The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - NFL Free Agency Breakdown, Bam’s Historic 83, Chiefs Land Super Bowl MVP, Lakers BIG Problem

Episode Date: March 14, 2026

Colin’s top takes of the week. First, Colin’s joined by '3 & Out' host John Middlekauff to react to all the NFL Free Agency moves.  They start with the Dolphins signing Malik Willis and give their takes on if they like the move for Miami (3:30). Next they discuss Mike Evans leaving the Bucs for the San Francisco 49ers (7:00), Tyler Linderbaum leaving Ravens for Las Vegas Raiders (9:00) and Cowboys trading for Rashan Gary (12:15). Finally, they discuss the Chiefs adding Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, how does that impact Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce (15:15)? Then, Colin is joined by Danny Parkins, host of “First Things First” on FS1. Colin kicks it off with Bam Adebayo’s historical 83 point game for the Heat, and Colin argues that the fan blowback wouldn’t be nearly as pronounced if he was more of a flashy type of star player, but Danny argues HOW Bam got the record matters and how he got it didn’t sit right because the game stopped becoming basketball to get him extra chances (24:30).  They dive into how LeBron has been typecast as the guy that makes everything work regardless of his teammates… until now that he’s playing with Luka Doncic and they don’t gel (32:15). Finally, they discuss the Bears 9.5 win total and whether taking the over is easy money (39:00) .  (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #Volume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it'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 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 and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. The volume. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor American beverage. If you think about some of the most iconic drinks in the country, the ones you grab at a barbecue, the ones you raise to celebrate your team that have been part of your story for decades,

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi. see, there's something people don't always think about. The companies behind those brands are still making their drinks right here in the U.S. While there's a lot of talk about bringing manufacturing back, America's beverage companies never left. They're American companies making American products with American workers in America's hometown. So 275,000 men and women across all 50 states, real jobs, good paying jobs, the kind of jobs you can raise a family on. So more than 100 years, those brands have been part of everyday lives and they're still here, still investing, still operating in communities around the country. So if you care about strong local economies and companies that walk the walk,

check out the good work and what they're doing at we deliver for America.org. Well, the day didn't start well. I backed out. I had Monday off because the World Baseball Classic, I backed out of the garage. The door wasn't all the way open and I rammed it with Anne's car. So that was just not good for me. That was not. And we're going on vacation Saturday. So I got to make, man's really quickly. Did the garage door follow you, or did the car get the worst of it, or what happened there? Yeah, well, the garage door stopped working and the car got dinged up, so it was terrible. So I said, all right, I'll go walk the dogs and watch the NFL free agency.

So I've made peace with it. And had to go with her sister downtown Chicago, so she had to cool off. All right, let's start with this. Okay, I know he only has six starts. NFL free agency, Malik Willis, $22 million a year, three-year deal with the dolphins. He is not Tua. Stop saying that. He's a real athlete with a better arm.

He's got a much better arm than Tua, and he's really athletic. I know he's young. I like him. I, you know, John, I've said this for years. I don't know anything about music other than I like it. I can watch these musical shows. I can tell him 30 seconds of somebody has, like, lounge act, or you could sign him to a record deal.

And I don't know anything about music. I know a little about football. When I watch that kid's escapability, arm, he's got, I mean, he's got, again, it's the, it's Green Bay, so he was well coached. But there were Packer fans saying they thought he was as good or better than Jordan Love. I think the Dolphins went and found a very interesting player at quarterback. Well, the other thing is the people that just signed him know them. And it's not the offensive coach, the defensive coordinator that went against him forever.

Because, you know, in the NFL, when you're the backup quarterback, you run the, you run the scout team. You service the defense. So Jeff Hathley had a front row seat for two years. And the general manager, who was the right-hand guy for Goudicans, same thing, right, from an evaluation standpoint. Do you remember a guy improving this much, this fast? Because remember what Tennessee, he was pretty bad. Like, he was unplayable. And then last year when he had to play, he was basically just a running quarterback.

