The Herd with Colin Cowherd: What's Wright – Best Of

Episode Theme:
A whirlwind tour of the week’s top debates with Nick Wright, focusing on the Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff outlook (and panic), potential Giannis trade scenarios, and Lane Kiffin’s move in college football. Nick examines the thin margins between NFL success and failure, the complexity of NBA superstar trades, and the personal responsibility behind headline-making coaching moves.

Chiefs in Panic Mode?

Main Discussion:
Nick Wright and Damanze dissect the Chiefs’ precarious playoff position, analyzing whether fans should hit the panic button for Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Co.

The Chiefs’ Current Standings

• The Chiefs sit at 6-6, two games back from a playoff spot (02:48).
• They lack critical tiebreakers against key AFC teams (03:03).
• Only certain way in: “The only way they guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs is by winning out…winning out gets them in.” – Nick Wright (03:11)
• AFC is as wide open as it’s been in years; if the Chiefs get hot, they could become favorites fast (03:54).

Key Issues Plaguing the Chiefs

• Chronic third-and-long failures: “All season long this team has been forcing third and longs and then been totally unable to get off the field.” – Nick (06:20)
• Defensive weakness: lowest in sacks and forced turnovers (07:33).
• Poorly timed turnovers have cost them crucial games.

Nick’s Emotional Barometer

• Nick finds it “very difficult to trust this team to win five straight because quite simply they can’t get off the field.” (05:03)
• “My confidence has been shaken because it should be.” – Nick (11:32)
• If they win the pivotal Houston matchup: “If they win Sunday… then I will feel like, all right, beat the Chargers next week and you’re going to go to another Super Bowl. That’s how I’ll feel.” (11:08)
• Mahomes has led three go-ahead fourth-quarter drives this year—Chiefs lost all three games anyway, highlighting thin margins. Tom Brady only lost three such games in 15 years (12:47–12:55).

The Thin Edge of NFL Margins

• Nick pinpoints missed opportunities, especially a blown interception against the Jaguars, as potentially season-defining moments (13:31).
• “That’s how thin the margins are.” (13:31)

The Pathway Forward

• For a wildcard, the Colts must collapse, the Chargers must tumble, and Chiefs must win out—or at least key matchups (18:31–19:16).
• “The only way to be sure they get in is win all five and they have not yet looked like a team that’s ready to go on a five game winning streak. It’s the reality.” – Nick (19:16)

Notable Quotes:

• "They had to have the Broncos game and they lost.” (11:32)
• “[This season] might wreck the season.” (07:13)

Giannis Trade Watch: Is the Greek Freak Done in Milwaukee?

Main Discussion:
From chasing LeBron’s scoring records to possibly leaving the city that loves him, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future is a hot topic.

The Giannis Dilemma:

• Damanze suggests Giannis seems insincere about his Milwaukee commitment. Nick disagrees slightly, suggesting it’s more nuanced (25:18).
• “He wants to be beloved in Milwaukee and doesn’t want to play for Milwaukee anymore.” – Nick (26:24)
• The Bucks mortgaged their future for short-term win-now moves, leaving their championship window closing. “Those bills have all slowly but surely come due.” (27:43)
• Giannis’ recent injury (calf strain), not catastrophic, could accelerate a decision (29:00–30:01): “It is very possible that last night was Giannis’s last game with the Bucks.” – Nick (30:01)

Top Trade Destinations (as discussed via ESPN’s proposed deals):

• Atlanta Hawks (most interesting): Giannis and Cole Anthony for Trae Young, top picks, giving Milwaukee multiple routes for a quick rebuild (32:23–34:17).
  • “Atlanta’s the best trade. Houston’s the most interesting. The Knicks are far and away the worst trade and would only happen if Giannis demands it…” – Nick (44:46)
• Houston Rockets: “I don’t love this for either team.” – Nick (36:11)
• New York Knicks: Would require swapping Giannis for Karl-Anthony Towns and little else, which Nick thinks is a bad deal unless Giannis insists (39:11).
• San Antonio Spurs: Could leverage their young talent and picks, but would Giannis want it? Spurs may need to accelerate before Wembanyama’s window closes (41:11–41:51).
• Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green and picks to Milwaukee—Nick calls this a nonstarter for the Bucks (43:18).

The Trade Reality

• “I think we now…it is more likely than not that because of the injury last night, the next game Giannis plays in the NBA will be for a different team, which is crazy.” – Nick (44:37)

Lane Kiffin Doesn’t Get It: College Football’s Wild West

Main Discussion:
Lane Kiffin leaves Ole Miss for LSU, provoking a broader debate about responsibility and narrative in sports.

The Kiffin Problem

• Nick frames it as a parable about choices: “Nobody gets everything. There are trade offs that adults have to make…” (25:43)
• Kiffin chose between two desirable options (legend at Ole Miss vs. bigger contract at LSU), then acted sad/martyred about it (49:59–50:18).
• “You are not allowed to be sad about the choice if you’re the one that’s making the choice.” (50:18)

Personal Responsibility Theme

• Blaming the ‘calendar’ or the system is a dodge: “The amount of otherwise smart people blaming a grownup’s decision on an inanimate object…the calendar—is just embarrassing.” (55:32 & 55:39)
• “Lane Kiffin did what he thought was best for Lane Kiffin…” (60:30)
• The same lesson, for parents & coaches: if you make the choice, own it (51:01).

Media Critique

• Nick criticizes media members making excuses for Kiffin due to personal interest or industry connections (55:02–59:31).
• “There is some level of shamelessness in some of the coverage of these things…” (60:26)

Notable Parental Analogy

• “When you have two really good options in front of you… Sadness should not be associated with it because you are...making the choice.” (51:01)

Key Timestamps

• [02:48] Chiefs in trouble: standings, tiebreakers, playoff path
• [06:20] Defensive woes: 3rd-and-long failures
• [13:31] Season-defining mistakes and playoff margins
• [25:18] Giannis’ (in)authenticity and rumored discontent
• [30:01] Giannis’ injury triggers trade speculation
• [32:23] ESPN’s best Giannis trades breakdown
• [49:59] Lane Kiffin’s options and the choice paradox
• [55:32] Nick’s media critique: accountability vs. excuses
• [60:26] Wrapping up Kiffin: “He did what was best for Lane Kiffin.”

Notable Quotes

• “All season long this team has been forcing third and longs and then been totally unable to get off the field.” – Nick, [06:20]
• “If they win Sunday…then I will feel like…you’re going to go to another Super Bowl. That’s how I’ll feel.” – Nick, [11:08]
• “Those bills have all slowly but surely come due.” – Nick on the Bucks’ future, [27:43]
• “It is very possible that last night was Giannis’s last game with the Bucks.” – Nick, [30:01]
• “You are not allowed to be sad about the choice if you’re the one that’s making the choice.” – Nick, [50:18]
• “The amount of otherwise smart people blaming a grownup’s decision on an inanimate object…the calendar—is just embarrassing.” – Nick, [55:32]

Summary Takeaway

Nick Wright brings passionate, razor-sharp analysis to three “can’t-miss” stories—conveying the fragility of NFL playoff hopes, the dramatic uncertainty around NBA superstar movement, and the need for honesty about personal agency in sports leadership. This episode is rich in sports insight, real talk, and memorable analogies—perfect for anyone who wants to stay plugged into the biggest sports narratives of the week.