The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - Nick Wright Part 1: Nothing Wrong With LeBron Helping Bronny, Caitlin Clark Won’t Struggle In WNBA, Continuity Matters In Sports

Episode Date: April 10, 2024

Colin is joined by Nick Wright, host of “First Things First” on FS1! They start by talking about Bronny declaring for one of the weakest NBA draft classes in years and why they have no problem with LeBron helping set up his son for the best possible chance at achieving his dream (3:00). They also provide a laundry list of examples of nepotism in sports (9:00). They push back on the criticism levied at Caitlin Clark by former UConn women’s stars (16:00) and explain why her game will translate perfectly to the WNBA (20:30). They also weigh in on the massive popularity of both the men’s and women’s tournaments and why continuity is important for sports to connect with fans (24:30). (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Don’t forget to check back for Part 2! Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates! #Volume #Herd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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All right. Bring in Nick Wright, probably every other week, and we just rambled for about 55 minutes to an hour. We're talking about a variety of subjects today, no particular order. Here we go. LeBron James' son is an NBA athlete. I don't think Right now, currently, he's quite an NBA player. I think they would draft him, send him to the G League, give him a year. And Mick Cronin said the other day, the UCLA coach, he's not as quicker as fast as he was, pre-cardiac arrest. He's not quite the player.

But I watched him, but I've watched him enough, seen his hop, seen his handles. He got a beautiful jumpers. He's got a beautiful-looking jumper. I like his jumper better. Right. It looks good. His first shooting percentage is not good, but it doesn't look like there's a problem with it. No.

In fact, I like it better than his dad's. I think his shooting is very natural. Bigger players don't generally, you know, Larry Bird, KD, the exception. A lot of times the six, four guys got the perfect jumper, the perfect look, the perfect hand size. But here's the thing. And I don't know how necessarily to explain this is that this is the worst draft, maybe as bad as the Anthony Bennett draft. So as more mothers are telling their kids do not play football, more mothers. In Los Angeles, I have a buddy that lives in Brentwood.

He's like, I'm like an outcast for letting my kids play tackle football. I was at those sidebar to it. I was at a card game with some Hollywood and finance folks, low stakes by their standards for sure, else I wouldn't have been able to play in it. And there was a very, very smart guy there who had enough money that he all, when I was like, how do I know this name? didn't know who he was at the time, but I was like, I know this name. So after I left the card game, I googled his name.

And I was like, oh, you almost bet. You almost bet. You almost bought this baseball team like six years ago. I won't see the, um, but he said that like he and he was a very sharp guy. And he was like, yeah, I don't think football should be legal under 18 years old. And I didn't agree with them, but my, I'm just echoing your point. There are a lot of people that are not letting their kids even consider playing tackle football, particularly, I think, I bet it skews higher income and things like that. But go ahead, as you were saying, about Brownie.

Yet, you can get Brock Purdy in the final pick. Half the league is undrafted. Kurt Warner, Tony Romo undrafted. The NBA is a global game. And people are suggesting they're not three sure. fire NBA starters in this draft. There's two rounds. There's almost no players after the 12th pick. It's a cheaper sport to play. Hockey and football are expensive. It's a global sport. Is that saying that the NBA is so good it's impossible to make it? Is it saying our domestic

culture is broken and our players are distracted and not skilled enough? How in the world could you have a global sport? We don't have a shortage of great baseball players, great hockey players. we're having drafts like every third draft is talentless. Yeah, but so I think it's actually more the first than the second because the league is more talented now than at any point in my lifetime. True. And so I think it is less that, oh my God, there's not good players. It's that the bar for being considered a good player these days is so much higher than it

once was. And your pal Bill Simmons talks about this a lot. But like, the guys who are now ninth men, you know, not that long ago would be good starters. Good, like good. And if you look at some teams that we thought of as very good teams 20 years ago and look at who they had after their top four guys, it's a bunch of, huh? And so that, it's an argument for expansion. It's an argument for adding teams to the league because the talent level right now is so high. Like you look at the Western Conference in the NBA. Right now, we have, as we record this, the Lakers and the Warriors are the nine and the 10th.

