What's Wright - Nick Wright Mailbag: What's next for LeBron? Thunder dynasty? + Nick's BEST LESSONS from career

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

"What's Wright" Mailbag: What's Next for LeBron? Thunder Dynasty? + Nick's Best Career Lessons

Date: May 30, 2026
Host: Nick Wright
Co-Host: Damanze
Presented by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Episode Overview

On this semi-monthly mailbag edition of "What's Wright," Nick Wright and Damanze dive into pressing NBA topics with a special focus on LeBron James’ contract situation, the future of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and candid lessons from Nick’s career in media. The episode is engaging, opinionated, and offers both humor and thoughtful takes on sports and personal growth.

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Segment Breakdown & Key Insights

1. LeBron James’ Future & The Lakers’ Dilemma

[02:14–11:12]

• LeBron’s Contract Negotiations:
  • LeBron reportedly wants the Lakers to offer him the max contract, or a convincing explanation for anything less.
  • Nick is frustrated with the narrative that LeBron should take a pay cut "because he’s made enough" or to enhance the roster. He argues that the situation is more complex, as the Lakers can go over the cap due to LeBron’s Bird rights, and LeBron only takes less if he truly wants to help the team sign someone specific.
  • Comparison to Other Stars:
    • Steph Curry makes over $60M: “Nobody, not a single ounce of ink has been spilled... by the take of, you know, the reason the Warriors can't compete for championships — Steph makes too much money.” — Nick Wright [06:13]
    • Kawhi Leonard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach LaVine, Kevin Durant, Darius Garland, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Jalen Williams, Michael Porter Jr., Brandon Ingram — all with massive contracts and no expectation to discount for team building.
  • Nick underscores that LeBron remains one of the top 10–15 players in the league and that it’s unfair to single him out to take a ‘charity’ contract.
    • Memorable Quote:
      “It is just really, it's a unique situation where... you need me to take 10 million bucks? Because you need to have 45 for Austin, who I’m better than.” — Nick Wright [09:54]
  • On LeBron’s leadership: He proved his top status when it mattered, even late in his career.

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2. Mailbag Q&A: Fan Allegiances Post-LeBron

[11:12–14:32]

• What Happens to LeBron Fans When He Retires or Leaves?
  • Nick predicts he’ll become a “stateless fan” until Las Vegas gets an NBA team.
    • “I will be teamless, I will be a stateless fan post-LeBron, until Las Vegas gets a team. That’ll be my squad.” — Nick Wright [13:39]
  • Discusses possible allegiances: Luka Doncic, the Knicks (but can’t root for them if they win before LeBron arrives), and excludes Boston or Minnesota.
  • Also jokes about possibly following a potential LeBron-owned franchise, but doubts that will happen.

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3. GOAT Debate & LeBron’s Legacy

[14:32–15:56]

• If LeBron Wins in Cleveland or New York, Does It Change the GOAT Conversation?
  • Nick is skeptical. Points out that media personalities like Skip Bayless rank LeBron ninth even after years of historic achievements.
    • “That is just an exaggerated version of what has happened for a lot of people in the goat debate over the last seven, eight years...LeBron making a couple more finals, winning another championship, breaking all of the records, didn't move it at all.” — Nick Wright [15:01]
  • Suggests many opinions are irrevocably set.

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4. The Luka Trade – Evaluating Outcomes

[15:46–17:32]

• Nick dismisses the idea that the Mavericks ‘won’ the Luka trade retroactively just because luck or circumstance after the fact improved their return.
  • “If I have a brand new Ferrari and I can get half a million dollars for it...I sell it to someone for $200,000 and a used car, and my first time driving, the used car breaks down...on the walk home I find a bag of half a million dollars, it doesn’t mean I made a good sale.” — Nick Wright [16:18]

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5. Thunder Dynasty? Examining the OKC Hype

[17:32–21:38]

• Will the OKC Thunder Become the Next NBA Dynasty?
  • Nick explains the cyclical hype of emergent teams and believes OKC will have challenges next year with impending salary jumps for their young stars (Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, others).
    • “In the new NBA…the dynasties forget don’t last as long. They don’t even always get a chance to form.” — Nick Wright [18:48]
  • References previous OKC team ownership’s frugality and cautions that talent consolidations rarely last.
  • Hints they will have to make roster compromises soon and won’t repeat this year’s talent depth.

