The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What's Wright - Nick Wright Best of Lakers: LeBron James is NOT DONE winning, Luka Doncic MVP SEASON incoming? | NBA

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

Nick Wright shares his best takes on the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the 2025 NBA season including why LeBron James is not done winning NBA championships as well as why Luka Doncic is primed for an MVP season. #VolumeSee 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.

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Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man. on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the best of the week for What's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. So the West is as dangerous as ever. Obviously, Katie just went to the Rockets.

It's going to be the Lakers' first full season with Luca. And teams like Spurs and the Mavs can take the leap. Who are the best players? Who are the real players in the West? Yeah, so listen. I did this a bit on, I think there is a, it's clearly Oklahoma City at the top. But I think the next best two teams are the Rockets and the Lakers. And I, the Luca over correction negativity has gone too far.

And I did this on the TV show yesterday. I just want to reiterate it. Luca, five best players in the league, okay? Joker is 30, he won his title at 28. Janus is 30, he won his title at 26. Tatum is 27, he won his title at 26. Shea is 26, turned 27 in two weeks. He just won the title.

Luca, the youngest of all of them, 26, will be 26 during the first couple months. of next season. The idea that he is behind schedule or off schedule is incorrect. Right now, Shea, understandably, his star could not be shining brighter. I get that and he deserves it. However, we, and we also can't compare Luca and Shea career numbers because Luca was good instantly and Shay grew into it. So if we simply just take the last two years for Shea, which are far and away the best two years of his career and compare them to the last two years for Luca, which includes far and away the worst year of his career this past year. The numbers are identical. Playoffs and regular season, identical except for Luca beats him in assists considerably

and rebounds by a bit, but the scoring and efficiencies are nearly identical. One guy made the finals to Monzae and lost to a team some people thought was going to turn into a dynasty in Boston. The other guy made the finals and went seven with a team people thought was the most unlikely finalist in modern NBA history. So to act like, I don't think it's fair to be like, well, you can win with one guy. You can't win with the other. Now, Shea is coming off his best year. Luke is coming off his worst.

That's undeniable. but it is there's too big of a discussion gap amongst the two. So that's one of the reasons that I am a believer in the Lakers. And I'm going to do this in a reverse order, three, three, two, one. Second reason I'm a believer in the Lakers is I do think they are going to make a substantial move in the next week. I think they are going to address some of their roster holes, and I think they have the assets to do it. And the last reason I'm a believer in the Lakers is,

let me call it a informed opinion that people that think LeBron is resigned to the idea that he's not like that making the, finals and competing for championships that that phase of his career is over are unabashedly, unequivocally wrong. Now, maybe if your opinion is whatever he thinks is going on, you know, doesn't matter. That phase is over. That's an opinion and you're allowed to have. But if you think LeBron is like, okay, at this point, it's just about playing with my son, you know, at the some point having a farewell tour. I love the game. You can dead that right now.

And I think these finals and watching Oklahoma City struggle with Indiana and watching what these finals only emboldened LeBron to feel like. I can get back there. And so if you have chip on his shoulder, Luca, wants one last dance at some point deep in the postseason LeBron and some slight roster tweaking, that to me makes the Lakers a contender. You think Austin Reeves is there next year?

Probably not. Right. Maybe at the beginning, probably not through the year. I just think Austin Reeves, he's your most valuable, tradable asset. And because of Luca, he's a little redundant. When you have Anthony Davis there, Austin Reeves is critical because without Austin Reeves,

your only creators, the oldest guy in the league in LeBron. But with Luca there, he becomes, and I really like Austin. I, you know what I mean? I was the first person to tell you Austin Reeves better than Bradley Beal. Everybody called me crazy. But I just think sometimes he is right now a luxury and the Lakers have some necessities. So I would put, if I were stacking it, I should have started, I think the nuggets I should have said included them.

I think they are a real player based off the strength of Yokic alone. And I think they will, you know, manicure around the edges. and maybe they were over Michael Malone. And maybe what we saw them do in the playoffs under Adelman is something sustainable. And then we see Michael Porter Jr. come back healthy and Aaron Gordon come back healthy. So I'd have them for Lakers 3. The Rockets to me are they can win the championship. And I say this with no disrespect to Oklahoma City at all.

But man, a Lakers. Rockets, Western Conference Finals, which I think, check me on this, producers. I think we got that once in league history, and it was 1986. Akeem's second year when everyone thought we were going to get Lakers, Celtics, and the finals again. I know the Lakers, the Rockets beat the Lakers in the playoffs in 1986. I think it was the conference finals. And the...

