What's Wright - BEST OF: Stephen A. FIRES BACK at LeBron James, wild Patrick Mahomes story, why SGA is NBA MVP

Summary

Podcast Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Episode Title: What's Wright - BEST OF: Stephen A. FIRES BACK at LeBron James, wild Patrick Mahomes story, why SGA is NBA MVP
Release Date: March 15, 2025

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1. Stephen A. Smith Confronts LeBron James

Timestamp: [00:54] - [23:00]

The episode kicks off with a heated discussion surrounding Stephen A. Smith's recent confrontation with LeBron James. Stephen A. Smith publicly addressed his issues with LeBron on his show, leading to significant backlash and media frenzy.

Key Points:

• Stephen A.'s Criticism: Stephen A. Smith openly criticized LeBron James, particularly focusing on LeBron's role as a father. This confrontation was further amplified when Smith appeared on Gilbert Arenas' show, where Arenas dismissed Stephen A.'s stance as "weak" and "BS" ([00:54] Stephen A. Smith).

• Damanze Daniel's Analysis: Damanze Daniel delves into the power dynamics at play, emphasizing that media personalities like Stephen A. Smith, despite their prominence, are inherently in a subordinate position compared to superstar athletes like LeBron James. Daniel argues that the media should acknowledge when they are at a disadvantage and sometimes accept losses gracefully ([01:09] - [04:50]).

• Media's Role and Humility: Daniel stresses the importance of media figures recognizing their role in storytelling rather than positioning themselves as equals to the athletes. He references historical media figures like Howard Cosell and Bob Costas, highlighting that their influence stemmed from telling the athletes' stories, not competing with them for fame ([04:50] - [05:24]).

• Power Imbalance and Response Strategy: The conversation highlights the necessity for media personalities to handle confrontations with high-profile athletes thoughtfully. Daniel criticizes Stephen A.'s claim that his producers forced him to address LeBron, suggesting it was an attempt to deflect responsibility for the confrontation ([03:29] - [12:14]).

• Consistency in Criticism: Daniel points out the inconsistency in how media critics approach athletes based on their status. He argues that while it's acceptable to critique players like Bronny James, it becomes problematic when the criticism appears biased or disproportionate ([11:35] - [23:00]).

Notable Quote:

"We in the media have to recognize that no matter how big or prominent we get, we'll never have the fame or credibility to be on par with the biggest athletes we cover."
— Damanze Daniel ([03:29])

2. Wild Patrick Mahomes Story

Timestamp: [38:29] - [41:17]

The podcast takes a nostalgic turn with a segment revisiting an interview conducted with Patrick Mahomes before the 2017 NFL Draft. Damanze Daniel shares a memorable interaction that underscores Mahomes' clarity of purpose and vision.

Key Points:

• Future Vision Exercise: Daniel recounts asking a young Patrick Mahomes to envision his life ten years into the future, focusing on personal and professional goals. Mahomes confidently stated his aspirations to have a family, excel as an NFL quarterback, and secure multiple Super Bowl championships ([38:29] - [39:28]).

• Inspiration and Preparation: Daniel reflects on how Mahomes' clear vision provided him with a roadmap to success, contrasting it with individuals who lack a defined end goal. This segment highlights Mahomes' determination and foresight early in his career ([39:34] - [41:17]).

• Personal Anecdote: The discussion includes a lighthearted moment where Daniel addresses misconceptions about his appearance, emphasizing authenticity and personal confidence ([41:17] - [41:33]).

Notable Quote:

"That is remarkable by Patrick, that he said the goals that high and exceeded all of them. He said one or two kids. He's at three."
— Damanze Daniel ([39:34])

3. Why SGA Is NBA MVP

Timestamp: [27:12] - [35:45]

In a contentious debate, Damanze Daniel and Stephen A. Smith discuss the current NBA MVP race, advocating for Stephen A. Smith (SGA) as a deserving candidate despite the traditional focus on on-court performance.

Key Points:

• MVP Criteria and Consistency: Daniel critiques the current MVP selection process, arguing for consistent standards that prioritize both individual performance and team success. He uses Nikola Jokić's multiple MVP awards as a benchmark for excellence but contends that other players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) exhibit comparable statistical achievements with better team records ([27:12] - [35:45]).