When LaFleur, remember, because he got hurt in week one in Brazil, Love did, and then he had to play. And they started winning. She was like, okay, there's at least something there. I gave LaFour a lot of credit. This year, to me, with his arm, was fantastic because he proved two things. One, he could come out of the bullpen. So he played in a game when Love got hurt. heard against the Bears that he was not planning on playing.

And then, let's face it, Love was kind of hit or miss this year. In that game, he was fantastic. And the cold weather, which is a big knock on Tua and a big knock on the Miami Dolphins, can't play in cold weather. Well, why is that the case usually? When you have a pea shooter arm, what doesn't pierce the cold in the wind? Weak arm strength. Look at the great quarterbacks.

You know, historically in that region, Big Ben, Tom Brady. Peyton Manning and Breeze played in a dome. Rivers played in Southern California. Eli Manning, huge arm. Where do you play? New York? You know, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vic, Patrick Mahomes, cold weather quarterbacks. Burroughs somewhat of an outlier, not a great arm, but he's just, he's like Montana, just a great player. So it kind of translates. But I'm with you. I not only like it, I think it's an incredible story of just improvement. Clearly, he was always a high character, interesting human, but the play was really raw when Tennessee drafted him. But LaFleur deserves a lot of credit,

because that offensive staff improving the player deserves a lot of credit. Incredible story. I'm with you. I think no brainer for him. Miami, to me, is more interesting than going to Arizona. So I like picking the spot and you know the guys know you and believe in you. So it wouldn't shock me at all if he, I don't think he becomes like a top seven, eight quarterback, but has just a solid career.

Like what we saw last year, there is no disputing. He was a really good player in limited action, really good. Yeah, and it should be noted. that Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, you know, we've seen this before. There's more good offensive coaches. There's more sophisticated schemes. If you're a hardworking kid, you're not gobbling up, you know, too much cap space, although they have to pay two off for two years.

So I think we both like it. All right, here's another one. Mike Evans to the 49ers. So he is a big red zone target. They have been hit and miss on receivers. I thought they overplayed their hand on Debo. He was good briefly, got hurt, moved him. Iyukes a disaster. Ricky Pearsall's solid, not great, but, you know, late first round pick. Mike Evans, Red Zone guy, Kiddell, McCaffrey, Trent Williams. It's, again, older player picks up the playbook with Kyle Shanahan quickly, a playmaker. It feels like Kyle Shanahan didn't have a ton of patience with young players. He likes guys.

I mean, it feels like to me he likes veteran players. So Mike Evans to the Niners, again, this gives Brock Purdy another weapon. Feels like it works to me. Yeah, fits their kind of mold, high character, high level guy, very productive. You know, Fred Warner, Christian McCaffrey, like that type human slash player. Ricky Pearsall is a good player. He just can't stay on the field. And Joanne Jennings is going to get a lot of money.

So the IUC thing blew up in their face. Yeah, I mean, they have a major question mark at the wide receiver position. And the other thing is the Rams are loading up on their defensive backfield. So I think the 49ers had to do something offensively because you saw in those last couple games against Seattle, obviously Kittle went down in the second game, but they just had no firepower. And the one thing you have to do, the Rams prove this. If you have some firepower, this is not 1987.

The rules are on your side as an offensive coach. but they were rolling out practice squad level guys. So you get Mike Evans a future Hall of Famer. Love that move. Doesn't shock me at all. I mean, the 49ers at this point in time haven't been that active the last couple of years in free agency. But that's a Cowshanahan type guy for sure. Yeah.

I mean, it's, listen, the entire team gets nicked up. I mean, there's been stories about some right next to their practice facility. Substation. There's a substation which weakens tissues. I don't know if it's true. But to me, he feels so 49ers. All right, let me throw another one at you. We talked about this yesterday. Tyler Lindelbaum, I'm not sure why Baltimore didn't sign him, probably because they have a Lamar contract renegotiation coming up, renegotiation coming up. Max Crosby is expensive. Kyle Hamilton. Outside of Creed Humphrey of the Chiefs, there's an argument.