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6. Lessons From Nick's Career in Sports Media

[24:11–29:00]

• Hardest Lesson Learned:
  • “Be very, very careful what bridges you burn.” — Nick Wright [24:27]
  • Shares a cautionary tale about a feud with a Kansas City media figure, which threatened his career a decade later.
  • Another piece of advice: Share important personal news with family privately before making it public on air.
    • “My sister found out that me and your mom…either she found out we got engaged or moved in together or something on the radio…she was very upset with me.” — Nick Wright [28:29]
• Suggests these are ‘do as I say, not as I do’ lessons, and reflects humorously on his own missteps.

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7. Personal & Lighthearted Mailbag

[29:00–33:18]

• Does Nick Play Spades? Is He Good?
  • Yes, claims to be “elite” compared to the average player due to his quick mind and natural card sense, but admits pros may operate at a different level. Never played high-stakes, would enjoy doing so.
• Favorite Card & Board Games?
  • Card: Deuce to Seven Triple Draw poker.
  • Board: Monopoly — planning to play with real money at an upcoming family reunion (“some real arguments” will probably ensue).
  • Likes Risk, wants to try Settlers of Catan. Notes that studying optimal strategies makes him a better player in strategy games.

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8. Thoughts on Kevin Wilds as a Show Leader

[33:18–36:23]

• Nick admires Wilds’ selflessness, prep level, and ability to put the quality of the show above his own takes.
  • “He always puts what’s best for the show ahead of him getting his takeoff, and in that specific role…that’s really important.” — Nick Wright [33:45]
• Praises Wilds’ humor and knack for diffusing rare uncomfortable moments.
• Concludes by saying Wilds is Emmy-worthy once Scott Van Pelt wins his (“Once Scott wins his, okay for KW to get his.”).

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Notable Quotes

• On LeBron’s Value:
  “As LeBron showed you in this postseason, he is still, when the chips are down, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the 15 best guys in the league and maybe one of the ten best.” — Nick Wright [08:46]

• On Fan Identity Post-LeBron:
  “I will be a Las Vegas fan. That’s my answer. I think that’s good, right? That feels good.” — Nick Wright [13:54]

• On Media Feuds & Career Growth:
  “23-year-old Nick almost cost 33-year-old Nick his TV career, because I had created enemies.” — Nick Wright [26:45]

• On Wilds as a Leader:
  “He always puts what’s best for the show ahead of him getting his takeoff…But Brew and I get so long winded…It’s just a very selfless way to broadcast.” — Nick Wright [33:45]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• LeBron contract discussion: 02:14–11:12
• Fan identity after LeBron: 11:12–14:32
• LeBron as GOAT: 14:32–15:56
• Luka/Mavs trade: 15:46–17:32
• OKC dynasty window/hype reality: 17:32–21:38
• Career lessons & personal stories: 24:11–29:00
• Games, skills & family fun: 29:00–33:18
• Wilds’ leadership: 33:18–36:23

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Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, at times acerbic (especially regarding contracts and the media).
• Nick mixes candid personal stories with strong analytical points, making the episode both engaging and edifying.
• Light, fun moments keep the mood up even in serious segments.

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For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers sharp NBA insights and a revealing window into Nick Wright’s approach to sports media and life.

Transcript

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[Nick Wright]

Welcome in while driving Nick Wright Episode 461 Our Semi Monthly Mailbag episode this episode of what's Right with Negro is presented to you by Boost Mobile. Reminder to like, rate, subscribe and review to the pod. Normally right off the top we do what Straight to voicemail brought to you by Boost Mobile. We don't do that for mailbag episodes. Also Thursday's show we did not get to Lebron's future so before we get to the questions, just off the top of the show to Monze. Good to see you again. Let's talk a little bit about LeBron and money and his future.