• Comparative Analysis: The conversation includes a comparison of Jokić's and SGA's performance metrics, highlighting SGA's efficiency and significant contributions to his team's success. Daniel emphasizes that MVP awards should reflect both personal and team accomplishments to maintain fairness and prestige ([31:52] - [34:44]).

• Historical Context: Daniel references past MVP winners, such as Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to illustrate how the award has traditionally honored players with both outstanding individual statistics and pivotal roles in their teams' successes ([34:09] - [35:45]).

• Call for Evolution in MVP Voting: The hosts suggest that the MVP voting process needs to evolve to incorporate a more holistic view of a player's impact, rather than relying solely on personal statistics or team performance swings ([34:33] - [35:45]).

Notable Quote:

"We cannot play Calvin Ball with how we give out MVP awards. If you want to know what 'Calvin Ball' is, it's from the old cartoon Calvin and Hobbes, where you just make up the rules as you go."
— Damanze Daniel ([29:00])

4. Aaron Rodgers Free Agency Speculation

Timestamp: [41:33] - [44:27]

Shifting focus to the NFL, the discussion centers on Aaron Rodgers entering free agency and the potential destinations teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings might consider.

Key Points:

• Rodgers' Market Position: Daniel analyzes Rodgers' current standing, suggesting that he is a main character in his narrative and is likely to seek a team that aligns with his personal and professional aspirations ([41:33] - [43:29]).

• Team Suitability: The conversation scrutinizes the suitability of teams eyeing Rodgers, particularly questioning the Minnesota Vikings' interest and the logic behind their pursuit compared to the Steelers and Giants ([43:23] - [44:27]).

• Potential Team Impact: Daniel debates the potential impact Rodgers would have on a team's performance, using comparisons to recent quarterback performances like Russell Wilson to assess whether Rodgers would bring significant value to the Steelers or Giants ([43:29] - [44:27]).

Notable Quote:

"Aaron Rodgers wants the attention. And I don't think they are still negotiating. I think that he is the main character in his story and in every story, it would seem."
— Damanze Daniel ([42:14])

5. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [44:27] - End

The episode concludes with brief reflections on the topics discussed, emphasizing the interconnectedness of media narratives, athlete performances, and public perception. The hosts underscore the importance of maintaining integrity in sports commentary and the evolving nature of award recognitions like the MVP.

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Overall Summary:

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners are treated to a multifaceted discussion that intertwines media dynamics, athlete accountability, and award meritocracy. The confrontation between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James serves as a focal point for exploring the power imbalance between media personalities and superstar athletes. Concurrently, the segment reminiscing about Patrick Mahomes highlights the significance of clear goal-setting in athletic success. The debate on why SGA deserves the NBA MVP underscores the need for consistent and holistic criteria in award selections. Lastly, the speculation surrounding Aaron Rodgers' free agency provides insights into team strategies and quarterback valuations in the NFL. Throughout, notable quotes and in-depth analysis ensure that both avid followers and casual listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the pressing sports narratives of the day.

Transcript

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Stephen A. Smith has been going around talking about his confrontation with LeBron James. Talk talked about on his show. Went and talked to talked about it with Gilbert Arenas and he said I thought it was weak. I thought it was some BS.

[Damanze Daniel]

Yeah, what's your LeBron coming up to him. And then also he went on Sean Hannity's show last night. Yes and does and this got brought up in despite the all the awful things Hannity has said about LeBron over the years. So, so I have a lot of takes on this and I was gonna leave this be, but the Gilbert arena show appearance was to me it has to be responded to in and there's so many different tentacles to this. So I will first, first I wanna make this point. We in the media have to be willing to occasionally take an L. Everyone does, but particularly us. We in the media have to be willing to at times be like that was a miss. I was wrong. I didn't handle that perfectly. And we in the media also have to recognize and acknowledge that no matter how big or prominent or wealthy or successful any of us ever get, we will never be from a fame or credibility to the audience standpoint on par with the biggest athletes that we cover. It'll never Howard Cosell was not equal to Muhammad Ali. He was telling Ali's story. The audience was there for Ali. Bob Costas was not equal to Michael Jordan. He's. He, he's telling Michael Jordan's story.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Go ahead Demon, with that, with that point. Don't you think like, because Stephen A. Smith's saying it's weak, LeBron James obviously has all the leverage on the court. Do you, do you not think that it's a little, I don't know It's. I don't want to say it's weak, but. Because he obviously does have leverage. Like, nobody's going to be on Stephen A. Yeah, but.