Tyler Lindelbaum is the best center in football. I thought they were going to resign him. He was a first round pick out of Iowa, tough, smart, durable, doesn't miss a lot of starts. I love, this is an A-plus move to me by the Raiders because this is what Ben Johnson did with the Bears. You know, they went drafted JPJ out of Oregon last year. He's more of a guard. He was a center in college. He's more of a guard. Then they bring in a Pro Bowl center for Fernando Mendoza.

Now their offense basically, they'll probably, they have so much. many picks. They'll probably get a receiver in the second or third round. They'll also probably draft a right tackle fourth, fifth round. I love this. To me, this is my favorite signing so far in free agency. Well, look at all the good teams, right? The Ravens for the last four years have had one of the best centers. The chiefs have one of the best centers. The bills just paid their center. Like, I mean, center kind of matters, especially when you have a young quarterback. And I think if you're a Raider fan, you look at it, go, we essentially traded Max Crosby for two first round picks, being 14 and a center, who's one of the better centers in the league. I just look,

he hasn't missed a snap really in the last two years. So this is a very durable, classic like Midwest center, right? The other thing is, I would say this for the Raven standpoint, he was banged up last year, but the previous two years, when you factor in, the center obviously was an excellent player and likely who accounted for 11 touchdowns in 23 and 24, was very productive in their two playoff or their two playoff runs those two years. He's not Kelsey or Kittle or anything, but he was a unique player for them and made huge plays. Even the play that led to the Miss Field goal against Pittsburgh on that Sunday night game, who made the crazy catch? Isaiah likely. How many teams have a six-six guy? I mean,

he kind of plays like a little Darren Waller, basketball player, elite athlete. You just, you don't need to be that accurate. Just throw them a 50-50 ball because it's not a 50-50 ball. So there are some injury concerns. He's not the most durable player. He is a unique player, though. So you tell me the Ravens on offense with this 29-year-old aging quarterback, new offensive coordinator, lose their, you know, kind of just stalwart guy at center and this unique chess piece with likely, you know, Henry still got something in the tank, but he's a little

older. Zay Flowers isn't exactly Jerry Rice, good player. But, I mean, their offense has some question marks, assuming they're defense will improve, which it will, but I don't know. That's, that's to me something to keep an eye on with the Ravens who are clearly trying, you know, we talked about this last night, right? Super Bowl or bust, I mean, making it to the Super Bowl. They're in this little couple-year window now of them and the bills. There's no, well, we made the playoffs. That's not really their standard in their organization now. Rishon Gary to Dallas, rush her off the edge. I mean,

Listen, Quinn and Williams, Kenny Clark and the trade for Micah Parsons, Roshan Gary. It allows them to go get a corner and maybe a Caleb Downs in the draft in the first round. I mean, that's what it feels like to me is that they're going to buy, you know, they're going to spend money defensively up front. They don't want to wait for developing players. Jerry Jones is getting older. Dax getting older. So they're going to go buy veteran players up front, which they have.

And then they're going to draft on the back end. I still think they're going to draft defensive players with their picks in the first round. Yeah, I think clearly there's going to be a good defensive back there with their first pick, which is, what is it, 13? Like, they're going to get, Caleb Downs, definitely, there's a chance he's there when you factor in that. One of the two best corners. So they're going to get, and I think at pick 20 gives them a little leeway of just, they can take a great player, right, who doesn't have to be a position in need. Say this about the Cowboys, they've drafted pretty well, especially in the first round, from Zach Martin. You know, Zeke was really good.

obviously C.D. Lamb. Well, Tyler Smith has become a good player. Tyler, all their offensive linemen have become, you know, starters for their team. So one thing you'd say about Jerry and the front office operation, Jerry's not the guy breaking down seven games on every player, right? Now, he's the guy front and center when the press conference comes. But they have a really good scouting staff. So I think the Cowboys, I was just texting somebody.