[Damanze]

So Windhorse reported that LeBron wants the Lakers to come to him and offer him the max. And if they don't give him the max, he wants them to explain why and how it would make sense and what they would do with the extra cap space. What justification could the Lakers give for paying him anything less than the max?

[Nick Wright]

Listen, listen, if you remember last year, he was willing to, to take a pay cut if it meant they could bring in, I think it was Klay Thompson or DeMarta Rosen. And then they couldn't. He was like, all right, just run me my money then. Like, go ahead. Like, go ahead. I'll, I'll take it. Here is why I find the LeBron money discussion so frustrating. Because the general, the general conventional wisdom by nearly everyone in the media, I guess, other than me, is LeBron should just do charity work with his contract this year. Now let me make this clear. If he wants to leave the Lakers, he will have to take far less, you know, a huge discount. He might have to play for the minimum somewhere. If he wants to leave the Lakers because nobody has cap space, you maybe could get the mid level or the taxpayer mid level, but way less money than he's ever made in the NBA. If he wants to leave the Lakers and that, you know, he would then be weighing what is important to him. I've said on this show a hundred times, nobody can have everything in life. That's not what you have to make tough decisions. And that would be a decision he wants to make. The Lakers, on the other hand, are in a unique position because they have his bird rights and because he's already there, they can go over the cap to bring him back. And so if he were to take a huge discount, it would just be out of generosity or the kindness of his heart or because he wants to give the team the best chance possible to add to other positions on the roster, which again, a lot of people think, well, obviously he should do that, and maybe he will and maybe that's what he wants. My frustration comes from this place. Next year I'm going to give you some guys names and how much money they are going to be making next year. And you tell me if you think that guy is better than LeBron James, healthier than LeBron James, more available than LeBron James. Demonte, who do you think the highest paid player in the Entire NBA next year is going to be.

[Damanze]

Do you know it might be like James Harden or something like that?

[Nick Wright]

No, Harden's on because Harden's kind of screwed up his contract a few times. But you're the right. You're in the right draft class. The answer is Steph Curry, okay? Steph Curry is going to make the only player in the league next year that's going to make more than $60 million. Now, it's not the NFL and you can't rework your deal. And so he can't even really take a pay cut if he wanted to. But nobody, not a single ounce of ink has been spilled or podcast Mike has been rattled by the take of, you know, the reason the warriors can't compete for championships. Steph makes too much money.

[Damanze]

They got nobody like on their squad.

[Nick Wright]

So The Steph makes 62 and a half million next year was. Did he look better in the playoffs than LeBron did? They weren't in it. Was he healthier this year than LeBron? No. No. Nobody minds that Steph makes that money. I'm not even going to. You know, people do criticize Embiid's contract. They're like, that's an albatross. Albatross. Fine. So be it. Quiet Leonard next year it's gonna make $50 million. Quiet Leonard coming off and all, you know, the best year he's had maybe of his career with the Clippers. And it got them all the way to the playing. That's what it got them to the play in. Is Kawhi better than LeBron? I don't know. I know he finished all NBA and LeBron didn't. He had an awesome year. Nobody thinks Kawhi Leonard's contract is an albatross. Nobody. Jaren Jackson Jr. Is going to make $49 million next year. Zach Levine is going to make $49,000,000 next year. I, Kevin Durant, going to make $44 million next year. Is Kevin Rant better than LeBron James? Certainly wasn't when it mattered most. Certainly not a better leader, certainly not a better teammate. That Darius Garland makes $42 million. Like, and I'm not even trying to point like, Zion makes 42 million people. That job makes 42 million people. Recognize those contracts are underwater. I, Jalen J Dub, Jalen Williams for the Oklahoma City Thunder is going to make $41 million next year. Is he healthier, more available, more reliable than LeBron James? I don't think so. Michael Porter makes 41 million bucks. Brandon Ingram was. He is more reliable healthier, better, makes $40 million. So again, LeBron might take a pay cut. He might give an act of charity to the Los Angeles Lakers so they can better fill out the roster. But as LeBron showed you in this postseason, he is still, when the chips are down, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the 15 best guys in the league and maybe one of the ten best. And the. The narrative being. And here's. And again, I understand it. LeBron's made a ton of money. He's played forever. You know who's also not better than LeBron James that nobody thinks should, you know, get a good contract, but not a great one. He shouldn't put the Lakers to the limit. Austin Reeves. And I would not, if I'm LeBron, I would not blame LeBron if there's a little bit of him that's like, wait a minute, you need me to take 10 million bucks? Because you need to have 45

