The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Rachel Nichols stops by The Herd

Episode Date: November 6, 2025

Colin talks to Rachel Nichols about the Lakers playing well, JJ Redick's coaching style, the future of LeBron James, how teams are defending Victor Wembanyama, and moreSee 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. Tired and sick.

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biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments set to find Roland Garris. Jen, she's an outsider to win the French fame. and she likes Clay. Listen, Leonard Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcasts on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com. or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. I haven't seen Rachel Nichols in quite some time. It feels like we saw so much of you last year.

Now, I'm back in L.A. for a couple more days. Well, we talked on air a couple weeks ago. We did. It's not the same. It's not the same, my friend. It's not the same. We can connect. I can only tolerate JMAX so long.

It's nice to have another adult in the room. So you talked to Luca, JJ, and Wembe last night. You know, for a year, when I would cover Phil Jackson and I would talk to other people about him, you know, they always said Michael would have gotten his points and Kobe his points, but they always said, you know, he just did a really good job of getting the most out of Will Purdue or a Steve Kerr or Rick Fox or Derek Fisher, Brian Shaw. I think JJ Reddick's got that superpower. Like Rui is, looks like an all-star.

I mean, I don't know. I mean, you talked to him last night. It's, it just, I feel like he just squeezes the juice out of the B players. Yeah, I mean, Phil Jackson's actually a great analogy. Phil had Tex-Winter. JJ's kind of all in one. So JJ, in terms of X's and O's, he's just so excellent at putting a player in the exact position where he's going to succeed. So technically, he's always got guys in the right place.

And I think that's part of what's going on with D'Andre Aiden, frankly. Yes. Who has been a huge part of this early seven-two run. but, you know, wasn't really doing that in other cities, and now JJ's putting him in the exact positions he needs. The other aspect that's like Phil Jackson is he does all of that sort of off-court chemistry things. So, you know, Phil Jackson would give guys books, right, and he would sort of have them do different projects. JJ Redick has them doing a Japanese sort of get-to-know-you method called Pikachu. I'm going to get it wrong.

I always say Pikachu like the dog. Whatever. Pichakachu. And it is basically where a guy has to give a presentation to the rest of the room. And there are six slides where he has to give shows, you know, this is what was important to me as a kid. This is the basketball court I grew up on. Get to know you things to know each other in a deeper way to build that kind of chemistry. And you're seeing it.

I mean, the other Lakers example you can give is on the flip side, we remember in 2004 when a Detroit Pistons team beat the Lakers. in the finals, a Lakers team that was heavily favored that had Kobe, Shaq, Gary Payton, Carl Malone. Why did the Pistons win? Because they were such a team. They were all together, and they really loved playing for and with each other. And that has been built this year with this team. And it's noticeably different. And part of it is this JJ stuff of having them do the Phil Jackson-style things off the court. Lucas said that, you know, he showed everyone his cars in one of his slides and everything, his pride and joy. And then part of it is just these guys really like each other. see the way Luca and Austin, you know, just they vibe all the time. It's really fun.

Yeah. And, you know, I said earlier today, I don't want to pick on LeBron. I think LeBron knows there's a passing of a torch. L.A. has always been, the Lakers have always been the past the Torch franchise. Karim to Magic, to Shaq, to Kobe, to LeBron, to Luca. That's what they are. This is not, you know, there's a lot of organizations if they got one of those players. Right, right. Lakers just do it like every seven years. Right. He's not going on a road trip. I do think Rich Paul and LeBron understand the passing of the torch,

but there are those that would suggest he's being a little needy. He wants to send like his little waves, his little radio waves to, you know, I'd like, you know, maybe a little more love. Where do you land on that stuff? I don't want to make a story out of a non-story. I think LeBron's too smart to not understand what the Lakers are doing. He does, absolutely. I think we saw that neediness.

I need to send out a little wave sort of thing in the summer, right? Some of those Instagram posts. Yes. I'm in Cleveland wearing a hat that says home. I'm working out of the old Clippers facility. I mean, all of that kind of stuff. I think now he's really on board with being on this team right now and letting what happens next year be, you know, next summer sort of thing.