I think the Giants, this NFC East, you know, the Eagles, they lose Jalen Phillips. their pass rush when they won the Super Bowl a couple years ago was like historically great. I think they had four guys get double-digit sacks. Well, since then, Brandon Graham, retired, came back, probably retire again. Fletcher Cox is gone. Obviously, sweat is now on the Cardinals. They have this Jalen Carter situation who is an elite talent, but they are very uncomfortable paying him $40, $45 million. So it's like, now you look at the giants who have some stability.

The Cowboys offensively have been fantastic. Schottenheimer proved, like, he's a pretty good offensive play. If their defense is just solid, they're going to be a pretty interesting team. So you got to have the Giants and the Cowboys. Like, that division is going to be, to me, dramatically more competitive than I would say it's been over the last 10 years when it's basically just been the Eagles or those couple years with McCarthy when the Cowboys were pretty loaded. But now the commanders, I think commanders still have a lot of question marks. I think they clearly wanted Linderbom. But what did the Raiders have?

No state income tax could offer a huge amount of money. you just have a fresh slate here. Come, you get to be the team captain. So the commanders had cut their center. He's now on the Chargers. I'm sure they wanted the Linderbom. They don't have that. Their roster's kind of old to begin with.

So the Eagles just got a lot of moving parts. Now, they still got a lot of talents and talent and the NFL matters. But, man, there's just that division to me has gotten a lot more interesting in the last couple months, I would say. Kenneth Walker from Seattle to Kansas City. Again, he's great after contact, gets to. dinged up, but they have no juice. They're losing backs to free agency. They have no juice in the backfield. I also thought this made sense because they don't have a ton of draft picks, but it allows

them now their first pick could be the right tackle, Fano from Utah. They need a corner for McDuffie. They need an edge rusher. They have three big needs now with Kenneth Walker. They'll probably draft another running back later in the draft. It's not a good running back draft. So, I mean, to me, Kenneth Walker is more valuable. This sounds weird. just say as a Super Bowl MVP, but I think because of Charbonnet with the Seahawks as a backup, they have another couple backs in Seattle that are, you know, spot players. They don't play a ton. But I think Kenneth Walker of the Chiefs feels incredibly valuable. And with Seattle, not that he was disposable, but they have such a stacked roster, it feels like if they, if they drafted another

running back in the fourth round, one of the, a Penn State running back in the third round, you're like, they're fine. I think Kansas City had to do this. Yeah, I don't think they had a choice either. I think it's pretty clear to them, too. I don't think they would have taken Jeremiah Love, but at this point in time, you're weighing all your options. I think they understand that that wasn't even going to be an option at Pick 9. So you go, quote unquote, overpay. I mean, they gave them a substantial amount of money. Three years, $45 million, almost guaranteed him 30. Remember a couple years ago, that was essentially what Howie Roseman gave Sakewood Barkley. So these running backs, they've been on Zoom calls, always bitching them on and they don't get any money. Like,

This has been a lot better the last couple of years. You know, the money has gravitated toward them. Listen, the Chiefs, they weren't going to let Baltimore and Buffalo have all the fun. Like Andy Reid, they don't plan on, I know a lot of people talk about this. I'll just have an off year and they ain't mailing anything in. Their game plan is Mahomes starting week one. They plan on winning. They get a plug-and-play running back.

Now, one thing that he's going to have to prove he can do, Andy likes throwing the ball to the back, right? Shady McCoy, Brian Westbrook, Jamal Charles when he first got to Kansas City. That's not what Walker does. So it's like now, could they maybe want to adapt a little bit to take some pressure? Who'd they bring back?

Eric B. Enemy, what's he? A running back guy. Right? So maybe they want to take a little pressure off, coming off an injury, right? Coming off an ACL, they're not going to want him to throw 40, 50 times a game like he did earlier in his career. So could they maybe try to lean on Kenneth Walker a little bit more?

