Podcast Summary: "What's Wright – Nick Wright Best of Lakers: LeBron James is NOT DONE winning, Luka Doncic MVP SEASON incoming? | NBA"

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Episode Date: August 21, 2025
Guest/Focus: Nick Wright
Theme: A deep-dive into NBA Western Conference power shifts, LeBron’s championship window with the Lakers, Luka Doncic’s evolving legacy, and broader NBA/ NFL commentary.

Episode Overview

This episode features Nick Wright’s best takes of the week as he breaks down seismic NBA developments—Kevin Durant’s move to the Rockets, the Lakers now pairing Luka Doncic with LeBron James, and what that means for the Western Conference hierarchy. Nick challenges narratives around Luka Doncic’s perceived trajectory, unpacks LeBron’s drive for more titles, and analyses roster moves and potential, including possible trades (notably around Austin Reaves). The episode also looks ahead to a potential Luka MVP season and weighs in on NFL training camp storylines.

1. State of the NBA Western Conference

(Starts at ~03:57)

• Key Power Shifts:
  • Kevin Durant joins the Houston Rockets; Luka Doncic enters his first full Lakers season.
  • Nick ranks the West: "Oklahoma City at the top... Next best two teams are the Rockets and the Lakers."
• Luka vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA):
  • Nick criticizes what he calls the “Luka overcorrection negativity.”
  • "Luka is the youngest of all the top guys at 26. The idea that he's behind schedule is incorrect." [06:10]
  • Argues Luka's “worst” season still statistically matched SGA’s “best,” except for Luka’s clear superiority in assists and rebounds.
• On Final Appearances:
  • "One guy made the finals two months ago and lost to a team some people thought was going to be a dynasty in Boston. The other guy made the finals and went seven with a team people thought was the most unlikely finalist in modern NBA history." [08:40]

2. Why Nick Believes in the Lakers' Title Contention

(Major Segment: 09:40–18:40)

• Reason 1: Luka’s Motivation
  • Luka is eager to get back deep into the postseason, fueling team ambition.
• Reason 2: Imminent Roster Moves
  • "I do think they're going to make a substantial move in the next week. They have the assets to do it." [10:50]
• Reason 3: LeBron’s Championship Intent
  • Strongly rebuffs ideas that LeBron is resigned to “farewell tour” mode.
  • "If you think LeBron is like, okay, at this point, it's just about playing with my son, you can dead that right now... watching these finals only emboldened LeBron to feel like he can get back there." [12:30]
• On Austin Reaves:
  • Likely trade candidate given redundancy with Luka and value as an asset.
  • "Without Austin Reaves, your only creators are the oldest guy in the league in LeBron. But with Luka there, [Reaves] becomes a luxury." [14:30]

3. Ranking the Top Western Conference Teams

(14:45-21:10)

• 1 – Oklahoma City Thunder:
  • Returning nearly all players, super young, but with "a lot of plates to balance."
• 2 – Houston Rockets:
  • Asserts Rockets “can win the championship,” especially if KD stays healthy.
• 3 – Los Angeles Lakers:
  • Star power, potential roster upgrades, LeBron/Luka leadership.
• 4 – Denver Nuggets:
  • Anchored by Jokic—will “manicure around the edges,” with hopes on health of key players.
• (Notable Side Bar: Nick's AI Rant)
  • Nick trashes AI’s reliability for sports history:
    • "AI Chatbots don’t fucking know sports. I’m telling you right now." [18:05]
    • Anecdotal riff on Lakers-Rockets playoff history and why human memory beats chatbots for nuance.