But look, LeBron has a gravity in a locker room in any room he's in. I always compare him to Jupiter. Jupiter has two and a half times the gravity of Earth. LeBron has two and a half times the gravity of anyone else in that locker room. So when he's in the locker room actively on the court, he is such a huge presence. It is going to be different from when he is not. And there's going to be a little bit of a test or interesting to see this team reintegrate that gravity with what is working right now. That's not LeBron's fault.

He doesn't do anything disruptive. It's just that he is different. What do you make, these international players are usually pretty petty and mature. They play against older men. European kids have wine with the parents. They're just different than our kids, right? Like just there's just a kind of a liberal casualness to alcohol and just life that we don't quite have. So I would imagine Wembe is adult, easy to talk to.

Was he for you last night? Oh, he's great. And, you know, he's funny. But this is his second language. I believe he also has a third language in there. I was talking to him about some of the challenges that you've been talking about on this show, about the double teams coming at him.

And he said, you know, sort of the game is just faster right now, which we hear all the time, right? A quarterback say that when they break into the league. Everything's way fast. Everything's way too fast. And so he had thought he had slowed the game down, but now with these new defensive schemes around him, double teams are coming from his blind side.

They're not letting him get to his spots instead of just putting the tallest guy on him. They're more concerned with where he's positioned on the court, making him uncomfortable. And he's just got to learn how to deal with it. And I asked him, I said, oh, is it kind of like a video game? Like you get to the next level. You know, it's like leveling up in a video game.

And he's like, that's called scaling up. And it was just so funny to hear this guy, you know, he's cracking. He's making a joke in not his first language with a vocabulary word. I mean, he's great. Yeah. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you leave.

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Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a podcast. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do 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.

And 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, 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, 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect.

We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most. shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds,

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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.

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And for more, follow Timbo Slical 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. Jenschen went. I mean, she went down to three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina 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 IHeart Women's Sports. I want to talk to John Morant situation. So I think Adam Silver is really bright. I think he's a learned guy. I've had him on the show. I really like Adam.

The NBA has done one thing, I think, was a classic mistake. And I told Adam this. They demonized college basketball. And the great thing about college football, it microwaves all these stars. And then hands the popcorn to the NFL. It's all ready to go. Add a little salt. Yep.

They don't even have to pay for it. That's right. The G League basically got in the way of college basketball. So guys play in El Segundo, nobody watches. The reason I know Zion is Duke. It's Michigan State. It's Kentucky. So embrace college basketball.

I do think the NIL now is doing that. You know, guys are like 400,000 here, 400 there. I'll stay at Michigan State. But John Morant is kind of a cautionary tale. His lack maturity. He was recently asked about his unhappiness, the coaches, in Memphis. What are we doing the country staff able to talk about what happened Friday and move on? Y'all ask that question to them, huh?

What about for you? Y'all ask that question. Y'all know the answer to that. Do you feel like everything's been resolved? Yeah. They told you that, right? Well, yeah, but we didn't hear from you. Obviously, they can't go and tell y'all something I can say.

So what do you make in his current situation? He is clearly deeply unhappy. Yeah. And I think this is a little bit of a come-to-jesus moment. for not only job, but the franchise, right? Because job burst into this league with so much energy, electricity, was able to do so many things around the basket. That has decreased every year.

Every year. His shooting, which was something we thought he could work on and get better at, instead has decreased every year. Five years in a role, I think, yeah. At a low right now. And when he is not happy, he is not playing the brand of basketball that will make him successful. A little bit of a moody player.

Right? The problem has been throughout his entire time in Memphis, this is that Jah wants to do what Jah wants to do. Whether it's on the court playing the way he wants to play, right now he's in conflict with the coaching staff over their substitution patterns, or whether it's off the court. I want to do this. I want to go to clubs. I want to have a gun. I want to do these things. What is good for Jha in his mind has not been historically what is best for the franchise. And finally, with the suspension the other day, the franchise said, we're going to hold you in line with what's best for the franchise. And we'll see what happens. I don't think Memphis is in a position.

to trade him for a couple reasons. First of all, I think the market for him right now is not very good. A lot of people don't want to bring that kind of energy onto their team. And also, I think we underestimate nationally the attachment that the people of Memphis have to John Moran and that he is the reason there are fans in the seats. That's an arena whose lease is up soon. Their attendance is extremely low. I think they need to keep him there on the court, but they have got to figure out a way to reconcile the fact that he wants to do what he sees his best for him, and they want to do what they see is best for the team. You know, it's really interesting.