[Damanze Daniel]

But you also. You. That's the thing. So that's the thing. You have to know in the media that you. At some point, the actual stars are the people we're talking about. Sometimes we can be good enough or successful enough or prominent enough or whatever, where we become kind of supporting actors. But it's their movie people are here. They care so much about them that we become important people because we talk about them. And so there is. There will never be a White House chorus or White House correspondent that is more important to the political discourse than the president. There, there. And there will. There will never be a. Stephen A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is.

[Damanze Daniel]

And he has earned it. Earned it. He. He is the most prominent sports media member, which does make him bigger than some athletes, but he will never be bigger than the biggest athletes. Like, here's a good kind of, you know, back of the napkin math. Do you remember Damanze, when I went after Patrick Beverley?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Damanze Daniel]

That is, I think, two people on kind of equal footing. But think about why that is. Yeah, you have me. I'm just saying we're about on equal footing. Me, someone who's probably near the bottom of the top 10 in my field, and someone like him who's near the top of the bottom 10 in his field. And that's where we meet. So you've got to like. So the. And there was another little jab at Patrick Beverly fit in there. But so it is. So, no, I don't think it's unfair for LeBron to press him to. To respond. We all like the. And here is the other thing. You gotta be prepared in the moment with how you're going to respond. I. If they. If you get checked and this idea like I got. I told the story, you know, confronted is too strong. But questioned by Jalen hurts mom night for the Super Bowl. She. And she was totally within her rights. I've told the story before. I. I have nothing but good things say about her. And one of the only. There are not many bright sides for me that came out of that super bowl, but I respected her in that interaction so much that I was part of me. The little part of me that wasn't heartbroken about the result of the game was happy for her because she was so adamant her son was going to win and that he was going to play great and all that happened. But in that moment, I had a choice to make. Do I snap, fold my hand or do I say, okay, we can actually talk about it? What I don't think is typically cool is to in the moment, snap, fold your hand and then after the fact, talk and talk and talk and talk and talk about it. And here's the other pieces of it that I just, I'm going to go ahead and say I have a hard time fully buying. On Gilbert show, Stephen A said, essentially, my producers made me address it. I, I, I didn't want to. My producers made me address it. Bro, that's not how that works. We all, we all know that. Like, that's, it's not how that works on first things First. I can't imagine that's how that works on first take. I, I cannot imagine. And I do not think that anybody really believes, like, there is anything on that show that Stephen A's like, I do not want to do this. And they're like, sorry, you have to. Come on, man. That's not like, that's not, that's not a thing. Like, maybe the day after a finals game, if Ste, if someone was like, I don't want to talk about the basketball game, they might be like, well, you have to. And if not, we're going to like the. But I, that's not a thing. And the other thing was this, because on Gilbert show, Stephen A said, oh, I, I thought in the moment this was about Bronnie. It wasn't until I saw what LeBron's conversation mouth somewhat covered, mouth not with Richard Jefferson that I knew this was actually about what I had said about him as a father. Man, I knew it the next day. I was on here the next day and I told everyone that's what it was about. It was obvious that's what it was about. The Everyone who's in these circles knows that's what it was about. When LeBron's people called you and you made fun of them. It was a months ago. It was about that. It was about the I'm begging you as a father. So it's okay to say I was caught off guard. I just caught off guard, didn't really know. And then the other part of it, like, again, and I say this every time, and I'll say it again. And it's so funny that I texted with Stephen A the day this, the morning before this all happened. So, like, I think this happened a week ago today. I actually text with Stephen A that morning. So before it all happened, obviously I have and I'm still using current present Tense, I hope a good relationship with him. But I have to be. I. I have to be fair here, because I'm not hesitant ever on this platform or on the TV show, really, to criticize colleagues if I think they're dead wrong. I can't just have the guys that I really like or my friends or whatever be like, ah, sacred cows here. Especially when this, this is the story that continues to be the story. The implication with Gilbert and company that, listen, maybe I'd have handled that differently, but I work for Walt Disney. Come on, man.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, about like, the fighting or like I was gonna.