Now, that would be very opposite of Andy's history. But listen, what do talented people in any industry do? They adapt, they change. Andy's changed how many times his offense. His offense now, ask anyone, is dramatically different than it was 10 years ago, 20 years ago. So what if you tell everyone, I don't think many people in the league would believe you, they're a rushing team this year, right? They got a good guard. They got a good center. They got a young son left tackle. Like you said, what if they draft a right tackle and if they go, you know what? Why don't we do some Kyle Shanahan and just run the ball, take a little pressure off our quarterback.

build up our young defense with our stud coordinator. So what if the chiefs are, their game plan this year is to be one of the better rushing teams? Look at, you know, the bills with Cook. Now, Cook's a better player than Walker. But what if the chiefs are about to throw a little curveball here and become a running offense? Do you think Travis Kelsey signs with them or somebody else? Well, I thought he was going to go to the Giants and then they sign likely. Well, that's not happening.

I mean, by all accounts, maybe they're just as a tie that I under, undervalue a little bit. This is a unique player with a unique connection to Andy and the Chiefs. And for the right price, I mean, at this point in time, he's so wealthy on and off the field that maybe he's just cool with like, hey, man, I understand I'm not a $15 million year player anymore. Could we go like five and incentivize that up if I give you 10 touchdowns? But this is where I want to be. These are my people, which I value.

I think I do understand from a player standpoint of seeing some, you know, Kobe Bryant types. Like, this is the only franchise I ever played with, even though historically, that's not really how the NFL work. So I am a little surprised if it does work out. But I think the reason that we haven't seen it yet is the chiefs aren't just going to, well, Travis, here's the check. You fill it in. Like, those days are kind of over because he wasn't great last year, Colin. I mean, the drops, he definitely looked his age. So I think he got to be very careful. And Andy has been over the course of his career of kind of. of, you know, separating the emotional connection to the human in the past.

Right. But this might just be a really tough one given that, I mean, Andy says, well, I might owe some Super Bowls to this guy, right? I mean, he's, so I, I do, listen, we're all human beings. So I, this is probably really tough internally for Veach and Andy. This is most players, they'd say, hey, see you. Godspeed, good luck, get what you can. Because this is, this is a little abnormal to what good teams do in the NFL, right?

but maybe there is just a connection that unless you're really in that building with these guys every day that I even undervalue from the outside. Today's show brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet, Florida Sportsbook. So it's March, baby, college basketball center stage. Stakes are high. And now is the time to hit it with Hard Rock Bet. If you sign up today, double your winnings in your first 10 bets, max 50 bucks. So your winnings are doubled in your first 10 bets.

So if you've won 100 bucks in your bet, make it 200. That's how you start March hot. The welcome offer is just a tip-off. All tournament long, Hard Rock Bet, rolling out daily dance and boosts, featuring live profit boost, parley profit boost every single day. So it's just more ways to shoot your shot, more ways to cash in with boosted odds. Don't sit on the bench. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today.

It's great. And let the party get started. Payable and bonus bets, not a cash offer. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in Alder States. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida, call 1 888.

Admit it. In Indiana, if you or somebody you know has a problem, wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. Hey, it's us to Jonas, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news.

We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast,

where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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, S&L'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. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaders to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jen she went.

I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. So I defended Bam out of Bayou in the market. I heard. And here's what. My two things is, first of all, if John Morant scored 83, far less of a player than Bam out of Bayou,

not even the same stratosphere. Bam's just bigger, more mature, more reliable, two-time Olympian, five-time all defense. But if John Morant scored 83, people would celebrate it because he's cool. Aesthetically, he's appealing. It would look cool. There'd be at least like four unbelievable spinning plays. Bam scores 83, and it's like, what, my neighbor in waste management has a nicer house than I do?

I don't like this at all. Be one thing if it was Ben Affleck. It's like, you know, I tend to think in the NBA style matters, and I think it's off-putting for Bam to shoot 43 free throws when he averages five. And, I mean, Kobe Bryant stayed in a game against an awful Raptors team and scored in the last four and a half minutes, 11 points in a route. He was in the 70s. He was high 60s, 70s, and he just kept going. and people celebrated it. There was no pushback. I mean, in the fourth quarter,

he's one of only the, one of the only Lakers that took a shot. He was like, he shot like 14 to the 17 shot. And nobody batted a night. But Bam does it. And I think,

I just don't think stylistically, we feel like he's the guy that should do it. So that's why I defended it. Could not disagree more. I don't personally think it has much to do with Bam or his style. I definitely think it has some to do. with Kobe, but you brought up Kobe. Let's just go back to the 81.

