To go beyond performance, save big on gaming desktops, laptops and more. Start your Alienware journey with the Alienware 15 gaming laptop featuring Intel Core processors. Smoothly game live stream and multitask for hours on end. Plus play through every game exactly how you want with customizable Alien FX lighting across your Alienware ecosystem, creating your very own gaming profile and more. Finally, pair your incredibly smooth gaming experience and immersive visuals and sound by saving on sleek Alienware monitors, headsets and more. This limited time sale awaits you [e-mail] deals that's alienware.com deals

[Advertisement Voice]

being there for those we love can be so hard for people with chronic migraine 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Botox Onobotulinum Toxin A prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. It's not for those with 14 or fewer headache days a month. It Prevents on average 8 to 9 Headache days a month vs 6 to 7 for placebo Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Botox effects may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away away as trouble swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be signs of a life threatening condition. Those with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions like rash, breathing problems, dizziness, neck and injection site pain and headache. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions like als, Myasthenia gravis or Lambert Eaton syndrome and medicines like botulinum toxins which may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor about Botox. Visit botoxchronic migraine.com or call 1-844-BOTOX here's

[Colin Cowherd]

something I've thought about more as I've gotten older. Keeping my family safe, not living in fear, just being prepared. It's why I use Burna. They make self defense tools that actually work. And they're built right here in America. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hand assembled Burna is trusted by the pros. Over 500 government agencies, police departments and private security firms use. Byrna. Byrna.com herd b y r n a.com herd burna be ready. So we have heard. I like Friday shows because you can kind of wrap up things. The Jalen Brown trade. You gotta wrap stuff up. And one of the things we've heard since that really humiliating loss, especially in the second half to Belgium, is, well, where's the growth? What's the difference? Come on. The difference is a number. I'm going to show you. USA, Belgium got over 50 million viewers. 50 million. That's a Super bowl number. Mexico England got 47 million. That's the growth. Well, what do you mean that large? A number equals influence. Kids inspired to play. Families watching with their kids thinking, football's a little too violent, baseball's too boring, hockey's too expensive. Soccer now is cool. And you know who sets the trends in America on fashion and music and cool young people. Not cranky rural guy on X yelling and screaming at clouds. Young people now think soccer is cool, okay? And young people dictate cool in this country. I don't. They do. Mbappe is cool. He's good looking and athletic. Jude Bellingham's an underwear model. I mean, these guys are great looking. You take a football player, an offensive lineman takes his shirt off. My take is put it back on. You see Ronaldo at the beach with his beautiful wife. You're like, these guys are like hip, they're good looking, they're influencers. They've got the world's largest IG following. So there's. I just think young people like cool. At my age, I'm not cool, nor do I really care. 14 to 24, it is huge. You want to be part of cool clubs. When you get older, you prune your tree, you cut friends out. When you're young, you join clubs. And right now, soccer is the cool club. The numbers tell you that soccer also has two things working in their favor. It's great on social media. Social media is great for good looking people. It's good for youth. The clips are fun, they're dramatic, they're wild. The second thing is, and I was on this When I used to work at the other place, soccer is under two hours. To get my wife to watch a baseball game or a college football game is impossible. You never know when it ends. Hell, the last two minutes of an NBA game can be 30 minutes. These things wrap up two hours. Thanks for flying United. And if they do end, they end dramatically with PK kicks often, right? Like so. To me, there's so many things working in the favor of soccer, but more than anything are those numbers. Football participation's going down. If you want your kid to be a baseball player and all the youth baseball, you can't play any other sports. You're on the road every weekend. It's a pain in the butt. Basketball, let's be honest, most basketball players are six, seven. They're genetically superior. Soccer kids run around, very few interruptions. Hydration break, maybe orange slices home by noon. I think it works. I think the number is fascinating. Erling Holland on playing this World cup in the United States. He likes it.

[Erling Haaland]

I think it's a good thing because I like the Americans. I think they are kind of hilarious as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

They are funny.

