What's Wright - Best of NBA: Nico Harrison FIRED, LeBron James RETURNS to Lakers, Wemby's MONSTER start | Nick Wright

Summary

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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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

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Transcript

[Ashley Reifeld]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human what's up?

[Cam Jordan]

It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast, the off the Edge with Cam Jordan Podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars from the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment about everything from teams and players making waves to pop culture and I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season. The season of More on the off the Edge with Cam Jordan Podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Store more and do more with your data. Try them for [e-mail] welcome to the Best of the Week for what's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. Tim McMahon, who is as plugged into the Mavs as anyone with respect to Mark Stein, telegraphed this a bit yesterday on the Great Hoop Collective podcast with he and Wendy and my pal Tim Bontemps talking that Nico Harrison could be fired. And Nico Harrison Now I don't want to incorrectly report this as we record live or we broadcast live at 10:34am Eastern. Nico Harrison has not yet been fired. In a truly mortifying end to a truly indefensible nine month reign of terror, Nico Harrison has a meeting with Mav's ownership in 25 minutes where he will be fired. I gotta tell you, I'm not sure I'd show up to that meeting if Shams has it and the whole world knows that. You know what guys, this can be a zoom. So the impacts and implications of this are far reaching. Most notable is the following. And this might sound shocking, this might sound drastic, but I believe this to be true. Teams around the league should immediately call Dallas and ask about Anthony Davis's availability. Certainly teams around the league that would be interested. And this probably is going to have to be something far later once you see him, if he returns pre trade deadline should ask about Kyrie Irving. And that is because the Dallas Mavericks are now in total build around Cooper flag try to rebuild our draft capital. To keep in mind they do not either. Ha. They either don't have. Well they either don't have a pick or don't have their own pick. In the next four drafts they had gone all in around historically great superstar Luka Doncic. And then because of ego and hubris, Luka Doncic was traded in the middle of the night 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. You had one of the greatest players ever at the very beginning of the prime of his career. And I said it at the time, and I will say it again, and because of nothing more than power and ego, you lit the franchise on fire. Power and ego. Everyone was searching for why Nico would have done this. And the only logical, and it's not logical, but the only reasonable explanation was he didn't like the fact that someone within the organization had more power than him and that someone was Luka. So we got him out of there.

[Ashley Reifeld]

And.

[Colin Cowherd]