It became a blowout, but I just pulled it up so I have it exactly correct. They were down seven after the first. They were down 14 at half, and they were up six going into the fourth quarter. That game, that game was a real game. Now, was Kobe going for the record?

Yes. Did Kobe take all of the shots late? No doubt about it. But Kobe did that all the time. Kobe could be a bit of a ball hog. I mean, that was literally at one point in the fourth quarter, six-point game. I think that Bam is a great story. A very, very, very good player, All-Star, Olympian. He worshipped Kobe Bryant. He clearly has friends in the league, respect in the league.

I mean, Durant came out and supported him immediately. Janus, LeBron. a well-liked pros, pro, who's one of the best defensive players of his era. I thought it was cool that Asia Wilson was there. I have a group chat of people who really care about the NBA. And Bam having 43 at halftime hit the group chat. My wife was out to dinner. I was watching Wemby against the Celtics.

So when Bam has 43 at halftime, I'm like, oh, that's interesting. I'll throw it on the second TV on the league pass. then BAM has over 60 through three. And I'm like, okay, something's clearly happening here. Well, it's main TV with volume. Jalen Brown had been ejected by this point from Celtics. Let's flip the screen situation. And I'm going to lock in on this.

So I did not watch like highlights of it or box score it. I watched the second half of that basketball game. Sometimes the story is the record. And I know it's not the right. Wilts is the record. but it's the modern scoring record. Sometimes the story is the record. Other times the story is how you got the record.

How Michael Strayhan got the single season sack record, it became more about how we got it than the record. Doesn't mean he wasn't a great player. Doesn't mean it wasn't a great season. But getting the last one against Favreve when Favreve laid down, you're like, eh, that doesn't sit right, doesn't look right, don't love it. when David Robinson won the scoring title over Shaq, the Clippers sat all the starters after five minutes.

He was clearly gunning for it. He got 71. We don't talk about it as an all-time great scoring accomplishment. We talk about it as kind of game the system a little bit, but okay, he's the scoring champion. The last six or seven minutes of that basketball game last night, it was just not basketball. They are intentionally fouling to maximize possessions up 25 in the first.

fourth quarter against the Wizards. Spolster. Yeah, it's doctors. Spolster is challenging offensive fouls on BAM on a charge with four minutes left in a 20-point game to try to get him extra free throws. His teammates are intentionally missing free throws to try to get him extra possessions. Like, I have, it was a great game. I have no problem with them going for the record. I have no problem. But when you are manipulating possessions in order. to do it. And Kobe's, yes, he shot all the shots, but it was at least a competitive game minutes into the fourth quarter. It became a blowout because of his dominance. I just,

I didn't like how he got the record. It doesn't mean it wasn't an all-time great performance. When Clay Thompson scored 62 on 29 minutes, he sat the fourth. When Kobe had 65, I think, against the Mavericks and they were blowing him out, he sat the fourth. There's just like, there was something about it that just didn't sit right if you were watching it because he didn't get it by playing real basketball. If he'd have scored, he had 62 at the end of three, if he'd have ended with 71 and they didn't do that. You're saying if he just scored 68 and didn't do that, it sits much better with you.

Yeah, of course. I mean, Booker, Lillard, Lucas. they all have 70 point games. Like, scoring is going up. Teams are tanking. Teams are bad. Like, all of those.

When David Robinson did it, it hadn't happened since David Thompson, and there were three guys ever to do it. Then after David Robinson did it, there was a long gap until Kobe did it. Then there's, it's happening more regularly. Like, I was going back and forth on sound.