The Rockets beat the Lakers. Oh, okay. The, hold on. The Lakers won the series, though. Hold on a second. That's wrong. I'm just telling you right now, the... You asked the producer to fact-checking and you're telling you right now.

I'm telling you right now, that reads to me. I'm about to be, this is a good lesson for everybody. Pause the show, but stay on the air. What they just put in the dock reads like it was some AI bot wrote it. A thousand percent it's what it reads like. And I'm here telling you that AI bot doesn't know what the hell it's talking about. The producer's answer. I'm telling you right now, you cannot trust the AI chat bots when it comes to

sports history. So I'm just the, I'm going to do my own thing here. Am I going to get cooked? Oh, wait, no, it says 19-19-19-0 was County City versus Houston. Okay, hold on. Everybody stop.

Does everybody stop for a second, okay? The, the, in 1986, the NBA finals without a shadow, of a doubt, guys, were the 86 Celtics, maybe the greatest team ever against the Akeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson Rockets. That is not up for debate. So my question was, was the conference finals, Lakers Rockets, all looked that up. The Rockets beat the Lakers in the conference finals for one.

Guys, audience. AI chatbots don't fucking know sports. I'm telling you're right now. Ask like when you're done with the, done with the show, ask an AI chat bot like very basic things. Like tell me the top 10 running backs in the NFL right now. And they're going to spit at you Adrian Peterson.

like the um so it's just maybe they're good for some term papers but they're not good with sports um so the the rockets have played the lakers in i the conference finals i believe that's the only time i believe it's 1986 um i know they i'm looking at now i know they played in 1986 um but i think that's the only time. Sorry for the sidebar. The point I was trying to make is, with no disrespect to Oklahoma City, a Durant-Lebron conference finals, which we've never gotten, by the way. We got it. And a Durant-Lebron playoff series that felt like a fair fight, which we've only gotten once ever in the 2012 NBA finals, which I know, listen, Bron won in five, but that was a great series until game five.

Like those first four games all were in the balance in the fourth quarter. And you can say that wasn't a fair fight because the heat were veterans and the Thunder were young. A fun fact that no one believes, but it is true. through 20 the heat over the Mabs when they lost in 2011. The heat were the same size favorite over the Mabs in 2011, minus 175, as the thunder were over the heat when the heat won their first title with LeBron and Wade in 2012. The thunder were minus 175 favorites going into those finals because

the heat, remember, they had lost the year before, and they had damn near lost to Boston, and the thunder had just, like, exploded onto the scene and become this seemingly unstoppable force of nature. Again, this is off top of my head, but the, that thunder team in the conference finals played the spurs, who the spurs had won, de Monzae, the final 10 games of the regular season, and then we're 10 and O in the playoffs, up to O in the conference finals, on a 20 game winning streak, and then the Thunder won four straight and made the finals.

Like that Thunder team, it was like, holy shit. Yeah. And so it was really a remarkable thing. But okay, sorry, we're way off topic. The point I'm trying to make is, I think the Rockets have all the pieces you need, if Durant stays healthy. Yeah.

I like Shingoon as the fulcrum of the offense. I like that Durant adds scoring. I think they're going to get more from Shepard. I think Udoch is excellent. I like all of it. And then there's Oklahoma City that has everyone coming back, and everyone but Caruso is. super young and should only get better.

But there's a lot of plates to balance there. 105 game season. Are you satisfied after championship? You know, does the... Oklahoma City got lucky, I'll put in quotes, that the injury bug hit them early instead of late. Like, it's not right to say Oklahoma City, you know, had great injury luck this year.

They, you know, key players missed real time, but they suffered it early in the year instead of going into the postseason. So that's how I would stand. For Katie, with the Rockets, you know, the Rockets already being a nice team, them trying to mitigate his injuries. Yeah. Yes and no.

I would, I think you've got to be. careful with a guy who's 37. I don't think that they're going to put him on like a 60 game plan. And I also think for a lot of these legends, they want to be eligible for the awards. And that 65 game marker is like they, they want, KD, I'm sure is, I bet KD is pissed that he was not eligible for all NBA this year. It's like I played 62 games. was all NBA caliber.

And so, yeah, you know what I mean? So that's what I think they'll do. All right, dog days is summer, which means it's time for the boys of summer to kick it into gear. And the best way to cash in on your baseball IQ is with Draft King's Sportsbook. As the stretch drive begins, draft king's sportsbook has you covered with live betting, home run props, odds boosts, and more. Whether you're chasing dingers or jumping in midgame, there's always action to be had.