It will go down in the annals of sports history as one of the single greatest gaffes in a front office has ever made. That is not an overreaction, that is not an overstatement. That is simply what it was the moment it happened and now is being exacerbated. Night in, night out. As Luca, instead of coming off an injury as he was last year, reminds everyone, yes, I am the guy who dragged a Dallas Mavericks team to the conference finals when I was 22 and to the NBA Finals when I was 24. And now I'm 26 and I have more first team all NBAs under my belt than Steph Curry does. And you got rid of me. And I don't. I also don't think this is an overstatement. Nico Harrison will never work in an NBA front office again. He's going to have to work for Nike or an agency or something. But this is. You cannot recover from something like this. And the arrogance that less than you know, we are a dozen games into this season and Nico, after they spun a 1.8% lottery ball chance into Cooper flag the fact that he said, do you see the vision now was one of the most tone deaf, ludicrous statements. And I'm not a Mavs fan. Hell, I'm an adopted, I guess Laker fan because that's who Bron plays for. So the Lakers getting Luca, who's my second favorite player, was. And he and Bron playing together was a true dream. And I'm still mad about this trade on behalf of mad fans. I can't imagine what this is. This was a sports felony inflicted upon a fan base. And yes, now the, the villain has been captured and is facing justice, but it doesn't change the havoc he wreaked and the long term impact on your fandom. So I, I want to just revisit before we get to last night's game before we get to football, what I said off the top and credit to Tim Bon. He's been talking about this for a while, but now it is to me a more because it was never going to happen with Nico in charge. But the Dallas Mavericks have to consider a fire sale. The so let me, let me. I want to give everyone the actual draft pick situation For Dallas in 2026, they have their pick. So my apologies, I said that wrong. 2026, they have their pick. This year they have their pick and maybe that's good because right now they're terrible. In 2027, their pick basically totally unprotected, protected only for spots one or two. So unprotected goes to Charlotte in 2028. Jesus. The rich get richer. The Thunder can swap with them. In 2029, their pick goes somewhere in a swap and they do have the Lakers pick. And in 2030, my God, The spurs can swap with them. So first of all, in 2028 and 2030, the Mavericks first round pick is going to go to the Thunder and then the spurs. Holy. In 2029, their pick goes somewhere. I can't figure it out. It says 2 of 2 most favorable of Dallas, Houston and Phoenix. To Houston and then other to Brooklyn via Dallas and Phoenix. To Brooklyn via Dallas or Phoenix. To Houston via Houston. Swap for Dallas or Phoenix. I don't get it, but whatever. The. The Mavs will not after this coming year's draft. They do not have control of their. Their first until 2031, until Cooper Flag is in the midst of his second contract. So they need to recoup picks. They need to figure out like Klay Thompson's contract is fully underwater. Kyrie's an interesting one and I. It's just. And by the way, they're three and eight and I think, Let me check. I think they have literally the worst offense in the NBA. I know. So let's just check in real quick. Defense wins championships because that's all we heard from this. This guy. All we heard from him. Their offense is. Oh, is it no longer dead last? The. Hold on, let me. I had it. I thought they were dead last. Maybe I'm wrong because that says they're 14th right now. So. Oh, that's last year. I'm looking at last year. It's like. Hold on a second. This can't be correct. It can't be the mavericks having the 15th offense. No chance. All right, here we go. Oh, no. Fair is fair. They don't have the worst offense in basketball. They have the second worst offense in basketball to the Pacers whose best player tore his Achilles in game seven of the Finals and second best or third best player left the team. Now. I mean, this is just perfect. Just Chef's Kiss. Perfect defense wins championships. The Dallas Mavericks are 3 and 8. They fired Nico Harrison. They currently have the third best defense in basketball. Maybe that was a miscalculation because you have the second worst offense in basketball. Good luck Mavs fans. I feel sick for you. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet Florida Sportsbook, and the official sportsbook partner of your favorite Florida teams like the Jags, Bucks, Heat, Magic and Panthers. Week 18 playoff spots on the line. You think you know how it's going to play out? Build a same game parlay on Hard Rock Bet and turn game day into payday. Or if you're more into hardwood than gridiron, you can put up shots on the NBA in college every night on Hard Rock Bet, your home for hoops action all season long. You can even combine your football and basketball bets. If you've got a week 18 parlay, add an NBA bet or player prop to it and turn up the payout. And if you missed the start of the game, don't worry. Hard Rock Bet has live in game betting, so you're never too late to bet any football or hoops game all season. Find a winner or grab that player prop you had circled and bet live in just a few easy taps. You haven't tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet. Place a $5 bet and if it hits, you get not only your winnings, but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. 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Call 1-800- Gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

Like, if we're on the air here.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I literally have my contract here and I'm looking at, you know, as.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

Soon as I sign this, I'm going.

[Colin Cowherd]

To get a seven figure check.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

I've told them I won't be working.

[Colin Cowherd]

Here in two weeks.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creatives who built a cultural empire, the Atlanta Is podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world.

[Colin Cowherd]

The thing I love about Atlanta is.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

That it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise, featuring conversations with ludicrous Will Packer, pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now.

[Colin Cowherd]

I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent creatives in all walks of life.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

The church had dwindled almost to nothing.

[Colin Cowherd]

And God said, this is your assignment.

[Cam Jordan]

And that's like how, you know, like, okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, you from Atlanta for real? I ain't got to say too much. I'm Grady, baby.

[Cam Jordan]

Shut up.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Brad Palumbo]

The social media trend that's landing some gen zers in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm gonna take Francesca off the network entirely.

[Brad Palumbo]

The massive TikTok boycott against Target, that makes no actual sense.

[Ashley Reifeld]

I will continue getting stuff from Target and I will continue to not pay for it.

[Brad Palumbo]

And the MAGA influencers whose trip to the White House ended in embarrassment.