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for

[Nick Wright]

Austin, who I'm better than. And so. It is just really, it's a unique situation where you were maybe going to be able to make the case because of his new role with Luca and Austin at the end of the year, that, that okay, yeah. LeBron no longer can carry the load of being the guy. And then they were gone in the playoffs and he's a facing a minus 800 favorite in round one and makes quick work of him and is the best player on the court night in, night out. And obviously listen, Lakers got swept by okc. I think every team in the league, if they played OKC without their best player because Luka is the Lakers best player, would get swept by OKC. But it is. I find the conversation surrounding LeBron's contract to be frustrating. So there's my LeBron take. Now to Monze. Let's get to the mailbag.

[Damanze]

So NBA starting off with we got witnesses ask or witness asks. Nick is a fellow LeBron fan myself. I frequently get asked where my rooting interest goes post LeBron and I normally say across that bridge when it comes. So what say you? Is it Luca a different player or team or what?

[Nick Wright]

So I have. For me, I always assumed it was going to be Luca. Like, because I love Luca. Luka's been my second favorite player for a while. But I also am kind of excited to not be attached fandom wise to the Lakers post LeBron. Like, I, I don't, I don't now ownership has changed and maybe the front office will change and maybe those things will change

[Damanze]

rivals, man, be a Celtics fan

[Nick Wright]

that I Celtics fans don't want me, you know, so the. And so then I also thought I was like, you know what? Because I have thought about this. It's like, I live in New York City now. My wife loves the Knicks, because. Be a Knicks fan. But I can't do that. I can't do that. If they win the championship.

[Damanze]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

You know what I mean? Like, that's the.

[Damanze]

Well, by the time LeBron leaves, you know, maybe they're one, two years removed from it, possibly.

[Nick Wright]

And so if he went to the

[Damanze]

Knicks, would you be a Knicks fan? I mean, you kind of.

[Nick Wright]

After that, if he went to the Knicks, yeah, it'd be perfect. But he's. But he can't go to the Knicks now. They're, you know, they. They're rolling. They're going to win the championship. No, I'm saying I just don't think he would join a team.

[Damanze]

Oh, yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Where he would get no credit whatsoever if they, you know, and if you're. I, as much as I love LeBron, if I were a Knicks fan, I'd be like, no, no, no, we're good. If they win the title. You know what I mean? If they win the title, you don't want to. You don't want to change anything. Like, if they. They just have the greatest month of basketball in the history of the league. Like, you don't want to change anything. I've come up with an answer. I just realized it. This is my answer. I will be teamless. I will be a stateless fan, post LeBron until Las Vegas gets a team. That'll be my squad. I'm there a lot. I love it. That'll be my squad. I'll get to, you know, be up on the ground floor from birth.

[Damanze]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. I've decided Kansas City's never getting a team. I'm going to be a Las Vegas fan. That's my answer. I think that's good, right? That feels good.

[Damanze]

Yeah. No, that sounds.

[Nick Wright]

That's right.

[Damanze]

That's about right. I. I thought you might have went over to Minnesota in the very beginning, but. But, yeah, that. That makes sense.

[Nick Wright]

I do. Listen, I. I like Minnesota, but I. No, I. I couldn't see myself living and dying with him. I think I'll be a Vegas fan. I think that's the plan. Because the other thing for us LeBron folks that have, like. I also thought I'll just. Probably just be a fan of the team he buys, but it doesn't look like he's getting a team, so. All right, next.