4. Luka Doncic’s Body Transformation & MVP Outlook

(~27:30–33:40)

• Context: Luka appears “slender” on the cover of Men's Health, discusses his improved fitness.
• Debunking Myths:
  • “This article got marred…they wrote Luka had a 42 inch vertical ‘measured at the combine.’ Problem is, Luka never went to the combine. AI hallucinated it.” [28:05]
• Takeaway:
  • Luka previously did not lift weights in off-seasons—new approach signals more serious physical investment.
  • “Training always just included hooping…Weight training was never a big part of it for him. Now he’s addressing that.” [29:15]
• Legacy Perspective:
  • Luka is already on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory with more All-NBAs by age 26 than Curry or Chris Paul (“and only one less than Kevin freaking Durant”).
  • Nick is bullish: “Luka, this should be the early favorite for league MVP.” [33:10]
  • Predicts “leaner” (not skinny) Luka will be even more dominant.

5. LeBron/Luka Partnership & Lakers’ Immediate Win-Now Imperative

(40:00–44:50)

• Luka Signs 3-Year, $165 Million Lakers Extension:
  • Nick: “This is good, important real news.”
• Pressure To Win Now:
  • “I would prioritize trying to win right now because even the biggest LeBron haters can’t tell me Luka’ll ever have a teammate as good as LeBron is right now, over the next three years.” [42:05]
  • Acknowledges that unless “Giannis is truly coming,” it’s a risk to slow-play this year.
• On Luka-LeBron Relationship:
  • “LeBron was Luka’s all time favorite player…no rift, only frustration for LeBron that the Lakers aren’t pressing the gas even more.”

6. NFL Quick Hits

(34:00–40:00)

• Matt Stafford’s Back Soreness:
  • Nick downplays concern: “Maybe it’s just old guy doesn’t want to practice. That would be an awesome result.” [34:50]
• Kansas City Chiefs’ Offseason Storyline:
  • Chiefs rookie left tackle Josh Simmons is a major positive:
    • “If the knee is really right, Chiefs have a game-changer.”
• Downside Story:
  • LA Rams’ chances hinge fully on Stafford’s health; any setback could be huge for NFC power balance.
• Bonus: Baker Mayfield Outlook:
  • Nick is a strong believer in Baker with the Bucs:
    • “He was a badass last year. He is true to himself, he’s tough, he is a legit awesome playoff performer.” [47:50]

7. Running Back Market Look: James Cook & the Bills

(49:30–51:45)

• Cook’s “Hold-In”:
  • Nick expects Buffalo to play hardball, as the RB market remains tough:
    • “Even if you think he’s awesome, do you think he’ll be awesome four years from now? …It’s just a tough business for running backs.” [51:30]

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick on LeBron’s Motivation:
  • “People thinking LeBron is in farewell tour mode, you can dead that right now.” [12:30]
• On AI Sports Knowledge:
  • “AI Chatbots don’t fucking know sports. I’m telling you right now.” [18:05]
• On Luka’s Narrative:
  • “The idea that Luka’s behind schedule is incorrect…He is already well on the way to being one of the greatest players ever.” [32:15]
• On Lakers’ Urgency:
  • “I would prioritize trying to win right now because…I do not know that Luka is going to have a better running mate than LeBron over these next three years.” [42:20]
• Baker Mayfield Hype:
  • “He has another really good season, ceiling is…he is a frontline MVP candidate and they are a true contender in the NFC.” [47:40]

9. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Western Conference Preview: 03:57–14:55
• Lakers’ Contention & LeBron Outlook: 09:40–18:40
• Luka vs SGA Breakdown/Stats: 06:10–10:20
• NBA AI Rant/Playoff History Lesson: 18:00–21:00
• Luka Physical Transformation/MVP Prediction: 27:30–33:40
• NFL Training Camp Quick Hits: 34:00–40:00
• Luka’s Extension & Lakers’ Philosophy: 40:00–44:50
• Baker Mayfield Outlook: 47:30–49:40
• RB Market/James Cook: 49:30–51:45

10. Final Thoughts

Nick Wright brings his characteristic blend of stats, storytelling and sharp opinion to justify why the Lakers remain true title contenders and why the NBA must not understate Luka Doncic’s generational talent—especially now slimmed down for a possible MVP run. The episode also highlights how AI and surface-level narratives can get sports history and analysis wrong. For NBA and NFL fans, the episode offers both insight and big-picture takes ahead of the new season.