This just popped into my head. For whatever reasons, the wide receiver position in the NFL, the boundary receiver, you know, they break the huddle first. They're often the longest, most creative, gifted athlete on the field. And, you know, diva receivers, like a term. The problem with being that is that as college football has progressed, it's a much more throwing sport, there's 15 to 20 receivers that come college to the pros annually and nobody puts up with it anymore.

Where I think Jaws in trouble is the global scale of basketball talent has increased. So people look at John and think, I mean, it used to be, Rachel, that after about the 14th pick, you ran out of players in the draft. Now you go mid-second round. Sure. I mean, in a terrible draft, Brony goes mid-second and has actually looked good. So I don't think there's a huge market for Jha. Is there?

I mean, it's just he's put himself in a difficult position, which is a shame because he walked in with everyone's sort of admiration and best. Fantastic talent. Look, I think the global game has made the American game step up. We have great young American stars right now, right? Starting with Anthony Edwards, of course. Kate Cunningham, Jalen Williams, who just won a title. Cooper Flags had one bad game. Right.

I mean, he's obviously incredibly promising. And Shea Gilders-Alexander, I know he was the Umpth, you know, foreign player to win MVP. He's Canadian. He grew up in the AAU style system. You know, he played a bunch of, he wasn't, didn't on an AAU team because of where he grew up, but he played in a bunch of AAU tournaments. He went to Kentucky. Like, let's not pretend that he didn't have the same upbringing as these American players. So you're seeing a lot of successes in this country.

And of course, then globally, we are getting to your point about maturity. We have not just a bunch of players from Slovenia. We have Slovenia's best player. You kind of have to be the best. It's like we send to a foreign league. We're sending you a LeBron, right? So they're sending us their version of LeBron. We have Serbia's best player.

So we have the best talent, but there are these iconic every other year global players. That's the best of Europe. Right. I mean, Yonisatoupo isn't just a good player in Greece the way, I don't know, know, Kate Cunningham is a very good player in America, he's the best player in the entire country. And in fact, of many surrounding countries, too. I mean, that's who you're getting. So comparing them is not always an apples to orange, you know, apples to apples comparison.

Yeah. But I think it's really an interesting point in the game. To your point is that these international players have helped American players also step up all the way across. And there's just so much talent in the league right now that if you can't see your way to be a good teammate, If you can't see your way to help the team win as opposed to help you do what you want to do, you're not going to last as long. Well, I always ask you a Knicks question.

They've won three in a row. Just hammered a good Minnesota team. Yeah. So I didn't like getting rid of Tibbs. I didn't think he was super creative. I know Mike, Mike Brown's a great guy. He's a veteran. He knows his stuff.

What's the talk in New York now? The Tibbs firing was strange based on the best season for the Knicks in two decades, but they're playing okay. I kind of think the Knicks personnel is what it is. I don't think the coach is going to, Mike Brown's not going to elevate or, I mean, what do you make of it? Look, they are playing deeper into the bench than they ever did under Tips. And that will help them in the playoffs because they will have more guys with more experience to go to.

And that is what management wanted, right? They thought that, hey, that's one part that's missing. The style that Mike Brown plays, I think when we saw the Knicks have a little trouble at the beginning of the season, it was just adapting to that. I think Carl Anthony Towns is still trying to figure out who he is in this system, but I do think that will come. And Mike Brown is a great coach in getting guys sort of together and emotional and the stuff we were talking about at the very top with JJ Reddick. He knows how to have a locker room sort of get that extra step,

that Detroit Pistons 2004, extra step of we want to play for each other, we like each other. And we saw it in Sacramento. He turned that franchise around in that way. And I think we're going to see that in New York, too. it's just a question of management said when getting to the game six of the eastern conference finals isn't good enough you are saying that for mike brown to be successful he has to win a title or at least get to the finals and that's not guaranteed j mac i want you to listen closely uh rachel i saw her offset today made a point does step curry and i have something in common what is it yeah both of them were out yesterday with illness so you know hall of fame all-star

I also told Colin that the tenor of the Jets talk on this show has greatly changed when I was here yesterday. All the Fame All-Stars. I like how you referenced. Yeah, that's true. The kind of respect I so richly deserves. Yeah, exactly. I love having you on the show. It's great to see you. Great to see you.

Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the Heard Line News. All right, Hall of Famer, let's start by talking about the 49ers. They made the low-risk move, adding Keon White ahead of the Deadline. ahead of the deadline. Ultimately, at 6 and 3, San Francisco is in the thick of the NFC playoff fund. Kyle Shanahan doesn't believe the team's inactivity at the deadline is a reflection of their goals.

I don't think it has to do with how we do this year's team. I think we worked just as hard this year to make a trade that made sense for our team this year and next year. Just as hard as we do every year. There's a lot of teams with records like 6 and 3 or better than to make any big trade. They're not just because you make a big trade, doesn't mean it's always a smart move. The line is interesting. At four and a half, how do you not like the Niners at home to cover? That is a lot in a division rivalry game.

The problem is the Niners can't pressure the quarterback now. They just cannot, they don't have anybody. Williams is out, Huff was out, Bosa's done. Like, they can't get to the quarterback. So now you're leaning on kind of an inferior secondary. They're playing a lot of new guys. I feel like the Rams are scoring 30 for sure. You pencil that in.

The question is, can they slow down Mac Jones? They could not at SoFi. In a revenge spot, I have a feeling the Rams show up here. You don't? You know, these division rivalry games are always different. A lot of tough division. Even Miami, Buffalo's tough this weekend. There's a lot of divisional matches that kind of scare me just a tad.

Saints, Panthers. Everybody loves the Panthers. The Panthers. Right. So I don't know what to do here. Rams' Niners. This is maybe one. You watch it, you live bet it.

That's how I go. If a minor score on the first drive and this is down to three, then yeah, I'll take the reins. Yeah, good call. All right, let's move on. Next story is your guy, Bo Nix and the Broncos. Huge one tonight, Colin. Denver, seven and three. We know Chiefs fans around the country are watching rooting for the Raiders.

Bo Nicks, these divisional games, man, they're important. To us, first, we've got to win them. these are the ones that have the most weight to them. These are the ones that you got to go in there and win to set yourself up for the playoffs. And so as a team, these are the most important for us, rivalries. And these are the fun ones. And it's like playing a conference game in college. These are the ones that you look forward to.

These are why you're a Bronco to beat teams like this. Weird stat for you, Colin. So the first three quarters this season, Denver, cumulative score, minus one. In the fourth quarter, plus 60. For whatever reason, they turn it on late. If you want to get exotic tonight, maybe bet the Raiders first quarter. Well, I mean, the line is, again, it's a divisional matchup. The line's outrageous, nine and a half.

Well, how about this? So last week against the Jags, right? Raiders, you know, were in it. It was close. The Jags scored on their last six drives of the game. Once the Raiders' defense got tired, they just. Jags mowed through them. That's without Travis Hunter.

Brian Thomas left early. Bo Nix and companies should mow right down the field against these guys. You would think. And defensively? It's been a, I swear to God, this, I mean, like Seattle hammering the commanders in D.C., Arizona, dominating the cowboys. It's week to week in this league. Like, my preseason predictions have been really, really good. So far this year, I had New England shocking people.

I had Seattle shocking people. Week to week in this league. So you're not taking Raiders here, are you? Or maybe take the points but not outright. Yeah, I just, nine and a half feel stay away. You know what? I was for hiring Pete Carroll. What do we make of it now?

I'll let you take that one, buddy. Yeah, I don't know how I feel right now. You got Chip Kelly is the O.C. I remember talking to him at your birthday party, and I was like, I love Chip Kelly. It's been a tough go. Like, Ashton Genty, have you seen some of the numbers? It's like a non-factor. Yeah, nothing's working.

