The Herd with Colin Cowherd

"What's Wright: Nick Wright REACTS to LeBron's All-Star Berth OUTRAGE, NBA Trade Deadline, Super Bowl LX STORYLINES"

Date: February 4, 2026
Guest: Damanze Wright
Host: Nick Wright

Episode Overview

In this episode of "What's Wright" (a segment presented by The Herd with Colin Cowherd), Nick Wright leads a spirited discussion covering:

• The uproar over LeBron James' NBA All-Star reserve selection versus the snubbed Kawhi Leonard
• The latest NBA trade deadline buzz, focusing on James Harden’s shocking trade request
• Examination of the NFL's ongoing lack of Black head coaches
• Nick's original pitch for an NFL "International Week"
• Super Bowl LX storylines, matchups, and Vegas odds
• Audience Q&A covering Jamal Murray, Patriots’ expectations, and more

The episode is marked by Nick’s energetic, no-nonsense takes, detailed historic context, and some personal jabs at media narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. LeBron James’ All-Star Berth Controversy

[04:11 – 23:25]

• Context: NBA All-Star reserves announced; debate erupts as LeBron gets a spot while Kawhi Leonard is left out.
• Nick’s Stance: The outrage over LeBron taking Kawhi's spot is manufactured and ignores decades of historic precedent for legendary players.
• Historical Comparisons:
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made several All-Star teams late in his career, even with pedestrian stats.
  • Michael Jordan was voted an All-Star as a Wizard with average numbers, sometimes getting promoted to starter.
  • Kobe Bryant was regularly an All-Star in his declining years, even playing just a handful of games.
• Main Point:
  • Legendary status all but guarantees a player an All-Star nod in their twilight years.
  • The idea that LeBron "took" someone's spot is "intentionally misleading" and "embarrassing" for those pushing it.
• Nick’s Critique of the Media:
  • Accuses figures like John Hollinger of ignoring history for attention:

  “Reading Hollinger's column, unserious and embarrassing. ... As if LeBron took Kawhi's spot is one of the most outrageous and ... intentionally misleading premises that otherwise smart people should know better than to peddle.” (Nick, 05:04)

• On LeBron’s Merit:
  • LeBron's stats (22/6/6 on 50% shooting) actually outperform many of those legendary counterparts late in their careers.
• On Public Perception:

  “It is long understood that if you are in contention to be the greatest player of all time...as long as you're active and healthy, you're an all star.” (Nick, 12:14)

  • Argues the "controversy" is clickbait designed to add juice to Kawhi's snub and is a "double standard against LeBron."
• Whose Spot Did Kawhi Lose?:
  • If anyone, Kawhi should be mad at lesser-named selections—not at LeBron.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Explains how All-Star game selections often function as “lifetime achievement” nods for all-time greats and the outrage didn’t exist in the past for legends.

2. James Harden Demands Trade Amid Clippers’ Hot Streak

[23:56 – 39:17]

• Headline: Harden’s trade request from the Clippers shocks the NBA amid team success.
• Details:
  • The Clippers have been one of the NBA's hottest teams; Harden’s request comes while he’s missed games for personal reasons.
  • Rumored reasoning: Lack of a contract extension.
  • Harden’s track record: Regular playoff letdowns, sensational regular season stats, serial team exits and trade requests.
• Nick’s Summary of Harden’s Career Pattern:

  “We have never seen ... an MVP, brilliant player with this long of a track record of playoff disappearances and now also an insane track record of flat quitting on teams.” (Nick, 28:29)

• Stat Highlight:
  • Harden has had “22 playoff games with two or fewer made baskets.”
• Critique of Potential Suitors:

  “It would be beyond stunning to me if any team that thought they were competing for a championship signed up to be in the James Harden business after on. This is an outrageous thing he's doing right now.” (Nick, 24:57)

• Breakdown of Exits:
  • Lists Harden’s playoff exits and poor performances across OKC, Houston, Brooklyn, Philly, LA.
  • Emphasizes “meltdowns” and “quitting on team after team after team.”
• Notable Quote:

  “It is just a tour de force in lack of accountability, greatness when it matters least, and playoff meltdowns the likes of which we've never seen.” (Nick, 38:11)

• Memorable Moment:
  • Damanze dryly jokes about Harden’s potential boredom in Cleveland versus “big city” markets.

3. NFL Coaching Diversity: Lack of Black Head Coaches

[41:27 – 57:07]

• Issue Raised: All 10 recent head coach openings filled by non-Black coaches—same number of Black head coaches as in 2002.
• Explained Reasons:
  • Nepotism:
    • The “family business” of coaching—sons, nephews of former mostly white coaches continuing the cycle.
    • “This is the impact of there being so few Black head coaches 30 years ago is being felt now when so many of the coaches currently coaching are kids of coaches from 30 years ago.” (Nick, 44:37)
  • Race-based Stereotyping (Unconscious bias):
    • Black coaches perceived more as “motivators/defense,” white coaches as “quarterback whisperers/offense.”
    • Affects which tracks coaches are placed on (play-caller vs. motivational role).
    • Example: D’Amico Ryans (brilliant, but seen as defensive mind). White offensive coaches more likely to get “innovator” label.
• Nick’s Tone:
  • Analytical, careful—acknowledges subtlety, insists most people aren’t “traditionally racist,” but preconceived notions persist.
• Memorable Insight:

  “A thought process can be based in racism without the person having those thoughts being what we would call racist.” (Nick, 48:24)

• Evolution Expected:
  • As more Black QBs and coaches enter the league, familial pipelines may eventually reduce discrepancy—but not overnight.
• Memorable Context:
  • Awareness that progress is slow—even with rules like the Rooney Rule, structural forces are powerful.
• Impactful Quote:

  "I don't think I'm not going to act like there aren't certain decision makers that are ... simply flatly racists... But I don't think that is the major or even significant reason behind what's happening right now in the NFL." (Nick, 55:34)

4. NFL’s Upcoming International Week & Nick’s Pitch

[57:18 – 63:44]

• News: NFL will play games in Paris and, shockingly, Melbourne, Australia.
• Nick’s Idea:
  • Proposes “International Week”: every team plays one International game, with games staggered daily across the globe, each in a different country.
  • Every team gets two bye weeks to mitigate travel; adds value and TV opportunities.
  • Nick claims to have pitched this to Roger Goodell back in 2016 and feels the league is finally moving his way.
• Memorable Quotes:

  "Every team plays eight home, eight road and one international game. ... Every single day, there would be a game ... from different spots around the globe because they're already doing Rio, Australia, Spain, England, France, Germany." (Nick, 61:36) "I don't need credit ... I would, however, like if somebody in the league office was like, 'You know who came up with this idea?'" (Nick, 63:07)

5. Super Bowl LX: Storylines, Matchups & Vegas Odds

[64:38 – 73:37]

• Patriots Key Issues:
  • Drake Maye’s shoulder injury is a real concern, especially since his deep ball success has dropped off since midseason.
  • "Vrabel is just an unbelievable coach and his game management is superb." (Nick, 65:37)
• Seahawks Issues:
  • Team sale rumors are a non-story; Paul's Allen’s will always stipulated a future sale.
  • Offensive coordinator’s impending departure is not a major distraction.
• Vegas Perspective:
  • Sharps like Seattle to win but expect New England to cover; point spread hasn’t mattered for most recent Super Bowls.
  • "In the last 15 years... only one Super bowl where the point spread mattered." (Nick, 69:29)

6. Listener Questions

[71:07 – End]

• Poker Mount Rushmore:
  • Michael Jordan is Nick’s ultimate pick for a poker opponent.
• Jamal Murray’s All-Star Selection:
  • Happy for Murray and the Nuggets but jokes this undercuts claims that Jokic never had All-Star teammates.
• Are Patriots Playing with House Money?
  • Nick: No Super Bowl is ever truly a free roll—Marino and Bengals prove that future chances are never guaranteed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On LeBron All-Star Outrage:

  “Juxtaposing it to LeBron being an All Star as if LeBron took Kawhi’s spot is one of the most outrageous and ... intentionally misleading premises that otherwise smart people should know better than to peddle.” — Nick Wright [05:08]

• Lifetime Achievement Rule:

  “If you are in contention to be the greatest player of all time… as long as you’re active and healthy, you’re an All-Star.” — Nick Wright [12:14]

• On James Harden’s pattern:

  “We have never seen... an MVP, brilliant player with this long of a track record of playoff disappearances and now also an insane track record of flat quitting on teams.” — Nick Wright [28:29] “It is just a tour de force in lack of accountability, greatness when it matters least, and playoff meltdowns the likes of which we've never seen.” — Nick Wright [38:11]

• Coaching Diversity:

  "This is the impact of there being so few Black head coaches 30 years ago is being felt now when so many of the coaches currently coaching are kids of coaches from 30 years ago." — Nick Wright [44:37] “A thought process can be based in racism without the person having those thoughts being what we would call racist.” — Nick Wright [48:24] “I don't think ... that is the major or even significant reason behind what's happening right now in the NFL.” — Nick Wright [55:34]

• Nick’s International Week Pitch:

  “Every team plays eight home, eight road and one international game. ... Every single day, there would be a game ... from different spots around the globe…” — Nick Wright [61:36] "I did, to be fair, say, take this idea... I would, however, like if somebody in the league office was like, 'You know who came up with this idea?'" — Nick Wright [63:07]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• NBA All-Star LeBron vs. Kawhi Debate: [04:11 – 23:25]
• James Harden Trade Demand & NBA Deadline: [23:56 – 39:17]
• NFL Black Head Coaching Vacancies Discussion: [41:27 – 57:07]
• NFL International Week Pitch: [57:18 – 63:44]
• Super Bowl LX Storylines & Vegas Odds: [64:38 – 73:37]
• Audience Q&A: [71:07 – End]

Final Takeaway

This episode stands out for its context-heavy, history-aware approach. Nick Wright is in top form, lampooning media takes, exposing shallow narratives, and offering thoughtful, honest analysis—especially on topics of legend privilege, NBA politics, NFL structural equality, and the business of sports. If you want a primer on why LeBron’s All-Star selection is both a no-brainer and a symbol, or want to truly understand the pitfalls of hiring (and firing) in pro sports, this is a must-listen.