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and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, 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 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

For 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 Smigel 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 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. 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 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, me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is, I 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. Luca was on the cover of Men's Health magazine looking very slender. He came out with a quote saying, just visually, I would say that my whole body looks back. How are you feeling about Lucas transitions? So a couple things. One is, first, sorry to, I pointed this out on TV, and I'm not trying to pick on anybody,

but this to me is one of the main takeaways from the article. Remember how I told you guys, AI doesn't know sports and that AI hallucinates sports? This article got marred a bit by the fact that the author included in it an anecdote about how Luca, when he came into the league, had a 42-inch vertical that was measured at the NBA Combine. The problem with that is twofold. One is anyone that's watched 10 minutes of Lucanich at any moment of his career knows.

He never had a 42-inch vertical. The other problem is, Luke at Onchich did not. go to the combine. So there is no place to measure his vertical. So what happened there? The most obvious answer is figured out by some internet sleuths was if you Googled Lukadansjic vertical, the top AI result was that Lukadanschic had a 42-inch vertical measured at the NBA

combine, which then links you to an article. about Dante Divencenzos, 42-inch vertical at the NBA Combine, but AI hallucinated it. I guess they saw the chah in both names, white guys, same draft class, and they just made it up. So again, I'm not saying AI can't be used for things. I'm not saying it's not, you know, the next, the future, all of that. I am saying for some reason AI does not know sports and can't figure it out.

That's first thing. Second thing is this. My other takeaway from that article, DeMonte, I'm going to read you a line in it, which I found fascinating. The facility, which is located in the town where Donchich has vacationed every summer since he was a team. That's important. The facility, which is located in the town where Donchich has vacationed every summer since he was a team, didn't have weights. until earlier this month when he had dumbbells, barbells, weight plates, and med balls trucked in. So here's why that's noteworthy to me.

Luke every summer goes back to this town in Slovenia and trains, but his training has always just included hooping. You know what I mean? He plays ball and does drills all of it. Weight training was never a big part of it for him. And so now, you guys know I feel like the go ahead. Oh, no, it's just so cool, just being able to get a bus of weights. Oh.

Just brought to wherever you were. Yeah, of course. But the, I felt that the whiplash effect of, you know, Lucas fat out of shape, drinking problem was far too strong, considering that without ever being in peak physical condition, he had one of the greatest opening six-year stretches of a career ever. This is where I am contractually obligated to remind the audience that Luca Donchich already has made more first-team all-MBAs than either Steph Curry or Chris Paul and only has one less than Kevin freaking Durant. He's 26 years old.

That's how great he's been. Now, he did have a down year, and part of it was he was he was, he was, he was. was a little out of shape. He was also sad. He also got hurt. He also got traded. And all of, you know, all of those things. So I think that is, I think that is important. It's not giving him an excuse, but I just thought 12 months ago today, before Luca got hurt, before Luca got traded, when Luca was coming off a finals appearance, nobody, and thought, and he had beaten in round two Shea and in round three Anthony Edwards, and it averaged 34, 9, and 10 in the regular season.

Nobody thought Shea or Anthony Edwards was better than him. Now, I think it's like conventional wisdom that those guys are better than him. And Shea certainly has earned it, I guess. Anthony, I don't think quite has, but whatever. The point I'm making is this. Luca in non-tip-top physical condition was already well on his way to being one of the greatest players ever. Luca like this

should be the early favorite for league MVP. Well, you don't think with his play style that him being a little bit thinner might affect it. You know, he's like a slow kind of get you on his head. Yeah, but I think that if he is, I don't think he's going to be skinny. I think he's going to be lean. You know what I mean? I think if you just

replace some of what was fear with the Lakers. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like I would bet he weighs about the same, but looks. I mean, if not more. Yeah, I mean, muscle weighs more than fat. Right. But I mean, he looks a lot thinner than he was.

He looks a lot thinner. You know what I mean? So I just, yeah, I don't think you want actually skinny Luca. Right. But thinner Luca, um, I think what is helpful. And I think that. he has taken this, you know, what happened last year to heart. And this was the thing that I warned the Mabbs about after the trade,

that even if they were going to be right, they're going to be wrong. Even if they were right that if they didn't trade him and they signed him to an extension, he was just going to get fat and out of shape and all these things. by trading him and motivating him and insulting him, they then put this extra chip on his shoulder. Now, people can say, why didn't he do it during the year? I don't think you can do this type of thing during a season. You know what I mean?