[Damanze Daniel]

I mean, that's what it seemed like was being implied.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I thought the same.

[Damanze Daniel]

And like, I mean, like, like, listen, Stephen, A, to his credit, has gotten in great shape and did like a real boxing thing and would be a. Even, even, you know, at his, at his, you know, he's in great shape for his age and is, despite being a decade plus older than me. I'll say it would be a significant favorite over most other media members, you know what I mean? In hand to hand combat, if that's.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What we're talking about.

[Damanze Daniel]

But the idea that it's like, well, you know, hands are a little tied because I work for the mouse. Otherwise, like, come on, man. Like, what are we. Like, that's just. Go ahead.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't play devil's advocate any longer, but this is the last time I'll do it. Do you.

[Damanze Daniel]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like, what is in, like is. Are we saying that the only thing that Stephen A. Smith did wrong was call out LeBron James as a father? Like, is everything else, like, inbounds? What's out of bounds?

[Damanze Daniel]

So here's. So here's what I think. That's a great follow up and a great question. The. I think the I'm pleading with you as a father was out of line. It's also what LeBron was responding to. That was very clear from the morning after the event. I, again, I said it on this show on a little emergency pod that we did right after or over the weekend, but before the RJ interaction with LeBron. And it was, it was very clear. That's what it was about. So that is you now. I talked with Bomani about that. Bomani says we need to normalize judging other people's parenting, which is an interesting take. And like, it's also, you know, Bomani's, you know, glass house there or not glass house there. Bomani ain't got no kids, so he doesn't know how hard you guys can be sometimes. But. But the. That is. That's what triggered LeBron. Okay. That's what it was. Now, is the criticism of Bronnie fair. It. Let me. I'm going to tweak how I word that. Go ahead.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, I mean, also, like, there's A while back, LeBron put out a tweet, and I get it's not Bronnie that tweet. Like, it's just unfortunate that it's landing on Bronnie the kid when.

[Damanze Daniel]

So that tweet is, I would argue. And this, I think, kind of speaks to how relatively well. Not relatively well, but incredibly well. LeBron James has handled 25 years in the public eye. That tweet's one of the five biggest missteps of his whole career. Honest to God. Like, it really is. But the fact that everyone keeps pointing to this tweet from three years ago as evidence that, oh, LeBron was been building Bronnie up bigger than he was, I think speaks to the fact that after that tweet, LeBron pumped the brakes on it. Right? Like the. That. That tweet was. It put a bigger target on Bronny's back. And so that was. That was a mistake. That. That's totally fair. And that's. That would be criticizing LeBron, you know, a decision he made. Like, that's totally fair, but that's not what this was about. Right. So the. So, but I think. But to get back to your other question is, is Bronnie James a fair target for criticism? The answer to that is yes. He's an NBA player. Grown man. NBA player. Is it also fair to say if this is going to be the one and only second round pick in the entire draft in the last two drafts, three drafts, that we are going to occasionally criticize on national television, that if you have been one of the more vocal critics, whether it was his summer league performance or his opening few G League games or those awful minutes against the Sixers, then if you really want to be fair, you've got to mix in the context and maybe include, oh, he's actually played really well since that moment. Now, I think it's probably like, does that make sense that if I'm. That anybody that you are is. You don't have to talk about. But you choose to talk about either super glowingly or super negatively or it's, you know, that you insert in. It's probably fair to balance the scale to a degree. You don't have to do. That's why I keep doing the. You know, where he ranks amongst rookies. And he is somewhere between 48th and 58th in every single in minutes, games, points, assists, steals, which is what you would hope for from the 55th pick. So that's the other piece of this that I think is a little bit of bullshit. If you were and this is not. I'm not talking about Stephen A. Here. Ok if you are to a degree. I'm kind of talking about one of my dearest friends in the world. Among others, but among other. Not among my other dearest friends. But Monty is one of my dearest friends in the world. He's one of many people who were very loud and skeptical about Bronnie being drafted. I do think what's fair is if you were one of those people saying this is a farce of a pick to at some point mention he's acquitting himself pretty well in the G League that he's averaging the exact same as the Lakers first round pick last year in the G League that he, you know, like that. Because I think it's pretty clear that the people who said this is a farce of a pick if Bronnie in the G league was four points couldn't, you know, it was terrible. It'd be like see. And so I just, I, I, I do think though that stuff is you're.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Only using it when it's convenient.