[Erling Haaland]

So I like the way they are. So I think it's just good. And it's been honestly on every single place but we. The World cup so far here has been amazing. From games to the stadiums to everything has been amazing. Training grounds or where we train has been amazing.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, they like it. European fans like it. We've embraced them. This has really been a five week party. That's really what it is. It's Mardi Gras. People keep going back year after year. It's a vibe, it's a feeling like a lot of times sports. You know, I hate this team, I hate that team. It's a lot of love, it's a lot of joy. People are dressing up, going to the games, the weather's good, the party's good. You're hanging out with Europeans, you're feeling smarter and more global. It's just a really good vibe. Don't listen to cranky guy on the Interweb. Don't listen to that guy. Young kids are into this and young kids change and modify and inject influence, really lead it in this country. So I want to talk quickly about Messi. Messi's amazing. And I said there's very few athletes. I mean the most valuable player. I'm not saying the best, but probably the best. Erling Holland and Messi, if they're not on their teams, it's not the same team. France is good regardless. MBAPPE is great. The guy in the other wing, it's like best player in the euroleague most of the year. Like, I mean, France is stacked, right? It's the dream team. But Argentina is a little like that first LeBron Cleveland team where if you remember that they were down in that playoff series, I think like the Detroit two nothing and LeBron was just carrying Cleveland. And then eventually they met the Stonewall named Tim Duncan Pop Manu Parker and they got swept in the finals. I think Argentina would get boxed by like England or France. I mean, half of their starting lineup in the last game was 32 or older. They are totally driven by Messi. They needed a var break to beat Egypt. So France entering the World cup, fox did a 100 best player list. France has three of the top five players in the cup. England has five of the top 33. Basically it's Messi and one other pretty good player for Argentina. Like, he is just unbelievably dominant and he's 39. So, I mean, when I watch Argentina, I just get this feeling. I'm watching LeBron at Cleveland and it worked the entire Eastern Conference playoffs. And then they met San Antonio and you're like, yeah, this isn't, this isn't close. LeBron has a ceiling. And that's. I kind of feel like Argentina eventually is going to hit a ceiling. Here's Fox Sports broadcaster Derek Ray earlier this week with J. Mac on Messi's brilliance.

[The Herd Promo Voice]

It's not just what he does individually as a footballer. It's the influence he has on his teammates and the regard, the esteem in which he is held within the Argentina side. And of course, he had a big part to play in all of it. I'm pretty confident in saying in 20, 30, 40 years time, people will tell their grandchildren. Yeah, remember that Lionel Messi inspired comeback against Egypt. It's right up there, right at the top of the tree.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I just, I just don't feel arj. I feel right now France is the best team. England's the second best team. Spain's probably third. I don't know. I think Belgium's pretty good. I think Belgium's pretty good. I don't know. I just think basically Messi. And that's why I say there are so many great athletes. The Brady's, the Messi's, the Erling Hollands, the Mahomes, the Stephs, they change conferences, they change cultures. Jaylen Brown, Luka, Micah, they're just going to be hall of Famers. Not all hall of Famers are the same and very, very few athletes in my lifetime. I mean, Wilt Chamberlain was unbelievable. Magic changed the culture of the Lakers. Magic was different. Like Kobe's a culture changer. Michael Jordan changed the sport. LeBron changed the sport. Kevin Durant's just really talented, right? Curry changed how you shoot. Kevin Durant's really talented. Harden's really talented. So is Donovan Mitchell. LeBron changed the sport. Literally. Was it nine straight years to the Finals? Sometimes he didn't even have good teams. So it's just very rare what Messi's doing. What Messi's doing is it is that, you know, 8, 10, 12 players ever. Ever.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box.

[Indeed Sponsor Voice 2]

He cuts past the non stop group chat trash talk. He clears on goal.

[Colin Cowherd]

He shoots no unlimited data for $25 a month.

[Jason McIntyre]

Forever.

[Colin Cowherd]

Does he Local Boost Mobile Store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30gb, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan. All right. You know what deserves more attention? The assists. Everybody talks about the goal. A big moment that gets replayed on the highlight reels. But too often we overlook all the contributions and collabs that happen along the way. That's true in soccer and honestly true in life. Halion is shining a light on the assists. As official partner of U.S. soccer, they got a whole lineup of brands ready

[Advertisement Voice]

to deliver for you.

[Colin Cowherd]

So here they are. Sensodyne Dentist Recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science backed nutrients. Advil of course. Powerful inflammation fighting pain relief. Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and tums ready to counterattack with fast heartburn relief. These are brands that are ready to deliver your essential wellness. Assists because every goal starts with an assist, Learn how Halion can assist your game day goals at make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. From unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle. This is where fans come to celebrate, show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details.

[Channing Frye]

150 years ago, they were hunting us down to kill us. And now they're hunting down immigrants to deport them.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is First America, the true story of how the United States came to be and how we got to this present moment. Listen to First America on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.