I think you have to, this, you need an off season, and he's about to be playing a ton of ball at Eurobasket for Slovenia. And right now, he would be my first. early season pick to win league MVP next year. And if he just torches Dallas every single time they play and it just doesn't even matter. God, I can't wait. I just can't wait if that were to happen. Also, by the way, shout out to Marco in the chat, watching from Slovenia.

Yes, sir. Shout out Marco. Very cool. Let's do Matt Stafford here. And then we get to the listeners. Yeah, so Matt Chevroitt has been dealing with some backswordness and is set to miss another week of camp. You've been high on the Rams. Does this affect it at all?

I think the guy just doesn't want to go to training camp. He's old. Oh, I hope that's it. That would be great. That would be an awesome result here. If it's just old guy doesn't want to practice. So here is before training camp. There was one story of potential contender that hit my radar.

And that was the CJ Stroud shoulder soreness. I was like, ooh, that's something to watch. C.J. Stroud, you know, like that he wasn't able to do full throwing practice or whatever. I'm like, that's something to watch. That seems to have subsiding, okay? But it was, it hit my radar. in training camp, we've been lucky so far, fingers crossed. There hasn't been the devastating superstar injury.

And there hasn't been the contender that has just been hit with a bunch of contributor injuries, at least not yet. So there have been to me two major stories out of training camp so far for contenders. One is a positive one. One is a worrisome one. The positive one, and people can say this is, you know, Chief's colored glasses, but I'm not wrong about this. The Chief's rookie first round pick,

who was considered a top 10 talent who fell because people thought his knee was not right, and he might not be healthy for a good portion of his rookie year, not only being healthy the first day of camp, but being slotted as the starting left tackle, not competing with Jalen Moore, who they signed to be the left tackle for that spot, and just being their left tackle from day one of camp to right now is one of the biggest positive stories

for any true contender this training camp. Because if they have that spot locked down, and then you have Jalen Moore, the guy they side from San Francisco and Jawan Taylor, the right tackle who's been a bit of a disappointment with Kansas City since they signed him from Jacksonville competing on the right side, then all of a sudden the chief's offensive line is totally different. And there was, everyone agreed that Josh Simmons had the talent to potentially be the number one tackle in his draft class,

but the injury was so worrisome he slid. If the knee is really right, then the chief's dealing and taking care of one of the most important And one of the most expensive spots in football by drafting a guy at 32 is a game changer. That's in the positive direction for a contender. In a negative direction for a contender, it's this Stafford story. Because aside from confidence for your team's secondary, there is nothing positive that comes out of Jimmy G. practicing and playing in track camp. And you need desperately a healthy Matt Stafford in order to contend.

And I think the Rams can contend. I like Devon. Now, poor Devante Adam. He's like, you got to be kidding me. I got Matt's, I got Jimmy G throw me the ball again. I love Puka. I really like their D-line. I obviously love McVeigh.

I think Devante is good as a number two with the Rams. but it all comes undone without Stafford. And Stafford is 37. He got the shit kicked out of him for a decade in Detroit. He has been banged up at times with the Rams. I am, it's not the biggest story, but I am not going to ignore it as a potential big story. So it's just something to watch.

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We have some big news. What's the news, 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. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... 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 headwriter, 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 SportsSlice 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. 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 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. Genschen 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 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. A Saluca signed as three-year, 165 million extension with the Lakers over the weekend. We've all been waiting on that. So now that's finally happened, do you think that it's time for L.A. to really press the gas on trying to succeed in the now?

Well, listen, I said after they didn't resign Dorian Finney Smith that I thought there was a chance. I put Lucas signing the extension. Was it 90% I had it? I dropped it to like 75%. So I do think this is good, important, real news. I also think that because he signed the extension, they are able to slow walk this a bit if they want to because Luke is not going anywhere over the next three years.

And by the way, the next deal he'll sign to Monzae will be the league's first, million dollar a game deal. Super Max, yeah. Was that what he was supposed to, was that what he was coming up on in Dallas? No, he could have signed, no, he would have gotten the biggest deal ever in Dallas, but it wouldn't, we wouldn't have gotten that threshold yet. But three years from now, his contract will average more than $82 million a year. And there's 82 games.