[Damanze Daniel]

Well. And again I, I, I just, it's also not all that day to day relevant. I just. What I don't, I just have a really hard time with the sequence of I didn't want to talk. I have now talked about it almost every single day on four different platforms since then. I didn't know what he was mad about when I got a call five weeks ago from his agent about the exact thing he's mad about. And anyone with kind of deductive reasoning knew that's what he's mad about. Having been on the record for 20 years about how many games you go to and about how everyone you talk about is welcome to come up and talk to you about anything they say and when that happens to say it was weak and it was. And this is why I started with the we are not on equal playing field with these guys. He Sometimes you don't get to respond like and you can respond. That's. Let me don't. That's. I said that wrong. That's not what I meant. What I'm trying to say is in that M.O. i think what he's saying is I wanted a phone call so I could give give my side of the story. And LeBron was saying, I don't give a shit about your side of the story. I didn't like what you said, and I want you to stop it. And if we never speak again, no skin off my back. And that is a power imbalance. Cause like LeBron's like, I don't care about this relationship. You might. I don't. And that just kind of is that. That. That's why I used the co. Sell Ali thing. Now, Cosell actually was incredibly helpful to Ali because Ali had the US Government working against him and a lot of things. So it's not a perfect example at all. But as helpful as Howard Cosell was to Muhammad Ali, Howard Cosell needed Muhammad Ali in that relationship more than Ali ever needed. Would need him. And no matter how wealthy or famous any of us get, we're not the actual stars. And then we also have to have the humility to at times just take an L. I don't know why that is mo so difficult for certain folks. Like. And. And that's. And I'm not just pointing out Stephen A. There at all. That is. That is a lot of people characteristic. Well, particularly people that in our business, people in our. There is. It's also why there's kind of this unspoken rule, almost like, oh, you know, I'm in the media. I'm not going to criticize other media that I obviously don't subscribe to. I just think that is somewhat hypocritical. Almost like we can't. We. We can't do what we do to these athletes and then act so wounded if somebody does it to us.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah. This guy needs to change this. Like, that needs to happen. It's like I feel like.

[Damanze Daniel]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Judging these. Which is in some fashion.

[Damanze Daniel]

Yeah. And so listen, I really hope this is the end that of this. I. The in the Hannity thing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Producer made him do it.

[Damanze Daniel]

Well, I just. I don't. I. I don't. Look, given all the things Sean Hannity has said about LeBron that I find to be in inaccurate on their face and wildly unfair. I think going on that turf and doing this was now in it Again, in Stephen A's defense there, it didn't look like he knew that question was coming and he didn't spend a lot of time on it. You know, I think he was on there to give more political commentary, which is a whole nother discussion. But whatever. Who's scoring big in the NBA this season? You are with the all new. With all the new ways to get in on the Action DraftKings sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the NBA for Monster Slams Dish and the Rock cleaning glass. Get behind your favorite players and the prop bets you can make on DraftKings, the home of NBA player props. Ready to place your first bet? Try betting on something simple like picking how many points your favorite player will have. Go to the DraftKing sportsbook app and make your pick. Guys, I'm killing you. I'm killing you. I that on Tuesday I keyed in on Pelicans Clippers. I was like, kawhi's been hot. You know, he's. He's probably going to come down to earth. Zion, I thought was going to have a monster game. Zion did have a monster game. Triple double. But I had him over 23 and a half points. Too many assists, not enough points. Finished with 22. That's a loser. Kawhi under 23 and a half points. He damn near had 30. So that was an oh for two. So again I I'm being totally transparent with you guys. I I farmed this one out. I said damanze Daniel producers Blue Duck, somebody help me out here. They're looking at Cam Thomas who's never seen a shot he doesn't like over 23 and a half and Steph Curry over 26 and a half. So we got it. We got to turn this these player props around. Lines are not subject change first time. Here's something special just for you. New DraftKings customers bet $5 to get 150 in bonus bets instantly. Take it to the rack. DraftKings sportsbook. Every point counts. Download DraftKings sportsbook app. Use code right that's code right? W R I G H t to get $150 in bonus bets. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem.