[Damanze]

Next we got Gene asks if LeBron returns to Cleveland and wins his fifth will, that will. That move is significant. A significant chunk or people to believing he's the goat. I feel confident that if he went to the Knicks, assuming they don't win this year, that will move a lot of old heads.

[Nick Wright]

Listen, I watched Skip go on first take a few weeks ago and announce that he has LeBron as the ninth best player of all time, which is the exact position he had LeBron 10 years ago this week when he had two championships. And so if I think for. And people, you know, poked fun at Skip for that, but that is just an exaggerated version of what has happened for a lot of people in the goat debate over the last seven, eight years. They have just where they had Jordan here and LeBron here eight years ago, and LeBron making a couple more finals, winning another championship, breaking all of the records, didn't move it at all. And so I don't, you know, I just don't think people are moving on it.

[Damanze]

Next original boot asked who won the Luca trade. I think the Mavs did. They got Flag and other assets for Anthony Davis.

[Nick Wright]

I included this in here just so I could. I. Yeah, I included this in here just because I wanted everyone who submitted a question and it didn't get asked to feel better, knowing it could be worse. You could have submitted a question and had it been this one. Because this is the dumbest shit ever. And I've said it every time. If I, if I have a brand new Ferrari and I can get half a million dollars for it, and instead of getting half a million dollars for it, I sell it to someone for $200,000. And a used car. And my first time driving, the used car breaks down and I have to walk home. And on the, on the walk home, I find a bag of half a million dollars. It doesn't mean I made a good sale. Like, well, look at me. Look who came out ahead now, boys. You guys are all laughing at me, but look at, look at everything I have. It means I got dumb lucky. So. No, it does not. It does not mean the Mavs won the trade. All right, next.

[Damanze]

Luca asked with OKC star studded roster, what will be the thing that breaks them up? Cap space or discrepancies over playing time? Is this, is this team sustainable and are we all screwed for the foreseeable future?

[Nick Wright]

We're not all screwed for the foreseeable future. And this is the point that I always try to make when we. As soon as a team wins a championship, we're like, man, how many are they going to win? And the answer the last decade has been no more. And I don't think, ok, does OKC look like an unbeatable juggernaut to you right now? Doesn't to me. And had the spurs one, people would be like, oh my God, they're going to win so many more down the road. And maybe, and if the Knicks win, people maybe won't be as quite, quite as hot on it. But here's what I know about OKC for next year. First of all, they're in a dog fight right now. Second of all, next year, Chet and J Dub jump from around 6 million a year to 41 million each. Hartenstein has a club option for 30 million. Dort has a club option for 18 million. They are it. In the new NBA, the dynasties forget don't last as long. They don't even always get a chance to form. OKC is not going to have as much talent on next year's team as it did this year. They are not going to be a second apron team in Oklahoma City. They're going to make moves now. They have a war chest of picks. Presti's really sharp. You know, they just got Jared McCain for nothing. Like they will continue to work around the edges and do cool stuff. There's no doubt about that. With that said, they it's, it always seems like it'll last longer than it actually does. And for okc, I don't think they will have as much talent on next year's team as they did this year. And this year's team might not be good enough. We'll see. We'll see if they get out of this round. Well, you guys have heard this is Friday so they apologies, we're recording it Thursday. They might have just advanced to the Finals. They also might have just, you know, be facing a game seven and then I believe they're going to have a dog fight on their hands in the NBA Finals. And it's the same ownership group that was too cheap to keep Katie Harden and Rust together. So it's just never quite as easy as people think it's going to be. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook. The NBA playoffs are here. Lights are brighter, pressures higher. Every possession can change a series. And on Hard Rock BET every night is your shot to score a major bucket with win or go home energy on the hardwood. You love building same game parlays. You might like the hot hand to drop 30 the big man to control the glass with a double double, the point guard to dish out five assists. However you draw it up, Hard Rock Bet gives you tons of ways to stack your picks into a same game parlay built for the playoffs. And if you're ever late to tip off, don't worry. Hard Rock Bet lets you live bet all game long, from the first bucket to the final buzzer. Try your first bet on Hard Rock Bet today and you can score $150 in bonus bets. If you win, just place a $5 bet and if it hits, you get not only your winnings but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. But the welcome offer is just the beginning. Hard Rock Bet has new promos daily. Open up the app right now to see what promo you've got today. Hard Rock Bet is Florida's only legal sportsbook, but you don't have to be in Florida. Join the party Hard Rock Bets live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan, with more states on the way. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today and get the party started.

