The Herd with Colin Cowherd – “What's Wright - Best of NBA: Nico Harrison FIRED, LeBron James RETURNS to Lakers, Wemby's MONSTER start | Nick Wright”

Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd (with guest Nick Wright and Damon)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively, opinionated breakdown of the week's top NBA headlines, with Nick Wright at the helm. The major topics include the fallout from Nico Harrison’s firing from the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James' much-anticipated return to the Lakers (and his evolving career), and the jaw-dropping ascendance of Victor Wembanyama (“Wemby”) as a potential best player in the NBA. The tone is sharp, passionate, and full of signature Nick Wright hyperbole, providing context, nostalgia, and real-time takes on the state of basketball drama.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Nico Harrison FIRED: Mavericks Meltdown & Legacy

• Harrison’s Firing and Luka Doncic Fallout (00:34–04:56)
  • Tim McMahon of Hoop Collective predicted Nico Harrison’s imminent firing, which was confirmed as a breaking story during the taping.
  • Nick Wright skewers Harrison’s short reign:

    “A truly mortifying end to a truly indefensible nine month reign of terror... In the type of move that if there were ever cause for a fan base to file a class action lawsuit against management, this would be it.” (03:15)

  • Harrison shockingly traded Luka Doncic, arguably the franchise’s best player:

    “You had one of the greatest players ever at the very beginning of the prime of his career... and because of nothing more than power and ego, you lit the franchise on fire. Power and ego.” (03:50)

  • Nick’s take: The Dallas Mavericks should “consider a fire sale,” recoup assets, and reset around new talent like Cooper Flag (05:52).
  • Mavericks’ bleak draft future spelled out in detail; they control their own pick in 2026 but then lose control through swaps and trades for years, hampering a fast rebuild (06:58-09:16).
  • The team is now 3–8, with the 2nd-worst offense in the league, despite having the 3rd-best defense—a reversal of their historic identity (12:30–14:45).

    “Good luck, Mavs fans. I feel sick for you. This was a sports felony inflicted upon a fan base.” (12:58)

2. Victor Wembanyama: Already the Best Player in the NBA?

• Wemby’s "MONSTER" Start & Defensive Dominance (19:52–29:45)
  • Damon and Nick Wright discuss Wemby’s unprecedented impact, focusing on both his physical talent and his psychological effect on the opposition.
  • Nick is giddy:

    “He is the best defensive player in basketball. We knew that was going to be the case. And he had three blocks. But that doesn’t really explain it because he just dissuades so much action because of his length.” (20:53)

  • Wemby compared to Hakeem Olajuwon for all-around impact—not just rim protection, but disrupting offensive flow.

    “If Wemby averages 25 points a game, he might be the best player in the league.” (23:58)

  • Cautions about “injury risk at his size” but admits the hype now appears justified. (24:33–25:30)
  • Wemby is now “must-watch every night”, putting the Spurs back on the map and making even LeBron’s future succession look promising (26:16–27:01).
  • On MVP candidacy:

    “He climbed to top two in MVP odds... After these three games, him potentially being the favorite. I mean...” (31:46)

  • Nick regrets not seeing the MVP potential earlier:

    “I would have told you one day ago those [MVP bets] are dumb tickets... and now, I mean, maybe. Maybe!” (32:24)

3. LeBron James: Returns to Lakers & The Longevity Debate

• Reaction to LeBron’s Role and Career (38:18–61:58)
  • Nick examines the cyclical, sometimes nonsensical media narratives about LeBron:

    “No athlete in my lifetime has generated more idiotic and immediately self-refuting opinions than LeBron.” (38:18)

  • Nostalgic run-down of past hot takes predicting LeBron’s decline—some almost 13 years old.