[Colin Cowherd]

So refreshing to have the press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and articulate.

[Brad Palumbo]

You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online in media and in politics with the Brad vs. Everyone podcast hosted by me, Brad Palumbo. Every day of the week, I bring you on a wild ride through the most delulu takes on the Internet and criticizing the extremes of both sides from an independent perspective. Join in on the insanity and listen to the Brad vs. Everyone podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

Hey, I'm Kelly and some of you may know me as Laura Winslow.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

And I'm Telma, also known as Aunt.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

Rachel, if those names ring a bell. Then you probably are familiar with a show that we were both on back in the 90s called Family Matters.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

Kelly and I have done a lot of things and played a lot of roles over the years, but both of us are just so proud to have been part of Family Matters.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

Did you know that we are one of the longest running sitcoms with a black cast? When we were making the show, there were so many moments filled with joy and laughter and cut up that I will never forget.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

Oh girl, you got that right. The look that you all give me is so black.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

All black people know about the look. On each episode of welcome to the Family, we'll share personal reflections about making the show.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

Yeah, we'll even bring in part of the cast and some other special guests to join in the fun and spill some tea. Listen to welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

What's up?

[Cam Jordan]

It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast, the off the Edge with Cam Jordan Podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars for the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment about anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture. And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season. The season of More on the off the Edge with Cam Jordan Podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Store more and.

[Brad Palumbo]

Do more with your data trans.

[Colin Cowherd]

Try them for [e-mail] if one of.

[Ashley Reifeld]

Us wins, we all win. I'm Ashley Reifeld and I'm the host of the women's skateboarding podcast. Good Luck with that. Good Luck with that. Is a skateboarding podcast that is part cultural record, part news brief, mostly group therapy and a place to talk about the past, present and future of women and gender. Expansive Skateboarding this week, me and my co hosts Nora Vasconcelos and Alex White. We have Bobbiana Delfino on the show, a professional skateboarder from Florida whose grit was forged in a family of athletes. Tune in to hear how she broke into the boys Club, what it takes to be pro, and why just being grateful you're here shouldn't be the price of entry. Maybe the industry thinks that we just started skating five years ago because that's when they maybe started paying attention. It's a no fluff conversation about putting in the Years stacking clips and receipts and still having to prove your worth while the industry catches up. You break down the door. Sick now, like hold the door for everyone. We created. Good luck with that because we want to share our experience existing in an industry that wasn't always built for everyone. So listen to Good luck with that on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Damon]

Yeah. So as you know, we don't usually get too deep into basketball until Christmas, but we gotta talk about some things going on in the NBA. Wimby Yesterday apparently was crazy. I didn't catch this one, but I saw the highlights. Is it possible that this guy is already the best player in the league?

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, here's the thing, Damon. No, no shame in not catching it live.

[Damon]

Oh yeah, I was watching VJ Edco welcome himself to the NBA.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, you were watch. So you were watching a different game?

[Damon]

Yeah, I was watching Celtics.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, okay. Oh, that's. I thought. I assumed you meant you were. Oh, good for you, buddy.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. That's a VJ Edgecomb all time record for points.

[Damon]

Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

And the Sixers won that game despite.

[Damon]

Him being a no show. No show. And almost got bad for VJ with him missing those two free throws at the end of the Celtics.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Damon]

Pulled through. That would have been a damper.

[Colin Cowherd]