I don't know. Final story, Colin, let's go to, oh, this news stinks. C.J. Stroud of the Texans was ruled out yesterday. Remember, midweek, they ruled him out. He took a brutal hit. I'm with Damiko Ryans. I thought that was a dirty play. We got to protect quarterbacks in this league, Colin.

You know, we got to see Marcus Marriota in Washington the rest of the season. You know they're in a European game next week? And I'm not waking. Who's waking up at 6.30 to watch Marcus Marietta. Now we got C.J. Stroud out. Davis Mills? I mean, is this even a corner TV game for you? I mean, I watch Davis Mills three quarters because I had Houston last week.

No, there's a game every weekend that I just don't watch. This is the game. Well, I'm kind of intrigued by the Jaguars here. I don't know. I'm glad somebody is. I mean, I like Trevor Lawrence still. I think Adam Jacoby Myers, he's good, man. He's really good.

You know what he is, is Brian, I mean, Travis Hunter hasn't done anything. They should have just put him on offense. Forget about defense. Yeah, that was dumb. That, you know, that's something everybody talked about and debated. And I, from the very beginning, I said, put Travis Hunter on offense. A, it's the most important part of pro football. Number two is I can guarantee 12 touches.

I can't guarantee you touch the ball on defense. So I can literally people can scheme against you. I'd rather control my talent than you control it. If I have a great corner, you can largely control how often the ball is thrown in his direction. With Travis Hunter on offense, I control how many touches. I can put him in the backfield. I can put him in a slot. I can put him on the sideline.

I like controlling my assets. And putting him on defense at his talent, well, I'm just going to go to the other side of the field. So, I mean, I don't think Jacksonville's ever played it right with him. Final question. C.J. Stroud, rookie year, awesome. C.J. Stroud, second year, less awesome. Caesar Stroud has not been good this year. I mean, at this point, I don't know what he is.

I'm not saying he's not a franchise quarterback. It's a little like Trevor Lawrence. We know he's talented, but we keep waiting for the next thing. The next iteration of his process and when he's going to love him. And we haven't seen it. We haven't seen it. You know, we saw that with Joe Burrow. We saw that with Lamar Jackson.

No. I haven't seen Stroud take the leave. I'm not saying he's not a franchise guy, but I think there's questions like, you know, is he a backs? Are you paying him like what top of the market when he's asked for the money? Are you making him making that sad? Well, I mean, remember, he's inexpensive now. So you can surround him with more talent now than you will in three years.

Not much longer, because this is his third year. Yeah. Yeah, go ahead. Jay McElhue. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. All right.

We're in L.A. It's the herd. to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... 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 do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what should be. we should call it. 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, 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 Fankill. friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud 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 athlete 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 beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and 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. Jenchian win. 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, Lina 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 IHeart Women's Sports. You know, we had noted on this earlier. I don't think there's ever been a city in a time period that has had more good coaches currently than L.A. Dave Roberts just pulled off Houdini. acts in the World Series. He'll be a Hall of Fame manager.

J.J. Reddick has been really terrific with the Lakers. I mean, say what you want about last year when he didn't somebody in the second half, but he's a notch above Darvinham and Peter Laker fans love him. And then you've got Jim Harbaugh, Sean McVeigh.

I still contend Lincoln Riley offensively as one of the sharpest coaches in college football. USC's got a top five offense. it just it feels like everybody works in LA right now. It just doesn't happen very often. And Reddick was one of those guys that, you know, there's the old thing you've got to have experience to be a head coach. A lot of it's just intellect.

If you're a really smart guy and you've been around the game and you understand the game, and if you listen to his podcast, very sharp guy. But Steve Nash was a sharp guy. He went to Brooklyn, but the environment wasn't very good because Kyrie and K.D. didn't think they needed a head coach. I do think part of what really helps J.J. Reddick is, and he's fostered a lot of this, the environment's better. You know, Luke is easy to get along with.

Austin Reeves, easy to get along with. The new ownership group, Rui, most of the people, I don't think LeBron's difficult. I think LeBron in his prime, there was a lot of gravitas to LeBron and how you treated him. I think old LeBron that J.J. Reddick really has hand. He has leverage. LeBron does not. And with this new ownership group, they're not beholden to LeBron. So JJ comes in to a franchise.