It's insane. Despite, and keep in mind. So next year, so think about the Western Conference and the NBA next year. And then I want to circle back to Bronte for a moment. So Minnesota is not going to be worse. I don't know if they're going to be the one seat, but it's not like all of a sudden Minnesota is going to go away. I'm just going to go down the standings.

Denver is here to stay. Oklahoma City is only getting better. The Clippers maybe take a step back, but if they bring everyone back, why would they not maintain about where they are? Dallas seems to have figured out the Luca Kyrie thing. They're even playing defense in Dallas. They're playing defense.

Lucas' top three player in the league hands down. They're fine. Phoenix, yeah, okay, so Phoenix could go backwards because of the age of their guys, but it's not like they're going to be a disaster. New Orleans is a young team. Sacramento is a young team. The Lakers, the Warriors.

And then you have Memphis with Jock coming back. The Wimby is coming for everybody. And Houston was an exciting team. That's 13 teams. 15 teams in the conference. So there's just the teams are so talented and so loaded. I think that's about the draft. I want to defend the Brani thing for a minute.

if I could. So what if this is, can everyone even the biggest LeBron James critics acknowledge the guys, all-time basketball IQ wise, can we at least acknowledge that, that the guy understands how the game is played and understands the NBA as well as anybody ever has? Okay.

For folks arguing, oh my gosh, LeBron's putting his finger on the scale. He shouldn't. Why would he do it? He's hurting his son in the long run. He's undercutting it. I don't know that this is the math LeBron is doing,

but it's just an idea. What if LeBron's thought process is, on this current trajectory, in today's college basketball climate, my kid is not going to get the development and improvement that he needs over the next three years to one day be an NBA player.

Right. However, if I do put my finger on the scale and get a team to be at least somewhat invested in his development, then by the time I'm gone, he will be good enough to be a legitimate stand on his own two feet NBA player. And so not that dissimilar from how Seth Curry went undrafted and then bounced around the G league for two years, getting multiple chances I happen to believe, in part because of who his brother is. And then through that development, now he's a legitimate, really good NBA player. Would that have happened if he didn't get those opportunities that I think he probably got? because of who his brother was. No.

Do I think that is fair? I don't know, define fair. Is it absolutely what I think I would do if I were in LeBron's place? Of course. If I can help my kid achieve his dream and he might not be able to without my help, of course I'm going to. And folks whining about it, people in the NBA sell second round picks for two million bucks.

These are not like the hottest commodities. Like, oh my God, you're going to waste a second round pick. Teams throw them in. Willy-nilly. Teams sell them. And so, yeah, I mean, listen, what's going to hurt Brony is he's six to. And I know Manix and Shams and other people have said he's an NBA level defender. It's just hard to be a great defender in this league at that size.

I'm not saying he can't be. but I don't I don't think LeBron is doing is being unfair to anybody in this circumstance whatsoever. I think my my example that makes me laugh the most is every time you're driving and you see a plumbing truck, it always says Johnson and Sons. Yeah, of course. I mean, this is, we can talk about it being problematic, but we've only had 46, 40, 40, seven presidents in this country. One were father and son.

The other one were uncle and nephew. Like even up to presidential level of this country, there's nepotism. The NFL and NBA front offices and coaching staffs are rife with it. Those last names all being the same are not a

goddamn coincidence. Right. It is because you know, the Kyle Shanahan being Mike Shanahan's son and his part of history is Mike LaFleur with Matt LaFleur. And then, I mean, the Brian Callahan, wait, Bill Callahan has two sons that are NFL coaches.

Like, we're used to it everywhere. And for some reason, people are not as comfortable with it in pro sports. But I, we haven't, because we haven't seen this, I guess. Because nobody's ever in the NBA played long enough for this to be a real possibility. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at Tickford. Talk Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics

from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. So I thought there was sort of an ugly moment with Caitlin Clark when some former Yukon players, you know, on a telecast, we're kind of taking shots at her. And I'm like, ladies, this comes across so petty.