That would have been a great win for them. Yeah. And. And Maxi, our guy Maxi had 40 cooked, but someone else had 40 and he's a 7 foot 5 problem. So I, I was agog at what I saw last night from Victor Winmanyama. So 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 dissuade so much action because of his length that I don't know what the advanced stat is for. Like shots not taken because you're scared this guy's going to swat it into the first row. But he crushes in that. So we had. So here's a good comp we had on the show yesterday. Akeem Olajuwon. All right. And Akeem was never the best offensive player in the league, but there was a two year period when Jordan was. A year and a half when Jordan was retired and the, the, those two years when Akeem was the best player in the league because he was far and away the best defensive player. And those couple of years probably like the fifth or sixth best offensive player. And those two things can combine to make you the best player. It Usually goes in the other direction. The best player in the league, Joker, is far and away the best offensive player. And then just average that they're doing on defense. Right. And you deal with it. When you know it's very rare, you get prime. I shouldn't say it's very rare. It's just special. Prime. Giannis. Prime. Braun. Prime. Jordan Prime. Kobe. Kawhi, though, also, I think was never the best offense on offense.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. I'm talking about a guy who can win the scoring title while being the best defender in the league. Right. It's only a handful of guys. If Wimy's gonna give you 40. Let me. Let me put it like this. Here's why it's so scary to Monte, and I loved that he only took two threes, that he is stronger, his handles better. I think Wimby. If Wimby averages 25 points a game, he might be the best player in the league.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Like that you. Because of what he is defensively. And if he's Gonna put up 30. I.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm sorry to Joker and I'm sorry to Shay, but I just. I. I am. I'm ready to have the conversation that this guy might just be the best, like, the best player in the league.

[Damon]

Right in the beginning.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, here's what.

[Damon]

I was probably more on the injury side.

[Colin Cowherd]

It was two things. It was two things. One was the injury stuff, which still, anybody that size, it worries me, but that's about. It was my skepticism on Wimby, I guess was. Here were the three different levels of it.

[Damon]

I think it was him shooting, too.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. So I didn't like the style he was playing. To me, he was trying to be Durant, and it's like, bro, you're a half foot taller than Durant, and Durant is one of the greatest pure shooters ever. You're like the. So I didn't love that the injuries potential concerned me because literally every player in the history of the league, 74 Taller has dealt with injuries, and I don't consider the blood clot an injury. I do, though. I. I, look, I'm gonna.

[Damon]

It's. It's an ailment. I feel like that they're more prone to, though, just because they're larger guys and all those.

[Colin Cowherd]

So that's. I was about to say that exact same thing. I was like, I. Maybe this is dumb. Maybe a doctor's listening is like, that's not how that works. But in my head, that's how it works. It's like, I don't know, there's more. There's more air, you know, mileage for there to be clots, like, I don't know. But so that part and then the other part was I just thought we were setting him up to be a disappointment by saying, if he's not better than Akeem Olajuwon, he's underachieved. I'm like, geez Louise, man. Like, he walks into the league and it's. If you're not one of the 10 greatest players of all time, you've. You have failed.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

With that said, I mean, I kind of get it. I mean, this is special. This is really, really special. And I don't know what you're going to do with him. And it does. He has become after one game, demons must watch every night. And it makes me, at least with LeBron leaving take.

[Damon]

Well, yeah, they're going to be left with a phenom.

[Colin Cowherd]

But. Yeah, but also. And so a couple things. It makes me take the spurs seriously. I mean, they obviously didn't even have Fox and they beat the third. Yeah.

[Damon]

The Mavs.

[Colin Cowherd]

And. Well, so that's the other piece of it. If you were to ask me going into yesterday. Okay, if you are. If you can have any player in the league to try to slow down Wimby on the defensive end, who Is your number one draft pick? It would have been A.D. like, that's the other problem. Like the. Is there anyone in the league Demons a better in theory equipped to deal.

[Damon]

With Wimy on the Celtics. I think his last name is Vet. Something. Something that.

[Brad Palumbo]

Okay, all right.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're. I don't. I don't know who you're talking about and you're being ridiculous. There is the. The.

[Damon]

The.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, maybe you're not. No. The. I don't.

[Damon]

But no. Nobody's guarding the man. What do you want is nobody can guard him.

[Colin Cowherd]

The.

[Damon]

He's a freak of nature. Hold on.

[Colin Cowherd]

Who are you talking about? You're talking about. Oh, okay. All right. Yeah, okay. You were being silly. No, I'm just saying, like AD is 7ft, can play on the perimeter, can play down low. Has been one of the best era. Yes. And Wimby made him look silly. I don't. So. So, like, who is the Spurs. What's the spurs next game. So the spurs next game is. Their next three games are New Orleans, Brooklyn, Toronto. The hell's anybody going to do? Like, who on New Orleans is going to be like. It's Trey Murphy is. I don't think New Orleans. I guess me. I Don't know man. This is so I do think, I do think Damonte it's on the board that he's the best player in the league this year.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I that would be and his.