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[Nick Wright]

o.com all right, Damanze, you got some career questions for me, so go ahead.

[Damanze]

So Reagan asks, what is the hardest lesson you had to learn from experience in your entire career?

[Nick Wright]

Probably. The hardest lesson I had to learn as a young broadcaster was, and this is cliche advice, but they were it wasn't bad advice, which is be very, very careful what bridges you burn. And, and some people might say, you know, I still haven't learned it. I think I've gotten better. But, you know, I have found myself all of a sudden and I'm not going to act like it's, you know, that I didn't have a lot to do with it, but I have found myself embroiled in a bit of a, I don't know, sports media feud with, I don't know, arguably the most powerful person in the industry. So maybe it, you know, so maybe that is maybe, you know, six months or six years from now or something. I'm going be like, ah, that, you know, the tax on that was very high. I when I was doing radio in Kansas City, there was a guy who used to write for the newspaper there who also did some radio, who I believed and I it was only confirmed further to me by seeing what he did the rest of his very sad career that he was just a terrible, terrible person. And I really, really went at him as, you know, intentionally and very, very directly. And 10 years later he did everything he could to disrupt or you know, smother in the crib my television career. And it was because of a 10 year old feud. Now again, that person happens to be just a really, really bad and sad individual who I think deep down, you know, is probably a little disappointed in himself. But it is what it is. I, 23 year old Nick almost cost 33 year old Nick his TV career because I had created enemies. So you know, that, that was a hard lesson. I think for the most part I've learned from it. But you know, I, yeah, you know, I. What'd you say?

[Damanze]

Said who dat? No, obviously

[Nick Wright]

no. Anybody like people know, I mean they, it's not hard to figure out. I said he wrote for the new newspaper, he did radio in Kansas City. People can parse it together. But I don't, I'm not, I, the, I, I, I don't think I've said the guy's name in 10 years, but the, so yeah, I mean that's a good, it's a good lesson and it's a little do as I say, not as I do type of thing. Other than that like, I don't, I don't know if anything jumps out to me. Be careful about sharing things publicly before you share them privately. That I would say this is, this doesn't apply so much to TV but it did to radio. I got, I, My sister found out that me and your mom De Monze, either she either found out we got engaged or moved in together or something on the radio.

[Damanze]

Oh, bro.

[Nick Wright]

And was very upset with me. Very upset with me. Right. She was not, she was not upset with me that it happened, but she was very sad on the radio show. Yeah. That I did that. I didn't tell her before I told the audience. And so like, you know, that, that, so you know, there's little stuff like that maybe one day we'll do a whole episode of, you know, kind of career thoughts and stuff. But I, those are, those are the ones that jump out to me next.

[Damanze]

TQ asked, do you play spades? Are you good? Have you entered professional contests for money?

[Nick Wright]

I do play spades. I have not given the, I mean, am I good? I, I mean against the world, against the average spades player, I assume I'm elite just because I have, you know, I'm an excellent, I have excellent card sense. Like there's very few card games that if you explain the rules to me, much less one like spades that I've played forever, that I can't immediately become above average. And I know that sound like a is saying those words, but it's just true, like this is one of my natural skills, quick brain and a good brain for games and cards. Like I'm very, I'm very good at that type of thing. Now I'm sure there is a, just like there is to poker or different variants of poker, there is a upper, upper level that folks who play it for money, a level of, you know, theory and skill that I have not spent any time investigating. But if I were to play in a, you know, a real money spades tournament, I do, you know, brush up on it a little bit. But yes, I play. Yes, I think I'm good. I've never played it for money, but I would, I mean there's almost no card game I wouldn't play for money. Like it's one of my fate. Playing cards for money is one of my favorite things to do. The one thing. Oh, go ahead, go ahead. No, you go.