He's got star players, nice role players, new ownership, and old LeBron. If LeBron was 27, this could be a much tougher job. But instead, you have clarity on who your number one is. And LeBron doesn't really have any leverage or power at this point. And that's not a knock on LeBron. It's just the reality. Here's Rachel Nichols a moment to go on JJ Redick. JJ in terms of X's and O's, he's just so excellent at putting a player in the exact position where he's going to succeed.

So technically, he's always got guys in the right place. And I think that's part of what's going on with D'Andre Aiton, frankly, who has been a huge part of this early 7-2 run, but, you know, wasn't really doing that in other cities. And now JJ's putting him in the exact positions he needs. Yeah, I think when an athlete's, the NBA, you know, is kind of weirdly always been a bad. bit of a status league. You know, guys want their respect and the players got more power than the coach. That's very rarely the instance in the NFL. It's the shield is number one.

Coach ownership, uh, with very few exceptions to star players. But in the end, Belichick stayed and Brady had to leave. Like it, it's always kind of felt like it's more of a management league than a players league. Uh, but LeBron in this league where he's had hand and leverage and status and he just doesn't have it anymore and Charles Barkley we used this earlier today talked about aging LeBron. For all the time, I'm always going to win. There's nothing you can do about it. You know, I joked on the show a couple weeks ago they had just said Saidaica. They could have just real old. It's the exact

same thing. All old people back hurt. You know, he's got to accept. I hope he leaves sooner than later. Obviously LeBron's a better player than me, but I don't want to see great player just hanging on. Yeah, I think LeBron's smart enough to understand his place right now with the Lakers. I mean, you were there last night. There's no negative energy. He's not going on the road trip, but there's no negative weird vibe around him, right? No, the vibes are great with the Lakers.

Charles Berkeley's way, he could not be more wrong. Colin, two years ago, LeBron played 71 out of 82 games and was third team all NBA. Last year, he played 70 of 82 games. He was second team all NBA, sixth at MVP. Yeah. He's not falling off. There's zero evidence of that. Just because he's out with sciatica.

No, I think. Oh, no. Oh, my gosh. He's getting old. Like, what the hell is Barclay talking about? Well, I think LeBron is a little like Steph that the offense has in his career run through him. Kevin Durant, the offense, even in OKC when he was in his prime, didn't run through him. The Warriors didn't run through him.

It ran through Steph. There are players who are great players that, I mean, the last. Lakers, the offense ran through Magic, even though Kareem was the primary score, but the offense ran, the pacing ran through magic. It was Magic's offense, and when they needed a bucket, they went to the big fella. But the offense ran through magic, his decision-making, his pace, his tempo, he had the ball in his hands. LeBron's always been, he is the ecosystem.

Like, here's the offense, here's LeBron, and in his prime for 13 years or 14 years, that was fine. But he was a much more dominant player in the E-Earons. which is awful compared relative to the West. So in the West, you've got to be in your prime and great, Yokic. If you look at the West right now, it's going to be won by like, ants great and in his prime. Yokch great and in his prime.

Wembe's not even in his prime yet. SGA. SGA, great and in his prime. LeBron's really, really exceptional way out of his prime. There's limitations on what you can do to give him the ball 40 minutes a night. This is a great point you're making. I, we don't know the answer to what I'm about to ask. So the reason I have LeBron over Jordan as a goat, so Jordan was just scoring and then was put in the triangle, Texan, Phil Jackson triangle, and then he thrived.

LeBron has thrived as the system wherever he's gone, right? Cleveland, he's the system. They go to Miami. He's the system. Now we have to find out, can LeBron thrive as he's what, he's not everything? He's an ancillary part. Right. Can he thrive in that environment?

Nobody knows the answer to that. For Berkeley to pretend he knows, he's being goofy. I don't see why LeBron, a pro's pro, can't be like, you need me to do this at my age? Yeah, Luca's better. There's a video last night of Luca, the over-the-head pass to Rui. LeBron looks at Nick Smith, and they're like, oh, my gosh. I think everybody knows Luca is the guy.