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[Stephen A. Smith]

So yeah, after dropping the first ever 30, 202020 game against Phoenix Y MVP odds cut in half. Then SGA got the best of him in that Denver game. He dropped 40 and then Jokic got a little get back. So they're kind of, kind of in a weird situation for MVP right now. Who do you have?

[Damanze Daniel]

I think it's Shay. I don't think it's really that debatable. And I am. Well, here's why. Damanze and I heard Mike Malone. God, Michael Malone. Basically, if you're not willing to say the NBA logo should be changed from Jerry west to Nicola Jokic, like you're not giving Jokic enough respect by Michael Malone standards. I mean, the idea that Jokic has won three of the last four MVPs, he won back to back MVPs prior to ever going on a deep playoff run, which was not unprecedented, but close to unprecedented. And so like this idea that he's not getting enough respect is just crazy. Yeah. And here is why I feel the way I do about the mvp and it is the same reason I felt it was very clear Josh Allen was the MVP this past year in the NFL, we cannot play Calvin Ball with how we give out MVP awards. And if you want to know what the phrase Calvin Ball is, it's from the old cartoon Calvin and Hobbes, the comic strip. But it's where you just make up the rules as you go. It's essentially head you lose tales. I win. It's where whatever the, whatever the rules need to be for me to win, those are the rules. And so two years ago, the NFL MVP Josh had these amazing numbers and not so much Josh, actually. It was really Brock, Purdy and Dak had these amazing numbers. Lamar had middling numbers, but his team had the best record. He played, you know, great in some big spots and they gave it to Lamar. Then this year, Lamar has amazing numbers, but his team's record is, you know, mediocre compared to the other MVP candidates. Josh had good numbers. Not as good as Lamar's. The team had the better record. And people were like, no. Some people were like, no, it should be Lamar again. Like, well, he can't win for one set of logic in 23 and a different set of logic in 24 that if we give Joker the MVP this year, then we need to go back last year and give the one he won there to Luca. Because last year. Here was Luca's numbers. 34 points per game, the scoring champion by three and a half points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists. He was 34, 9 and 10 on 49, 38 splits. Joker, who won the MVP was 26 points per game, 12 rebounds, 9 assists on 58, 36 splits. So why did Joker win it? Because the Denver Nuggets tied for the best record in the Western conference. They had 57 wins and Luca's team was the five seed. They had 55 or they had 50 wins. Pardon me, that seven win golf is why not only did Joker win it, but it was not close, if I remember. I'm going to check real quick. Joker had got 79 first place votes. Shay got 15, Luca got four. He ran away with it. So this year when Joker's numbers are remarkable, and they are remarkable, he's at 29, 13 and 10. Shea is going to win the scoring title by the way, at 32 and a half, but then only five and six. But Shea is the, in my opinion, rightful MVP because his team has 53 wins and the Nuggets have 42.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Would you not say Yokich is more risk? Like if, if the Thunder didn't have sga, you know, they'd be less off. Good. I think if Denver didn't have Jokic.

