The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 3 – Chris Broussard stops by The Herd
Date: March 23, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

Episode Overview

This episode features Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre (“J. Mac”) diving into the latest NBA and NCAA basketball headlines, with a special guest appearance by NBA analyst Chris Broussard. The conversation focuses on high-impact athletes, playoff prospects (especially for the Lakers), college basketball coaching carousel, the Knicks’ future, and Kevin Durant’s legacy. The final part of this hour shifts briefly to the NFL, discussing Travis Kelce’s new deal with the Chiefs and its implications.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Caitlin Clark Effect: Game-Changing Athletes

(03:54 – 06:00)

• Colin praises Caitlin Clark’s transformative impact on women's basketball, citing the WNBA’s recent quadrupled salary cap as a sign of her influence.

“Caitlin Clark comes into the WNBA... The salary cap almost quadrupled. That is the Caitlin Clark effect.” (04:07 – Colin Cowherd)

• Other transcendent athletes mentioned: Tiger Woods (golf), Serena Williams (tennis), Tony Hawk (skateboarding), and Conor McGregor (MMA).
• Economic and cultural impact: Colin draws a distinction between great athletes and those who raise the profile, earnings, and ascension of an entire sport.

2. NBA Round-Up: Lakers' Surge and OKC’s Chippy Reputation

Lakers Hot Streak and Playoff Outlook (09:54 – 13:17)

• J. Mac highlights the Lakers’ current dominance: “This team's unstoppable. LeBron's bought in.” (10:02 – Jason McIntyre)
• Lakers as contenders: Draymond Green’s take—Luka Doncic and LeBron together always give their team a chance.
• Austin Reaves’ impact: Colin now sees him as “underrated” due to improved health and blending better with LeBron (10:49 – Colin Cowherd).

“Austin Reaves right now, being healthy... That's part of the nine-game winning streak, too.” (11:25 – Colin Cowherd)

• Playoff projections and LeBron's possible future deal are briefly discussed.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Physical Play and Fights (11:59 – 14:35)

• OKC’s physical style sparks on-court altercations, with multiple ejections against the Wizards.
• Colin’s take: “They play real defense every night... the way to beat them is to match their energy.” (12:44–13:17)
• While J. Mac jokes that “the refs should be like, hey, you guys can't put your hands all over these guys...”, Colin maintains that this intensity is good for the league (13:51–14:22).

3. NCAA Coaching Carousel: UNC’s Potential Changes

(15:10 – 18:48)

• Hubert Davis on the hot seat at UNC: After a rough tournament exit, rumors swirl about a coaching change, with Florida’s Todd Golden emerging as a (somewhat surprising) favorite.
• Colin questions why Golden would leave Florida for UNC: “Florida… no state tax… you have total support… that doesn't make any sense to me.” (15:20–15:36)
• Best college basketball jobs ranked: Duke, UConn, Kansas, UNC, Kentucky, Arizona, Michigan.
• NIL and transfer portal have changed dynamics, making jobs like Florida even more desirable.
• Golden’s off-court issues briefly alluded to by J. Mac but nothing definitive.

4. NBA Draft Prospects: Darren Peterson’s Red Flags

(20:53 – 22:13)

• Colin expresses concern about top prospect Darren Peterson (Kansas), who exhibits “a 10% Ben Simmons vibe”—great talent but questionable passion and durability.
• Chris Broussard is cautious:

“The red flags are glaring, Colin. Like, just missing so many games for bizarre or hidden reasons... you bring up Ben Simmons.” (21:03 – Chris Broussard)

• Despite concerns, most expect Peterson to go top-5; Broussard personally favors “Debonce out of BYU.”

5. Lakers Playoff Viability: Experience vs. Youth

(22:13 – 26:03)

• LeBron’s adaptability praised: After coming back from injury, he’s accepted a reduced, high-yield role for team success.

“He’s doing so many things he hasn’t done throughout his career. He’s sitting in the corner for the corner three... LeBron has really changed his game to fit with Luka and Austin Reaves.” (23:26 – Chris Broussard)

• Lakers’ playoff chances ranked third in the West behind OKC and San Antonio.
• Playoff X-factor: San Antonio is more talented, but their inexperience could be exploited by the seasoned Lakers squad, especially in a deep series.