[Damon]

Mind is right too. Like I just don't see it like he's going to do everything possible to stay afloat. I see him taking care of his body taking care of himself in the offseason.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Damon]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh yeah. We haven't had a guy be in the argument for there's only been. I'm just want to make sure I get this right. The only no 1 since Braun has had a real argument that they were the best player in the league in year three. Like Braun in year three was second in MVP voting. He had a real argument. Tim Duncan in year three might have been the best player in the league but he was a four year college player. Shaq in year three was I think Let me I want to see if I have this had an argument he was second in MVP voting and Jordan was retired and they made the finals but lost to a came those are best player in the league argument by year three. It's just the holy grail of NBA guys really. And this is, this is something else. This is really, really something else. I'm amazed by it. And I, I, I'm lost words. I didn't understand what I was watching last night and we'll see how it continues. Oh wow. What's the MVP odds?

[Damon]

Yes. So he climbed the top two in MVP odds at plus 275 and he was around plus 1200 in the preseason. So do you you see after these three games him potentially being the favorite. I mean I don't see I mean.

[Colin Cowherd]

Maybe here's the thing. The thing is this. I just in principle if yesterday I could have gotten a bet at 12 to 1, I can't bet it today at less than 3 to 1 and.

[Damon]

I feel like there's a lot of those tickets out there. I feel like wimy yeah. I feel like there's a lot of those out there.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh yeah. And I would have told you I would have told you one day ago those are dumb tickets. Just because I would have said you.

[Damon]

Know the coming off injury.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well he's coming off an injury. He might not play enough games and the it's so hard to win MVP if you're not a top three seed and you know how many games are the spurs really going to win? By the way if you're thinking about upgrading to the all new iPhone 17 Pro designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever, but you're also thinking about the traffic on your way to the store or transferring all your data. Good news, when you order a new phone online with Boost Mobile, they'll send an expert to your home. How about that? Or home. Or work to deliver your brand new iPhone Pro and get you set up on Boost Mobile within minutes. No hassle. So how about that? You get the new iPhone, it comes right to you and a tech comes in. Get all your stuff transferred, get you set up on the network. Visit Boost mobile.com to get started. Delivery available for select devices purchased@boost mobile.com terms, of course, do apply.

[Brad Palumbo]

The social media trend that's landing some Gen Z in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm going to take Franchesco off the network entirely.

[Brad Palumbo]

The massive tick tock boycott against Target. That makes no actual sense.

[Ashley Reifeld]

I will continue getting stuff from Target and I will continue to not pay for it.

[Brad Palumbo]

And the MAGA influencers whose trip to the White House ended in embarrassment.

[Colin Cowherd]

So refreshing to have a press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and articulate.

[Brad Palumbo]

You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online line in media and in politics with the Brad vs. Everyone podcast hosted by me, Brad Palumbo. Every day of the week I bring you on a wild ride through the most delulu takes on the Internet, criticizing the extremes of both sides from an independent perspective. Join in on the insanity and listen to the Brad vs. Everyone podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

Like if we're on the air here.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I literally have my contract here and I'm looking at, you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm gonna get a seven figure check. I've told them I won' Working here in two weeks.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creatives who built the cultural empire, the Atlanta Is podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world.

[Colin Cowherd]

The thing I love about Atlanta is.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

That it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise. Featuring conversations with ludicrous Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama and more. The fourth full series is available to listen to now.

[Colin Cowherd]

I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent creatives in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment. And that's like how you know, like, okay. Oh, you from Atlanta? For real? I ain't gotta say too much. I'm a Grady, baby.

[Cam Jordan]

Shut up.