Tariko and Reggie during the Celtics game are talking about what Bam did. And Reggie's like, openly opining that someone's going to get a hundred and he's I mean he's he's right if what happened last night is immediately celebrated when it's not basketball like someone's going to get hot a team is going to decide to game it and go for it and that guy will be hot from three damn took a bunch of threes he only hit like seven of them he shot he shot he shot he shot less than 50% from the floor so like and I know people have been in my mentions and comments all day like

all you do, all you guys do is you just want to complain about basketball. Like, I promise I love basketball. I was watching two games by myself on a weeknight in the regular season. I love the sport. I just don't like how he got it. And here's a take or a theory that I haven't said publicly. I wanted to save it for you. I think, because he, Kobe was his favorite player.

I think if he would have tied him at 81. no complaints. I think if he would have, I think if he would have done it as a tribute to Kobe, it would have been like, oh my God, how cool. And like,

yeah, the Wizards and yeah, they were gunning for it. But there is something about Kobe's 81 in the flow of a game and BAMs 83, when he is being triple teamed and his teammates are passing up layups

and they're intentionally fouling guys and chance. challenging calls and missing free throws. It wasn't basketball. I have no other way to describe it other than it wasn't basketball. And so I just, I don't want it to take away from Bam because it was cool, but I can't sit here and celebrate it in the same way as Kobe Bryant's. I can't do it.

Reasonable minds can disagree. Here's another take I had. I said, through LeBron's career, career. You know, it's almost like, I use the example of David Schwimmer on Friends. He could be a mobster in his next 10 roles. To me, he's Ross on Friends. He's been typecast. Yeah, baby. Kind of the whiny, he was such a strong character on Friends and he played it for so long. That's what and who he is. And so similarly, LeBron has been typecast is that LeBron makes everything work. He and Dwayne Wade were not a perfect fit. Neither was really a great catch and shoot guy. The team had no center or no true point, but they worked because of sheer athleticism. He and Kyrie Irving shouldn't have worked. Kyrie needs the ball. Kyrie plays no defense. And yet LeBron made that work.

LeBron made Ilgunis-Zegoskas work in Cleveland, got him to a finals. He made him suddenly, we talked about this guy is this energy guy without much touch. It's just unbelievable. Anthony Davis had a label as a soft player, didn't fight through injuries, not in great shape. Nope, he wins with him too and it's perfect. So, Matthew Delavidoba, J.R. Smith was a broken player. Everything for 20 years, LeBron had been tight cast. It just works. So then when he plays with Luca, it's like, well, of course, this is the easy one. And it's, and it's a lot. And it's It's the one that doesn't. Because neither wants to be off ball.

Luca's so much better at this point than LeBron is. So LeBron has to play off ball. He's having a bad jump shooting season. And if you play with Luca, you have to be good defensively to cover up his flaws. That's why the one time he went to the finals with Dallas, big, athletic. They acquire that trade deadline, PJ Washington, rim protectors, suddenly you're like, oh, Lucas stinks on defense, it doesn't matter. He just pushes people to the, then takes off, pushes people, runs them off the three-point line.

So there's a way to build around bad defensive players. Steph, Kyrie. Well, LeBron never was that. And so there's this belief that LeBron and Luca, it will eventually work. It's over a year in. The net rating, the defensive rating, it's atrocious when LeBron and Luca are together. In fact, when Luca and Austin are together, it's fantastic. And nobody wants to hear this. Luca and Austin are great. Luca without Austin and no LeBron's great. Austin, just take LeBron out of all

the plus minuses. Everything works unless you put LeBron in it on the Lakers. And nobody quite knows what to make of it because he's still a very good player. Yeah, LeBron. is still a very good player. It's the Lakers fault in terms of the roster construction, because to your point, they were together last year, and we've watched LeBron and Luca long enough, we should know. But I think there's a time when LeBron and Luca could have worked, but not when LeBron's 41.

Because, I mean, LeBron was first team all defense, I think 2009 to 2013. Like he's not, he doesn't have as many. He doesn't have as many afforded to be. Yeah, six times all in his 20s, but there are no great defensive players in the NBA in their mid-30s on. They're just not. And so that's the thing.