6. Knicks’ Offseason Scenarios & A Giannis Pursuit

(26:03 – 29:33)

• Colin outlines a crossroads for the Knicks: If they reach the Finals, run it back; if not, pressure mounts to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• Concerns over Giannis’ durability and Knicks’ assets: After trading for Mikal Bridges, their draft capital is low.
• Chris Broussard sees Houston as a better suitor for Giannis, suggesting a bold Shingun-plus package, and mentions Minnesota as an outside candidate.

“Houston should have gone. They should have offered Shingoon and whether it's Reed, Shepard, or some other young players... that's the mistake.” (28:25 – Chris Broussard)

7. Kevin Durant’s Legacy and Player Evolution

(29:33 – 32:50)

• KD passes MJ on a key scoring leaderboard; Colin compares Durant’s career path to Wilt Chamberlain’s: extraordinary talent, but restless, not obsessed with winning at all costs.
• Chris Broussard:

“I think Kevin Durant is a top 20 player of all time... If he had stayed in Golden State... Durant would be that guy.” (30:44 – Chris Broussard)

• Durant as the evolution of Dirk Nowitzki: KD a perimeter 7-footer, innovating the game much as Dirk did, with Victor Wembanyama now the next leap.

8. NFL Note: Travis Kelce Re-Signs with Chiefs

(36:54 – 41:11)

• Travis Kelce re-ups for 3 years, $55–58m: Colin sees this as a ‘leadership league’ move, with the Chiefs betting on culture and stability more than stats.

“It’s a leadership league... Kelsey on third down or red zone, I trust him. Mahomes trusts him. Andy Reid trusts him.” (39:24 – Colin Cowherd)

• Skepticism from J. Mac: Few tight ends produce at age 37+; ceiling might be Tony Gonzalez numbers (~859 yards), but Colin emphasizes situational value over yards.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Caitlin Clark’s impact:
  “That is the Caitlin Clark effect... the salary cap almost quadrupled.” (04:07 – Colin Cowherd)
• LeBron’s transformation:
  “He is being a tremendous role player that, on nights when Austin Reaves doesn’t have it…he’ll go for 30 like the other night.” (23:26 – Chris Broussard)
• On OKC’s scrappy play:
  “They play real defense every night, okay?... I’m going to give a team credit that comes every night and usually gives you a great defensive effort.” (12:44–13:17 – Colin Cowherd)
• On Durant’s legacy:
  “If he had stayed in Golden State…Instead of Steph being the guy that’s viewed as top 10 now, all time, Durant would be that guy.” (30:44–31:18 – Chris Broussard)
• On the Knicks’ crossroad:
  “If you don’t (reach the Finals), I think there’s going to be a lot of heat to make a Giannis move.” (26:03 – Colin Cowherd)
• On Travis Kelce:
  “This is a leadership league… Kelsey on third down or red zone, I trust him.” (39:24 – Colin Cowherd)

Key Timestamps

• 03:54 – Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA and transcendent athletes
• 09:54 – Lakers’ winning streak and contenders discussion
• 11:59 – OKC’s chippy play and league reactions
• 15:10 – UNC coaching rumors; Florida’s Todd Golden speculation
• 20:53 – Darren Peterson draft analysis and concerns
• 22:13 – Lakers’ playoff prospects; LeBron’s new role
• 26:03 – Knicks’ offseason and Giannis trade scenarios
• 29:33 – Kevin Durant’s legacy and evolution among 7-footers
• 36:54 – Travis Kelce inks new deal with Chiefs; leadership discussion

Summary

This episode showcases Colin Cowherd and Chris Broussard’s nuanced basketball analysis—emphasizing the factors (star power, fit, culture, and leadership) that make or break teams in both the NBA and NCAA. The Lakers’ chemistry, the Knicks’ potential pursuit of Giannis, and questions about rising talent like Darren Peterson all illustrate the complexity of building a championship squad. The closing conversation draws parallels between the leadership required in basketball and football, with Travis Kelce’s contract serving as a case study in team-building philosophy.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced, opinionated episode rich with insights about the current and future state of elite basketball and football franchises.