[Host of Atlanta Is podcast]

Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

Hey, I'm Kelly and some of you may know me as Laura Winslow.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

And I'm Telma, also known as Aunt Rachel.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

If those names ring a bell, then you probably are familiar with a show that we were both on back in the 90s called Family Matters.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

Kelly and I have done a lot of things and played a lot of roles over the years, but both of us are just so proud to have been part of Family Matters.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

Did you know that we are one of the longest us running sitcoms with a black cast? When we were making the show, there were so many moments filled with joy and laughter and cut up that I will never forget.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

Oh, girl, you got that right. The look that you all give me is so black.

[Kelly (Laura Winslow)]

All black people know about the look. On each episode of welcome to the Family, we'll share personal reflections about making the show.

[Telma (Aunt Rachel)]

Yeah, we'll even bring in part of the cast and some other special guests to join in the fun and spill some tea. Listen to welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

What's up?

[Cam Jordan]

It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast, the off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars from the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment about anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture. And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season. The season of More on the off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Store more and do more with your data. Try them for [e-mail] if one of.

[Ashley Reifeld]

Us wins, will we all win? I'm Ashley Reifeld and I'm the host of the women's skateboarding podcast. Good Luck with that. Good Luck with that is a skateboarding podcast that is part cultural record, part news brief, mostly group therapy and a place to talk about the past, present and future of women. And gender expansive skateboarding. This week, me and my co hosts Nora Vasconcelos and Alex White. We have Fabiana Delfino on the show, a professional skateboarder from Florida whose grit was forged in a family of athletes. Tune in to hear how she broke into the boys club, what it takes to be pro and why just being grateful you're here shouldn't be the price of entry. Maybe the industry thinks that we just started skating five years ago because that's when they maybe started paying attention. It's a no fluff conversation about putting in the years, stacking clips and receipts and still having to prove your worth while the industry catches up. You break down the door sick now, like hold the door for everyone. We created Good luck with that because we want to share our experience existing in an industry that wasn't always built for everyone. So listen to Good Luck with that on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