    “Thirteen years ago...Dan Lerd announced LeBron was on the downside... And I’m going to talk about guys that I love and adore... Colin...nine years ago said, LeBron, hang it up whenever you want.” (39:00)

  • Laughs at concerns about LeBron “fitting in” with the Lakers, calling him the most adaptable player in NBA history:

    “About arguably the only guy...that can legitimately and has literally made an All-NBA team at all five positions on the court.” (41:32)

  • LeBron is still valuable—perhaps not top 5, but likely top 10 or 15, and uniquely capable of adjusting his role whatever the team needs, even in year 23 at age 40 (45:13–47:15).
  • LeBron’s durability called “unprecedented”; Wright recaps historic milestones:

    “Kobe Bryant...did not play in a playoff game with the Lakers after the age of 32. LeBron joined the Lakers when he was 34.” (49:38)

  • On LeBron’s longevity records:

    “The record books...are going to be Chamberlain esque, untouchable and farcical in the numbers to future generations.” (51:56)

4. NBA Sliding Doors: Revisiting Draymond Green’s Suspension & Warriors-Cavs 2016

• Debunking Conspiracies and LeBron’s Finals Heroics (52:43–61:58)
  • Nick calls out Bill Simmons for overhyping the idea that suspending Draymond Green was a “Cavs-favoring” NBA fix:

    “The idea that it is widely thought in NBA circles that the Draymond suspension was going to lead to the Cavs winning the championship... That was not a thing.” (54:55)

  • Methodically debunks the myth that the Warriors “would have won” if Green hadn’t been suspended, pointing to back-to-back LeBron 41-point games with/without Draymond:

    “Game 5 of those Finals, no Draymond...Bron goes...41, 16, and 7...Game 6 of the finals with Draymond. 41, 8, 11... It’s just revisionist history.” (59:32)

  • Celebrates the rare privilege of sports fans experiencing both Brady’s and LeBron’s two-decade reigns, calling it “unreal.” (61:30)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Harrison/Luka trade:
  • “This was a sports felony inflicted upon a fan base. Yes, now the villain has been captured... but it doesn’t change the havoc he wreaked and the long term impact on your fandom.” — Nick Wright (13:00)
• On Wembanyama’s impact:
  • “I was agog at what I saw last night from Victor Wembanyama... He is the best defensive player in basketball... He just dissuades so much action because of his length.” — Nick Wright (20:53)
  • “If Wemby averages 25 points a game, he might be the best player in the league.” — Nick Wright (24:02)
• On LeBron’s adaptability:
  • “That guy that can play all five and certainly the younger version of him and to a degree the older version of him can guard all five. That guy was going to screw up a team?” — Nick Wright (41:28)
• On LeBron’s records:
  • “LeBron’s longevity records are going to... be Chamberlain-esque, untouchable and farcical in the numbers to future generations.” — Nick Wright (51:56)
• On 2016 Finals revisionism:
  • “It’s just revisionist history... Game 5 of the Finals, no Draymond: 41, 16, 7. Game 6 of the finals with Draymond: 41, 8, 11.” — Nick Wright (59:32)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Nico Harrison/Mavericks drama: 00:34–14:45
• Wembanyama’s start – best in NBA debate: 19:52–29:45
• LeBron’s return and career perspective: 38:18–52:40
• 2016 Finals/Draymond Green myth-busting: 52:43–61:58

Memorable Moments

• Nick Wright dramatically calling the Luka trade a “sports felony” and Harrison’s “reign of terror” over the Mavs.
• Detailed breakdown of the Mavericks’ dire draft pick situation—labelled as “the rich get richer” for other franchises.
• Nick’s awe and about-face on Wemby, admitting his skepticism might have been misplaced and comparing him to past defensive titans.
• The insistence that LeBron will “never be bad” and could play at a high level through his 40s barring injury.
• A characteristic, passionate debunking of NBA media “revisionist history” about the 2016 Finals.

Summary

Nick Wright's segment on The Herd is a rollercoaster of analysis, outrage, and admiration for this NBA season’s most dramatic storylines. He slams the Mavericks’ organizational decisions and the fallout of the Luka trade, marvels at Wembanyama's rapid rise to superstardom and historic potential, and gives LeBron James his due as the NBA’s most perpetually adaptable superstar. Nick also sets the record straight on tired 2016 Finals narratives. This episode is essential for NBA fans interested in strong opinions, sharp context, and the intersection of sports legacy and present day chaos.