Like, she's dominant at college. And I've always had this basketball vibe is that as long as you're a reasonable height. Now, there are high school guys that are 5, 9, average 30 a game. They get to college. They're not big enough. or college guys, you know, the off guard that's six, one and a half playing a two guard in college. You can't make it in the NBA. But if you're of regular normal height in the league and you're going into, no defense has ever stopped any great score.

Score, score. There was no Kobe stopper, MJ Topper. Tony Allen was a great defender. And guys got their, they got what they wanted to get. Of course. Is that, and I think that's transferable. I think there are certain things, men's and women's game that are transfer. One of the first things I noticed when I watched her, she never looks at the ball.

I mean, she, it is totally connected to her hand. She's always looking up the court or at the rim. She reminds me of the Mahomes where she's scrambling, never really to run. It's a last option. He is always looking for people. A lot of guys just, the smaller guys run to not get hit. Kyler Murray is looking to not get hit. Patrick's looking to hit somebody downfield.

Big difference. So the first couple times I watched her last year, I'm like, boy, she is, that's like NBA. Like that ball is, even college guys sometimes, you can see they're protecting the ball. She's magic. That ball is connected to her. Her court vision because of that is substantial. Like, and again, this sounds like, well, everybody can dribble without watching. There are players that are connected to the ball.

It's just. And by the way, go away. If you think everybody can dribble without looking. at it. Go watch. Celtics might win the title this year. The second best player can dribble his left hand. Like, I mean, the idea that everybody can do it. No, they can't. Yeah, Isaiah Ryder I covered had no left hand. He could not dribble with his left hand. I say a writer. And so, listen,

prior to Caitlin Clark, I thought Diana Tarasi was the best women's player I'd ever sing. Cheryl Miller for me. Right. And I just didn't see Cheryl. Yeah. And so I trust everyone on Cheryl, but I just didn't see her. Last year of high school, 82 for me, 83, she was the, when you're in college, she was, there were arguments. Could she make the NBA? We would argue in college. Right.

And Griner was the most, like, awe-inspiring, but I thought Tarazi was the best. And so I have mass respect for Tarasie. But, and this is, I don't think anything Tarazi and Sue Byrd said was out of bounds. I didn't think it was unfair. I don't think they need to apologize any of that. I think, but I think real equality comes with me being able to say, that's a bad take. You know what?

You had a bad take. And the idea, and listen, a lot of it is just as simple as. Those are Yukon folks. She was playing page. They rooted for page. You know what I mean? There's real, that's my school. Got it.

No problem. But the idea that Caitlin Clark is going to go to the WNBA and not immediately be excellent. I think is ridiculous. Right. I think it now, is she going to walk in and be the best player in the league? No, I don't think that. Is she going to walk in and be an all-star level player?

I would be shocked if she's not. I would be shocked. The look at the best men's players, their rookie year, they're good. They're not, you know, Durant. And that's one year in college. And that's correct. That's the other. point I was going to make. And for LeBron, none, for Durant won. Duncan got four and was awesome

year one. And arguably the best player in the league year two, was finals MVP year two, like four years. And so, Caitlin Clark is not going to struggle. It's just, it's just a bad take to think that she is going to come to the WMB and struggle. Will she dominate that way she did in college basketball? No. but I do think the South Carolina women's that that South Carolina women's team is I think probably on par with low with some of you know the bottom five WMBA teams I don't think the WMBA's evolved to the level of the NBA where the worst NBA team would roll the I agree I agree basketball team and she didn't you know she didn't beat that team but it's not like she looked in over death I just I don't think she's going to struggle at all. I think she's going to be really good. Also. And in short order, be awesome.

Also, her WNBA teammates are going to all be better than her Iowa teammates, meaning her passes the finishing. Her teammates will finish at the rim. Her teammates will hit the shots. Right. I mean, Indiana got the number one pick last year and got Alia Boston, who was the best player on South Carolina a year ago that lost Caitlin Clark. Yeah, I mean, that is the other thing that is going to be maybe her scoring is going to

and field goal percentage is going to suffer in the short term. Yeah. Her assist percentage will not because she is going to be playing with the most talent she's ever played with by a mile, by a mile. And so, yeah, I think I think this is a super exciting wall. moment for women's sports. And I'm really, and I always, here is where I think the American viewing public deserves credit. If it's awesome, we'll watch it.

