The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 2)

Date: March 16, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Host: Jason McIntyre (guest hosting) with Rachel Nichols
Featured Guest: Jovan Buha (NBA reporter)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into NCAA March Madness Final Four picks, the surging Lakers' recent performances and LeBron James' role adjustment, and broader NBA topics including player streaks, officiating controversy, Western Conference shakeups, league expansion, and schedule debates. NFL topics pop up briefly with discussion around Rams’ all-in strategy and the implications of the Trent McDuffie signing.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. March Madness: Jason’s Final Four & Championship Picks

• [04:38] Jason McIntyre reveals his Final Four picks:
  • East: Duke (Kam Boozer)
  • South: Illinois (“Mild surprise; like European players in March, very dangerous offensively”)
  • West: Arizona (“Best team in the country; four likely first-rounders, possibly five draft picks”)
  • Fourth team: Michigan (“Not reading much into their recent loss to Purdue”)
• Semifinals: Arizona over Michigan, Illinois over Duke (“not going to be popular at all”).
• Championship: Arizona over Illinois.
• Quote:

  “I’ve got the Wildcats cutting down the nets in Indy... Arizona’s my pick. They got dudes.”
  – Jason McIntyre [06:14]

2. Lakers’ Hot Streak, Team Chemistry, & LeBron’s New Role

Guest: Jovan Buha (NBA reporter covering the Lakers)

A. Locker Room Mood, Recent Wins

• [07:51] Lakers' vibes are at a season high: 5-game win streak, 8 out of 9. Three wins against top 10 teams (Knicks, Timberwolves, Nuggets).
• Quote:

  “The vibes are high in there.”
  – Jovan Buha [07:54]

B. Bench Play and Coaching

• The bench has improved—Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, credit to coach JJ Redick for “pushing all the right buttons.”
• Positive net-rating trends since All-Star break, especially with the “big three” (LeBron, Luka, Austin Reaves).

C. LeBron Taking a Step Back

• LeBron adapting to be third option behind Luka and Austin Reaves.

• Quote:

  “LeBron came back and is really bought into being, I think, more of the third option right now.”
  – Jovan Buha [09:38]

• Discussion on whether there was a meeting/film session that led to LeBron’s role change; consensus is it was more organic, tied to injuries and player returns.

D. Austin Reaves’ Breakout & Contract Future

• Austin Reaves considered “maybe the most loved Laker.”
• Projected to command a new contract:

  “He’s going to make 30, if not 35 plus million annually and I think sign a four or five year deal with the Lakers this summer.”
  – Jovan Buha [13:17]

E. Team Mentality Shift

• Jason plays an old LeBron quote post-OKC loss:

  “That’s a championship team right here. We’re not.”
  – LeBron James [14:10]

• Buha discusses how recent signature wins changed the team’s belief:

  “...The general optimism with this group has obviously been trending upward over the past week or so.”
  – Jovan Buha [14:50]

F. Defensive Improvements: Marcus Smart’s Impact

• Marcus Smart’s addition to the starting lineup credited for defensive surge.
• Lakers’ physicality and defense against stars (Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Jalen Brunson).

• “To me [Smart] has been their fourth best player this season and is their fourth most important player.”
  – Jovan Buha [19:21]

3. Western Conference Landscape & Notable Player Stories

A. Houston Rockets’ Decline and Locker Room Dynamics

• Rockets falling off post-All Star break, potential link to KD’s controversial text and locker room drama.
• “If your teammate is... behind your back and saying some of the things he said about his teammates, like, yeah, that’s gotta be tough.”
  – Jovan Buha [17:19]

B. Minnesota Timberwolves & Julius Randle

• Speculation on whether trade rumors for Giannis caused Randle’s recent struggles.
• Minnesota considered more proven than Houston but vulnerable to highs and lows.

C. Other Player Updates

• Steph Curry projected to return soon for the Warriors.
• Celtics pegged as “team to beat in the East” by both Rachel and Jovan; Jason gives a shout to the Knicks.

4. Individual Stars & Record Streaks

A. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) 20-Point Game Streak

• [30:39] SGA extends his 20-point streak to 128 games, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.