He is the Alpha and the Omega with the Lakers right now, right? He's everything. Yeah. Can LeBron just work in it? I'm going to be positive and say, yeah, I think he can. Yeah, it's just stylistically. He's an interesting fit when he doesn't have the ball. You know, he's not, KD's a great off ball player.

Clay Thompson was a great off ball player. Some guys need, they need it in their hands. Is he going to be a cutter? Is he a spot-up shooter? I don't think so. No. J.J. Reddick's got his work cut out, right? Because they're rolling now.

You show the standings. This is a good Lakers team. Last year they had Jackson Hayes at center. Now they got D'Andre Aton's. Well, Aiden's always been super offensively talented. He's moody. he will not play defense. He goes into a funk.

You know, he's, I, the way I sort of look at DeAndre Aiton is J.J. Reddick will get the best out of him. But he sulks. Aitin's always seen himself for a one or a two, and he's probably a three or four. But he was, I think he was a number one pick out of Arizona, so he comes in with all this status.

And the NBA is kind of a status league. Guys want theirs. Everybody saw him in Portland. They're like, oh, he's garbage. He doesn't want to play. He's checked out. It's not what you are right now. It's what you can be.

And with Luca and LeBron and J.J. Reddick whipping him into shape, DeAndreux looks like a top five pick that he should have been. Well, he was always physically gifted. Yeah, but he just never really put it all together, right? He was like, I got to get that second contract. Well, he felt he was ignored in Phoenix. He felt he was ignored in Portland that didn't use him. So J.J. Reddick's doing a good job.

There's something about his tone and temperament. He feels valuable. Totally. Now, again, will he feel as valuable? valuable like last night. Well, there's no LeBron and Austin Reeves. So he gets touches. The truth is if LeBron Austin Reeves and Luca plays and

Ruey, Ait doesn't get any touches. So that's a whole, because Rui's a nice player. Is Aiton going to pout? I mean, you're going to pout with Luca Dantich out here? You're second in the west and all of a sudden you're going from 20 and 10 to like, I don't know, 8 and 7? I don't want to hear the pouting, dude. You want to win games. Aton last night

got looks and touches. That's not going to happen. I hope he understands that. Well, I don't know if he does. NFL schedule. this weekend. Denver's going to win tonight. The question at home is how much they win by. Sometimes

I don't quite understand the line. Indianapolis feels like they got pushed around. I think they're going to hammer Atlanta. It's my favorite bet of the weekend. The Colts are hammering. I think they're going to hammer Atlanta. I hope so. I think I'm on them. The Tampa Bay, New England one is one

I keep drilling down on. I think we're going to do it tomorrow in headlines. I don't want to give away my take, but you have any read? Drake May, this will be their best quarterback the Patriots have faced since Josh Allen, like five weeks ago. Patriots haven't played anybody, Colin. Well, they, yeah. And the Falcons are nobody, sorry.

I don't see any glaring upsets. A game that's very interesting is Arizona at Seattle. So Arizona looks great against Dallas short week. They go to Seattle that looked unbelievable. Unbelievable. You know, we did this earlier. We did our pyramid. If you look at quarterback play just based on this year,

the best quarterback in the league is Sam Darnock. Josh Allen and Matt Stafford are one notch below, and now they just gave Sam Darnold arguably the fastest wide receiver in the league as a deep threat. So I'm interested to see how that plays. You know, it's not like they're asking him to be an offensive lineman, build cohesion. He is a deep route runner, so he may be able to walk in Seattle and immediately be an

impact guy. You know, Monday night, Philadelphia at Green Bay, everybody loves the Packers. He goes off a bye, Siriani? Is he able to change things up? It's not really a skiing guy. Yeah. That's not really him.

All right, good stuff. Rachel Nichols stopped by today. We certainly appreciate that. And tomorrow's our blazing five. We had three straight winning weeks, two and three last week. We'll rebound. That's what we do. We're like Rodman, always there for the rebound. 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 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 Smygel 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 IHeart 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, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art.

The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define. Roland Garris. She's an outsider to win the French for me.

And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and I actually can win on any surface. 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 IHeart Women's Sports. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.