Like, there was a point in time when LeBron and Luca obviously could have worked, but it is not when LeBron is in his 40s. And everybody should know that. So, you know, they haven't played a ton of minutes together this year, relatively speaking, but we want to make them a story because they're good for ratings. It's the Lakers. It's celebrity. LeBron matters a lot to the league.

It's a good offensive team. They're fun. Yeah, exactly right. And you, and you, like, when they walk onto the court, feels big. Oh, yeah, it feels big. And it's like, and I'll admit, like, I'm like, damn, that's an impressive five. Like, you know, like, when you, like, when they, when they walk out of the court, you're like, what any given night, it feels like they could score 125 points and just, and just outscore you.

But the West is too good. And like the thunder are too good defensively. And the Rockets are too good defensively. And the spurs are way too good defensively. And the wolves are too athletic. Like, they're drawing dead. They are, they are, they are, they'll make the playoffs and they are drawing dead. But they have so much star power and brand power.

that people like us almost feel compelled, frankly, to talk about them because it's good for business. But, like, I can't tell you how many times I've seen, like, Lakers, contender or pretender. I've been on shows where the question is like, Lakers, they are not a contender. They're not a contender. Nope. It's very obvious. And like, and so, like, they're worse with LeBron. Is that LeBron's fault?

If he is still very good and he's 41 and he's like, well, you guys want me to be Scotty Pippen. Like, I'm not that anymore. Like, so I just, I guess it's a criticism of LeBron, but at 41 years old, I don't expect him to be a lockdown defensive player, given that that's never happened in the history of the sport. Bears nine and a half. Is that the easiest bet of the offseat? Bears have added Kobe Bryant, Devin Bush, Bradley the center. Caleb's going to get better second year. They, by the way, they play the NFC South and the AFC East. So you know they're beating the dolphins and jets.

Bears nine and a half. Listen, I love. I love it. The regression case is simple. They had seven comeback wins. They led the league in takeaways. And left guard, center, right guard, right tackle all played over 90% of your snap. so you're going to have some offensive line injuries and obviously the Dalman injury.

You've already lost your center out of that equation. So there's going to be, it's going to be a different offensive line. Even if they're bringing the other, you know, three pieces back, you know, that's the three prongs case for regression is what I just said. Offensive line won't be as healthy as it was. You won't lead the league in takeaways and you're not going to have seven fourth quarter comebacks. But Caleb is going to be better.

He's just, he is going to be better. better. Well, Colston Loveland and Luther Burden at the end of the year were accelerating. They became like, like Colston Loveland became, is he like the second best tied in and correct? And I think, so yeah, I think the Bears have an incredibly high offensive ceiling this year. I think they're going into the year thinking that they can be the best offense in football. Now, probably a third of the league believes that. Dallas believes it. The Rams

believe it. The Jaguars believe it. The, you know, the Niners believe it. So I'm not saying I'm picking them to be the number one offense in football, but like they absolutely are going to go into the year thinking that they can be. The schedule point that you made is a good one. And that's the, like, Caleb's improvement in year two under Ben Johnson, year three in the league. Like, it's the year for the leap. And he got better every month during the season last year as he was learning the system. So I cannot even imagine how big of a leap he can take from year two to year three.

So yeah, you're not going to hear me coming on here. and being like, I think the Bears are an eight-win team. No shot. Shoot your shot, get paid double, only on Hard Rock Bet. Hard Rock Bet is Florida's only legal way to bet the NBA, teams, players, points, and more. He shoots, he scores. And when you sign up for Hard Rock Bet, your bets pay double winnings.

Don't just count the basket. Count it twice. He's on fire now. Yes, new customers get paid double on your first 10 bets. Try Hard Rock Bet today. Max bet of $50 per bet. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida must be 21 plus and physically present in Florida to wager.

Terms and conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-833 Playwise. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick.

And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions

because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know. Tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast.

or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel

and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Keir Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it'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 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 and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.