LeBron's back and I have a lot of takes. So no athlete in my lifetime has generated more idiotic and immediately self refuting opinions than LeBron. And it's Bec. I think it's because he's been for basically as long as daily sports television has existed, LeBron has been one of, if not the main character. And because he has played, you know, throughout the entirety of this medium and because he has been at the eye of the NBA storm, which while the NBA has never in his career been the country's most popular sport, but it has been at various times in his career, the country's most talked about sport. When it comes to sports debate and sports TV and sports talk radio, LeBron is the LeBron commentariat has spawned just some truly ridiculous and upon reflection, hilarious moments. And these are from, for me, friends and foes alike. I mean, we are 1212. Is that right? No, it's not right. Thirteen years ago, my dear pal Dan Lerd announced LeBron was on the downside and Miami had gotten the best of him. That was 13 years ago. And I'm going to talk about guys that I, I love and adore. So it doesn't seem like I'm trying to take cheap shots here. Famously, the owner and founder of this company, my mentor Colin, eight years ago said, lebron hang it up whenever you want. The we've got the NBA's got it from here. It was actually nine years ago and that's, that's an all time clip. A because LeBron would go on to win multiple championships after that. But B because he was saying that Ben Simmons is going to take over. I listen Colin, I was as high on Ben Simmons just about anybody. I have to hold that L as well. And there of course is all the skip stuff with the clutch and then the latest Stephen A. Stuff with the real personal. I don't like that guy so much of it. Just outright silliness. And then we got an unexpected dose of it in the weeks lead in the week or so leading up to LeBron making his debut, which was, hey, will LeBron be able to fit in with the Lakers? Even though we saw Luke and LeBron and Austin Reeves play together last year, hey, will LeBron actually make the Lakers worse? Will he screw up what they have going on? These were real conversations, real discussions about the most malleable, most flexible as far as how he can help your team player in NBA history. About arguably the only guy in the history of the league that can legitimately and has literally made an all NBA team at all five positions on the court. Check his basketball reference for that was it was an all NBA center one year for the Lakers and an all NBA point guard the year after that for the lakers. Late stage LeBron was an all NBA shooting guard as a young player early and then obviously all NBA small forward and power forward throughout his career. That 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 that guy was going to screw up a team. And then LeBron comes in, keeps his double digit point streak alive, which is going to be a very fun and funny thing to watch this year because it's obviously an untouchable record and we'll get more on the LeBron Untouchable record stuff in a moment, but he wants to keep it going. But he is, I believe, going to play a very different style this year. That game Tuesday night, that's the fewest shots he's ever taken in a game he didn't leave with injury. And speaking of the double digit point streak, one of those games that he left with injury because there's only been two games in his career he took fewer than seven shots, which is what he took Tuesday night. One, he didn't play the second half because he took an elbow from Dakimbe Mutombo and one he left early when Solomon Hill fell into his ankle and derailed the Lakers title defense in the 2021 season. But that game involves one of my favorite LeBron moments of all time, which is Solomon Hill falls into his ankle. LeBron recognizes he has suffered the first truly significant injury of his entire career up to that point and is going to be out months and is sitting at seven points and the streak is dead. And despite suffering an injury that is going to knock him out for the next two months, he pretends he's not hurt badly, stays in the game, gets the ball, takes a corner, three hits. It keeps the doubled figure point streak alive, and then is out for the majority of the rest of the season. But that's sidebar LeBron being dropped in as a team's ultimate Swiss army knife and LeBron taking pride in that ability. And LeBron then saying after the game with a smile, yeah, I heard what was being said. I've been a, you know, you could put me on any team and I would make it work. It's just obviously true. And people's, you know, people say that about Kevin Durant all the time, like, oh, you just drop him in anywhere. And yes, that's true about other players, great players. You drop them in and they would make any team better. The distinction is can you drop a player in and can they instantly do at a high level the exact thing that team needs them to do? This Lakers team right now might need LeBron to be more facilitator, cutter, screener than scorer. Unlike some of the other great players in this league, he has the Skill set at 40 in year 23 to be excellent at all at at anything. Now, is he the best player in the league anymore? Of course not. See a top five player in the league anymore? No. But is he still have a legitimate shot at being right around top 10? And is he assuredly, when he's healthy, still a top 15 guy in the league? Yes. And that guy with that malleability helps any team in the history of basketball. Now, is it all right now a moot point for the whole NBA because of who and what OKC is? Maybe everybody might be playing for second this year, but we'll see things happen. And. There's an element of, I don't want to say lack of appreciation, but numbness. To what we are seeing at this moment. And this is something that, you know, I've said before, but I don't know that people like fully take it in and be especially because, you know, Steph is playing at such a high level at an advanced age, Durant is playing at such a high level at an advanced age. But. See, whether you want to focus on the age 40 part or the year 23 part, the it being without Precedent is such a wild understatement. Like Kobe Bryant, the late, great Kobe Bryant. How old do you think Kobe was when he played in his final playoff game with the Lakers? I'm going to give it a pause so you can actually think about it. How old was Kobe in his final career playoff game? Are you shocked when I tell you the answer to that is 32. Kobe Bryant did not play in a playoff game with the Lakers after the age of 32. Like a little context to that. LeBron joined the Lakers when he was 34. So obviously Jordan, you know, stop with that, was done with the Bulls at 3536. Obviously we've never seen a player play in a year 23 and the only one to get to a year 22 was Vince. It's. I said this a couple years ago and people laughed. I think we are now seeing it in real time. He'll simply never be bad. And he could easily play at again not an MVP level but a high level throughout his 40s. Barring again barring a. You're always at this age a catastrophic injury away. But he's ducked that up to this point in his career. And people can have the argument about the greatest player of all time. I the that is going to age so well on my end and so poorly for so many other folks because it is when it does come to. And this isn't the whole discussion, but it is at least a piece of it. The record books with the way things are going right now as far as injuries, load management, guys not being able to make it through a full season. LeBron. LeBron's longevity records are going to. When people look back on them in 40 years, it's going to be like if you look at complete games in baseball right now and you're like, wait, a guy had 40 in one year. Like all of these games, minutes, points, the playoff records are going to be Chamberlain esque, untouchable and farcical in the numbers to future generations.