• Quote (SGA):

  “The winning is all that matters.”
  – SGA via Rachel Nichols [31:08]

• Rachel and Jason debate athlete honesty about enjoying milestones:

  “He is the most consistent superstar in the NBA... it's a perfect record for him and it epitomizes who he is as a player.”
  – Rachel Nichols [32:33]

5. NBA Officiating & Signature Moments (Lakers vs. Nuggets Recap)

• The Lakers’ crucial OT win vs Denver was built on a missed call in the final moments; officials said it should have been a clean strip.
• Jason’s take: “Refs are human… But hey, Gums, the breaks. We got them today.”
• Quote:

  “Do your joy over this win recede at all knowing that it was built on an incorrect call?”
  – Rachel Nichols [34:13]

6. NBA Expansion & Scheduling Debates

A. Las Vegas & Seattle Expansion

• NBA Board of Governors to vote on adding Las Vegas and Seattle as new teams. Only these two markets will be considered.
• Conversation on which West team (Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans) might move to the East to balance conferences.

• “If you move Minnesota to the East… you've got Ant Edwards in the East. You have potential Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama Finals. This is good for the NBA.”
  – Rachel Nichols [37:18]

B. Reducing Season Length

• Ideas floated: Shrinking regular season, seeding playoffs 1-16, picking all-stars from one pool. Rachel says it’s unlikely to happen due to lost revenue.

• “Owners will protect what's theirs. And there is no way they are giving back money on the 82 games.”
  – Rachel Nichols [38:25]

7. NFL Quick Hit: Rams “All In” Strategy

• Rams sign All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie, who leaves the Chiefs citing the Rams’ sustained contention.

  “I wanted to go to a team that were contenders... this culture was something special.”
  – Trent McDuffie [46:30]

• Rams rumored to be pursuing AJ Brown, and possibly moving off Davante Adams.
• List of major Rams contracts expiring in 2027—suggestion this is a “last dance” for Stafford and McVay.

• “You can go ahead and write this in pen. The Rams are winning the Super Bowl next year.”
  – Jason McIntyre [49:07]

8. March Madness NBA Prospect Watch

• Darius Acuff’s standout SEC tournament performance (“just roast everybody”).
• Comparisons to John Calipari’s previous freshman guards (Derrick Rose, John Wall, Jamal Murray, etc.).
• This year’s freshman class viewed as historically deep.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Final Four wisdom:

  “My life takes a hiatus. I already told the wife, listen, I’m not really available this weekend...I need to lock in.”
  – Jason [04:38]

• LeBron adapts his role:

  “LeBron’s come back in as the number three [option].”
  – Jovan [12:07]

• SGA’s humility:

  “If I have a night like I have tonight and we win the way we win tonight... I’ll be the happiest guy on earth… Winning is all that matters.”
  – SGA [31:03–31:08]

• NBA schedule realities:

  “Of course they should shrink the schedule, but... it’s never going to happen.”
  – Rachel Nichols [38:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:25–07:51]: Jason’s Final Four picks and breakdown
• [07:51–24:49]: Jovan Buha on Lakers hot streak, LeBron’s new role, Austin Reaves’ breakout, Western Conference shakeups
• [30:14–33:32]: Rachel & Jason discuss SGA’s 128-game, 20-point streak; Thunder’s player development
• [33:32–35:33]: Lakers’ OT win vs. Denver, ref controversy, and its meaning
• [35:33–40:43]: NBA expansion (Vegas, Seattle), schedule debate, playoff seeding hypotheticals
• [45:31–49:07]: NFL: Rams go “all in,” McDuffie signing, Super Bowl prediction
• [51:00–53:42]: March Madness prospect watch—Darius Acuff & freshman class context

Style & Tone

• Fast-paced, light banter between Jason and Rachel, smart and occasionally irreverent.
• Analysis-filled but conversational, with emotional beats (Jason lamenting his son’s chess tournament, Rachel’s “truth bombs”).
• Natural blend of statistical insight and human narrative (“refs are human too”; locker room chemistry matters).
• Insider tidbits and honest skepticism about NBA business realities.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode provides hot takes and deep dives on both NCAA and NBA fronts—insider observations on red-hot teams and shifting roles, the realities of modern pro basketball, and a perspective check on what streaks, upsets, and strategy mean for fans and athletes alike. The thoughtful breakdowns by Jovan Buha and candid debates between Jason and Rachel make it a must-listen for fans with eyes on March Madness, the NBA playoff race, and league tectonics beyond the box score.