[Damanze Daniel]

They'D be absolutely f. No, that is. Listen, that's definitely true. That Denver would completely collapse without Joker. That's definitely true. But that can't be the solo standard. And we can't change the rules year over year like the. And it is true, and it has always been true that the hardest MVP to win is the next one. The easiest MVP to win is your first. And then to win a second one, you usually have to be even better than you were for your first one. And then to win your third one, you've got to be truly in historic territory. And then to win your fourth, you have to be have a historic season and be one of the greatest players of all time and not have any first time attempted, first time winner, have a real case. So. And Joker is one of the greatest players of all time and he is having a historic season. But the guys with four are Braun, Wilt, Russell, Jordan, Kareem. Those guys have four or five or six. I'm not saying Joker's not allowed to join that group one day. What I am saying is we can't give Joker his third mvp even though Luca had one of the most insane statistical regular seasons ever because Joker's team was better. And then give Joker his fourth MVP because he's having an insane statistical regular season when Shay's team is better. Like if the. We have to be consistent with it. And. And also like this idea that the Thunder would be okay without Shea. I don't agree with that. The Thunder without Shea would be.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I mean, they wouldn't be in great shape. The point I was just making was Denver would be different.

[Damanze Daniel]

No, Denver would instantly become one of the worst teams in the league. I get that. But Sh. Shay scoring 33 a game for a team that doesn't have another established star is super valuable. So like, I just. I. I just like consistency in this stuff. Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think from the beginning and we've just gotten really far off of what MVP means. I think it should have just been the actual most valuable player as I get like the. I don't know.

[Damanze Daniel]

So this is a point Brew makes and. And I'm curious how you feel about it. And then we can get to the NFL stuff quickly. And I don't know why I ever say we're doing a quick show. I don't have the capability of. It does. Is that fair to the previous eras?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Damanze Daniel]

And here's what I mean. If all of a sudden we change it to just like, hey, who is the consensus best player in the league and is he having an awesome season? Then he's the mvp. And then all of a sudden Joker ends with six and maybe one day Wimby ends with seven. It's like, wow, when that's not how we treated Kareem lebron or Mike or. Or Michael. Like, is that like. So the.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is that fair?

[Damanze Daniel]

I don't know.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Damanze Daniel]

No, say it again.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I. I get. I said you have to make a new league. I was joking. But yeah.

[Damanze Daniel]

No, but yeah. I mean it just. And so. And also this is. It should be noted. Shea, the. Going into this year, the only guy on his team who had ever been an all Star is going to run away with the scoring title scores. 33 a night on good efficiency only plays 34 minutes because they blow so many teams out. His team has a historic net rating and they have won. They are 11 games clear of the Nuggets in the standings. That it's not like this is a, you know, a weak MVP case for Shaq. This episode of what's Right is Brought to you by Daya Pizza Featuring Dairy Free Cheese made with their new Day Oat Cream Blend, Dairy free cheese has come a long way. Daiya's leading the charge. Their pizzas offer the melt and stretch of traditional cheese without any dairy each day. A pizza starts with a perfectly crisp crust layered with savory, satisfying toppings and finished with cheese that melts and stretches beautifully. The Daiya Oat Cream Blend delivers a creamy, cheesy texture that's indistinguishable from dairy based options. Every pizza is crafted to be dairy free, making it a great choice for anyone seeking more inclusive meal options. Without compromising on taste, Daiya takes the concept of dairy free to a new level, eliminating faux moo that is not the fear of cows, that is the fear of missing dairy. These pizzas deliver delicious taste and texture, making them perfect for any occasion from casual dinners to game day spreads. Enjoy a faux moo free pizza night with Daiya. Visit dayafoods.com for more information or find Daya Pizza at retailers like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart. Coming soon to select Publix and Sprouts, follow day on Instagram and TikTok for more updates and recipes. Before the 2017 NFL Draft, before first things first yet existed, Chris Carter and I filled in for Colin Cowherd and we interviewed a few of the draft prospects. One of them was a potential first round pick out of Texas Tech named Patrick Mahomes. I and here is one of the questions I asked him and listened to his answer. Patrick, I've got a son who's around your age, just a little bit younger than you, and I did something with him that I want to do with you right now. You're not driving, are you?

[Patrick Mahomes]

No, sir.

[Damanze Daniel]

Okay. All right. Ten years from now, close your eyes. Think about it. In a perfect world, everything goes great. You, you are, you are doing exactly what you want to do. Take me 10 years from now, describe where you are and what you don't have to tell me a city, but describe what your life is 10 years from this moment.

[Patrick Mahomes]

10 years from now, I hope to have a family, my wife and a kid or maybe two. And I'm playing in the NFL, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and have a couple super bowl championships with me.