Yep. Blatly. Period. If it's awesome, we'll watch. It doesn't really matter the sport or the gender. If it's awesome and the stakes are high, we can tell. that's dope, let's get invested. Yep.

And so the, that is where the television ratings are pretty honest when it comes to big events and how much people care. And so I like the, I don't know what the ratings and stuff will be for the WMBA, but I know that right now people like the, and this is the word, this word is, I think I've said this you before. The only time this word is ever used is in reference to college sports, but it's the right word. Pagintry. People do like the pageantry of college sports. Yeah. They like it. They like the school spirit. They like the band. They like the fact that they're young people, but old enough to not be, you know, making terrible mistakes, but young enough like,

yo, they might airball this open shot. Like he might miss this extra point. It adds a lot of drama and things to it. And people like getting to know teams and players and going on rides with them. Yes. And the men's game, it's gone. And so that void is now being filled by the women's game. Like people, one of the reasons this women's title did such crazy numbers is because we've been invested in Caitlin Clark's Iowa team for two years now.

Yes. You know what I mean? There was a story. Oh, they beat South Carolina and Dawn Staley last year when they were undefeated. Now is they're going to get their get back. You get to go on the ride with them. And so, and the men's game doesn't have that coming back anytime soon. And people want it.

Now, I will say, I was talking to somebody yesterday who played college basketball. He said the NIL, you know, the G League Ignite got booted. Yeah. The NIL is going to keep kids that would normally have not given college basketball a chance. I do think that will incrementally, perhaps granular, help college basketball a little. I agree. By the way, Zach Eady, great for two years.

Look at the ratings. Yukon, great for two years. Look at the ratings. 90% of money in Hollywood is on remakes. So I do think women's college basketball has a continuity edge. I mean, this is what Ali had. He fights Norton. He fights Frazier.

He gets this, you know, he wins there. He loses there. Boxing had this forever. UFCs had this. The rematches get, this is why the minute somebody loses, they talk rematch, college basketball has a rematch problem. But I do think as much as people, you know, it fosters insecurity and angst, the NIL eventually will land with, oh, it actually helps college basketball a little bit. Oh, I think, yeah, because if you can get people to stick around for an extra year and have more of continuity, That's what people want. People want to, you know, go on these rides with you. And it's something that I think the NBA suffers from a bit right now, which is people, you know, listen, I am the, I obviously wasn't, you know, I was a little, little kid in the 80s. But I'm enough of an NBA historian that I know, like, people want, like, they watched the Pistons come close and come close.

And I understand they made tweaks, Aguire and Dantley, you know, the train, the, got it. And then they finally break through. And it's, you know, it's Isaiah and Dumars and Lambert and Rodman. And you,

you were invested in it. And then the Bulls went through that, say, they keep losing to the business. They keep losing. They finally break through. It has been, you know,

Kobe with the Lakers. He, at the top, Shaq leaves. He has three years out in the wilderness. Then all of a sudden, you know, back on top.

because of the just the quickness of player movement in the NBA didn't win leave you're not taking going on that same journey that we saw dirt go on that we saw these other guys go on

and I think that has probably hurt some of the popularity of the league a bit and I you know Clay said on Draymond's podcast the other day I thought it was really interesting he's like I want to stay with the Warriors but I might have to prioritize

my mental health. And I'm like, well, that's a weird. That's a weird answer. Because you would, like, what that's saying is, yes, ideally I'd stay here, but I might be happier or elsewhere. And so, you know, we could be, we, we could have 10 days left of Steph, Clay, and Dremont, I know, I know. That's why I'm going to know. That's all, you know what I mean? I was going to say, yeah, you, it's why I'm going. One of the last, right, this could be one of the last games they ever play together. The volume. Thanks for listening to Part 1 of the conversation with Nick.

Don't forget to check back for part two. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing.

How many men carry a suit or armor it. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean. that you need to listen to learn the hard way on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast this is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human