[Damanze]

I was going to ask, favorite board game, favorite card game?

[Nick Wright]

Well, it's, you know, favorite, I mean my favorite card game people would just say is poker, but my favorite variant of poker is deuce to seven triple draw. My favorite board game is Monopoly. And when we're our little family reunion, family vacation that we're taking in July into late July, early August, no, late July, late July. I think we might do for the first time something we've talked about for a long time, which is play a Monopoly game with real money.

[Damanze]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

We can do it on like a 10 cent scale, you know what I mean? Instead of everyone starting with 1500, you start with 1, you know, 150. Like you can do it. The, some, the but it's a fun, that's something some of the poker guys do sometimes, which is play real monopoly but with real cash instead of Monopoly cash. See how it turns out.

[Damanze]

Rush right there, man.

[Nick Wright]

Oh yeah, probably. And our family has some sore losers and some sore winners in it. I can't imagine if we had real money money on the table.

[Damanze]

Real arguments.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, some real arguments. But other than Monopoly, everybody says I would like Settlers of Catan. I've never played it, but I think I would like it. I like Risk.

[Damanze]

Risk is elite.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, the Risk is another game though. Risk, unlike Risk, is a game that I think If I spent 15 minutes doing a little research on optimal strategy, I, I, I think I probably play. Yeah, I think I probably play Risk suboptimally. But yeah, I like Risk a lot also. Real quick, before we get to the last question, let me remind you guys, Boost Mobile proving you don't have to overpay for great wireless Unlock the savings of $25 a month forever unlimited plan permanent price with no contracts and no price hikes. You can keep your phone and your number, but you save up to $600 a year compared to the major carriers. Stop overpaying. Switch to a fair price@boost mobile.com today based on average annual single line payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months on the Boost Mobile Unlimited plan as of January 2026. For full offer details, visit boost mobile.com all right, Devonza, last question.

[Damanze]

Nick, what do you what do you most like about Wilds and what qualifies him as being such a great leader on the show? Feel free to share a funny story as well.

[Nick Wright]

Here's what I there's a lot that I really respect and appreciate about kw, but the thing that, that I think I appreciate the most is there are certain days because I can see he preps differently than me. So like for each topic we have like he has his script that he reads and then beneath it and kind of like color coded boxes he has like basically what his point on the topic would be a stats to back it up if there is one. Whatever it is, there are certain days where for you know, like the lead topic of the show he has, I can see, put done a ton of prep and has a bunch of points that he's you know, plans to make and if Brew is cooking or if I'm cooking or if Brew and I are going back and forth if, if he always puts what's best for the show ahead of him getting his takeoff and in that specific role as like the host of the show, that's really important. But it's really in my experience super frustrating to be like man, I built this thing out, I worked on this and I'm not even going to get to say it. And it's not like we have a short show. Our show's crazy long. So like in theory he should be able to say anything he wants. But Brew and I get so long winded or we go back and forth and it's just a very selfless way to broadcast. So I really appreciate that. I also, you know, he, he has a really, obviously he's really funny but he adds a great levity to the show and whenever things, if they could get a little uncomfortable, which is super rare, but if they were to he knows how to, like, neutralize it. And so while on yesterday's episode, I didn't, you know, cape for him to win the Emmy for best studio host, I did it for Scott Van Pelt. Once Scott wins his okay for KW to get his. All right, thank. Thank you to everybody. Great job. Demonte. Great job. Blue Duck. Great job. Volume. Thank you to Hard Rock bet, Boot and Boost Mobile. Everyone, enjoy the weekend. Subscribe to the show. So, you know if we go live this weekend, you guys will know right now if there's going to be a Game 7. I don't know because we're recording this before Game 6, but if there's a Game 7, we might drop an extra episode this weekend. Talk to you guys soon. We'll try.

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