[Damon]

And.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm very, very interested to see the full role Braun takes on with the Lakers because in game one of year 23 he was like, okay, I'll be late stage Magic Johnson. And that's pretty damn good. There's one other Braun adjacent thing I wanted to talk about and this is one of those things that I imagine will do well on social media or YouTube or. And might cause me a little grief. But I just, I can't leave it unaddressed. And I don't. I'm not, I'm not trying to start anything, but this is so. It was maddening when I heard it. So the greatest sports podcaster of all time, the guy who in some ways invented the medium, and a guy I like a lot, Bill Simmons, brought the mailbag back, which is awesome. It's vintage Simmons. It's part of the reason that he's who he is, and it's awesome. And because I'm a fan, I was listening. And he gets asked about the biggest sliding doors moments in NBA history. And he goes to the Draymond groin shot of LeBron in Game 4 of the 2016 Finals, which is a legitimate sliding doors moment, there's no doubt about it. And he talks about how if the warriors win that title, Durant can't go, you know, to, to Golden State. So then who WINS the next two? Does LeBron ever win in Cleveland? Does LeBron ever go to the Lakers? There's. That is, you know, what does it mean for Steph? Back to back championships. He and LeBron then at that moment would have been two. Two he would have had back to back league MVPs, including a unanimous. There are. It's Clay, he's. Simmons talks about all of it. And he's correct about that being a sliding doors moment. But there's two pieces of that commentary that are just one is enraging and it's not about Bill. And the other one is I. He just must talk to very different NBA people than me. Because what Bill said was the conspiracy theory that people believe more than any other conspiracy is that the NBA suspended Draymond because they wanted Cleveland to win the title. And I've literally never heard that. Now, I certainly have heard the conspiracy that they suspended Draymond because they hoped the series would go longer than five. But the idea that in real time, anyone outside of the Cavs locker room, me and Zach Low, we're all on the record during this. Everyone's doing media. Nobody else, when that suspension came down, said, oh, well, now I think the Cavs are going to win. That warriors team was considered the greatest team of all time and had dominated the Cavs through the first four games of that series. So the first, the first point is the idea that it is widely thought in NBA circles that the Draymond suspension was going to lead to the Cavs winning the championship. We were all there in real time. That was not a thing. And then, and then to the opinion piece of it, Nothing is more maddening for me as a Brawn fan then the fact that when that happened and then The Cavs win Game 5 by 15, and LeBron scores 41 points. The entire media asserts that would have never happened if Draymond was there. The Cavs winning by double digits and LeBron scoring 41, 40 plus never happens if Draymond's there. And then in Game 6, when Draymond is there, LeBron scores 41, and the Cavs win by 15 points. Game 5 of those Finals, no Draymond. Bron scores. Bron goes. I'll give you his exact stat line, just so we all are on the same page. 41, 16, and 7 on 55% from the field, 63% from 3, and the Cavs win by 15. So again, 41, 16, 7. 5563 splits. 15 point win. Game 6 of the Finals, 41, 8, 11 on 65, 75 splits, and the Cavs win by 14. Like, what are we talking about? What are we talking about? Oh, hold on. I got to do that because I'm sure I have to fix that. I have to fix that. I apologize. I gave you the wrong field goal percentages. Let me. Let me do that again because I want this to be accurate. I gave you his. So game 5 of the finals, no Draymond, 41, 16 and 7 on 53, 50 splits in a 15 point win. Game 6 of the finals with Draymond. 41, 8, 11 on 59, 50 splits in a 14 point win. It's just revisionist history. And it's the. The only other reason that's relevant to me right now is that game happened 10 seasons ago and this guy's still playing. It's just a. A career that will never be even remotely approached. And it's. If you're. If you're listening to this right now and a sports fan of this era, the fact that we got to experience Tom Brady going more than 20 years of elite in the mix every single year, 10 Super bowl appearances across multiple teams, while experiencing LeBron doing the exact same thing in the NBA. It's just unreal. Just unreal. What's up?

[Cam Jordan]

It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast, the off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars from the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment about anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture. And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of More on the off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Catch New episodes every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Store more and do more with your data. Try them for free at wasabi. Com.

[Ashley Reifeld]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.