[Damanze Daniel]

Well, there you go. So like that. So you already know your end point, man. So now that you know your end point, every fork in the road, every decision you make, just keep in mind that's the end point you're trying to get to where people screw up, at least in my icc, is they don't know where they're trying to get to. So you get to fork in the road and you don't know, do I go left or right? But Patrick just said he's got a wife and kids, so I guess that means he's got to, you know, be hitting the Dayton scene in the off season a little bit, I guess. And he's got a couple quarter guys, got a couple super bowl championships, still playing in the league. He already knows where he's going. He's got to figure out how to get there.

[Patrick Mahomes]

Yes, sir.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Exactly one download Tinder.

[Damanze Daniel]

That is remarkable by Patrick, that he said the goals that high and exceeded all of them. He said one or two kids. He's at three. The. I didn't know, obviously, when I was saying hit the dating scene, that he was in a serious relationship.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, yeah.

[Damanze Daniel]

You know what I mean? That. He had the woman in mind. He had the woman in mind. And he said one of the best quarterbacks in the league with a couple championships. He's the best quarterback in the league and has three. I mean, that is a really, really cool thing. And then the. Also him. I mean, me then, like. Yeah, right. That was eight years ago. It was eight years ago. So that was. That was. I. I had inspiration. I had no recollection of that. Isn't that amazing?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, that was truly awesome.

[Damanze Daniel]

I mean, that he nailed it. Yeah. And so that. That was really cool. So I don't know if he. I'm gonna. I'm gonna send. If we put out that clip right there. Little Throwback Thursday. Also, again, folks who accuse me of hair plugs or anything, look closely at that video. You see I have a full hairline. I just have a shaved head. It. I don't look like a guy who lost his hair. Look, this is everywhere you can see. Doesn't matter. Point is. Yeah, I mean, that's not a guy who's bald. That's a guy who shaved his head. Wasn't the greatest look. I would. Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I was about to say he could lose that one. I don't ever want to get back to that one. Unless you have to.

[Damanze Daniel]

The. But regardless, I don't know. My guess is Patrick doesn't remember that either, but if we put out that clip, I'll send it to him. That was really cool. Good for him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

For the first time in his career, Rogers is a free agent. Pittsburgh, the Giants, and maybe a little bit of Minnesota. Those are the teams that seem to be hawking them down. What are your thoughts?

[Damanze Daniel]

So I, here's what I think. I think that Aaron Rodgers knows exactly where he's going and exactly what he's doing. And Aaron Rodgers wants the attention. And I don't think that they are still negotiating. I think that he is the main character in his story and in every story, it would seem. And he, you know, likes that. Well, there's three teams right now kind of in a bit of a.2 definitely in the Steelers and the Giants and one maybe in the Vikings that are waiting on him. I, I don't understand the Vikings piece of it Demons. And here's why it doesn't make sense to me that they were like, Daniel Jones, we'd like to give you around $10 million to back up JJ McCarthy. And then Daniel Jones went to Indianapolis and they're like, okay, Aaron Rodgers, we'd like to give you $40 million to start in front of J.J. mcCarthy. Like those, you know that it doesn't seem like if you were. If they had tried to retain Sam Darnold and lost him and then they pivoted Darren Rogers be like, okay, that makes, you know, that's cogent thought, so to speak. This one doesn't make sense to me. And does you understand what I mean?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like, I don't, I understand what you're saying. Like, it's, it just seems like I'm.

[Damanze Daniel]

Looking for a car. I'm either gonna get a Miata two door or a minivan. It's like, well, wait a minute. What are you trying to get out of this thing? Like the. And so I just don't, I don't follow it in that way. That's all. And so I, I don't know that he'll pick today. I really don't. I, I also will say this, the folks that believe the Steelers could be anything close to contenders with Aaron Rodgers, they weren't contenders last year with Russell Wilson. Aaron Rodgers at this point in his career is not better than Russell Wilson. I'm not saying he's worse. They're about the same. Like, and I know they added George Pickens, but man, that feels so combustible. Pickens and Metcalf and Rodgers. Like, I don't, I don't, I don't love that at all.

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