It's a really remarkable thing. Here is, though, my general Lakers take that no one, even the biggest anti-Lebron folks, haven't been able to explain to me where I'm wrong on this. I think it is overwhelmingly likely that over the lifetime of this extension, these next three years, Luca never has a teammate better than LeBron is.

is right now. Now listen, maybe they're going to get Janus and I'll be wrong. Maybe they're, you know, they have their eyes on Joker and I'll be wrong. But Shea ain't going anywhere and Tatum's not going anywhere and now we're like running out of people who are better than LeBron right now. Okay. So I would if I were the Lakers, prioritize trying to win right now because if they think this is their last year with LeBron, I do not know that Luke is going to have a better running mate than LeBron over these next three years. Now again, if they have real intel that if they keep the cap sheet clean in two years, Janus plans on just coming there in free agency, then so be it.

then you know what if they like then see you know it's not like they're drawing dead this season like they've got a nice roster then then keep it flexible but that's a hell of a gamble to take like a hell of a gamble to take do you are you worried at all that there's like a rift potentially forming between luca and lebron or do you think that luka knows that it's i don't think yeah i don't think it's between luca and lebron at all i i you LeBron was Luca's all-time favorite player. Luke is the guy LeBron tried to sign to his shoe line. Luke, like, I don't think there is anything between them at all.

I think there is some obvious frustration for LeBron. Fair or not that the Lakers are not pressing the gas even more on this season. Now, you can say that's unfair that they shouldn't, whatever. But that is, to me, the entirety of the frustration. is that right there. Yeah, so Baker Mayfield came in that number 50 in the NFL top 100 list. He answers this year is the eighth best odds for MVP

in Tampa Bay also just drafted Amika Agbuka and they're getting gotten gotten back from his injury. What are your expectations for Baker this year? Expectations are he has another really good season. Sealing is he is a frontline MVP candidate and they are a true contender in the NFC. Like, I think that's on the board. And here's the thing.

In order for them to be a contender, he has to be an MVP candidate because that defense is not going to be great. They are going to have to outscore people. But Baker had 40 touchdowns last year. He was a badass, man. Yeah, I mean, he was a badass last year. I'm so, and he right now has, I want to make sure I'm right about this, that I didn't miss. Yeah. he's on the best non-rooky contract in the NFL three years a hundred million bucks for

Baker Mayfield he is one more good season away from getting a 250 million dollar deal he's been that level of player and I'm just happy for him man because the shit went so sideways on him Yeah. And his teammates love him. He is true to himself. He's tough. He is a legit, awesome playoff performer. Like, this is the thing that people, I think, underrate with Baker.

He has played, I think, five career playoff games. I'm going to tell you what he did in him. First playoff game ever. The Cleveland Browns go into Pittsburgh. Hicksburg. Hang 48 on him. Baker throws for 263 touchdowns, a 115 rating. Second playoff game ever, his only ever bad playoff game. He's against the two-time defending AFC champion. Oh, I'm sorry. He's against the defending Super Bowl champion chiefs, and he's 23 or 37 for 200 yards, one touchdown, one pick, 75 rating. But he's in

Arrowhead in round two against the 2020 Chiefs. Like no shame in that. He then makes the playoffs with Tampa, his first playoff game ever against Philly. And again, it's so crazy. This is Philly. This game was in January of 2024. Yeah, exactly. 32 to 9, three touchdowns, no picks, a 120 rating.

The next game against Detroit, 350 yards, three touchdowns, two picks, a 95 rating, they lose by eight. And in the game against Washington last year, a wild one where he only throws 18 times, but he's 15 of 18 for a buck 85, two touchdowns and a 147 rating. In his playoff career, he's got a 106 rating 12 touchdowns three picks. Like, I mean, he's just been awesome in the big game. The Biden gets better. Yeah.

So I, yeah. So I'm a baker believer through and through. All right. Let's do these last two real quick. James Cook is holding in as he looks for his contract extension. After a few years, a big dollar running backs paying off. It seemed like the debate was put to rest, but that conversation opens back up again.

Or do you think Cook is just not that guy? Well, no, I just, I think Cook's really good, but I, the bills have no cap space. He's under contract for $5 million. bucks they know they can franchise tag him for not much and even if you think he's awesome do you think he's going to be awesome four years from now so like go ahead he's a huge part of their offense last year like what huge buffalo the last two years right exactly i just think they think he's going to blink bro i don't think it's that they you know what i mean i think that they think we'll

give him a little more money but not long term you know what i mean nothing long term and then we'll or maybe a one-year extension. But the report is he wants, you know, I don't know if it's what he wants. I don't want to get this wrong. But I saw four years, 40 million bouncing around, which is only 10 million a year. But I just think they think at that position, his style in two years, he could be done. And they just, it's just such a tough business for running backs, man. It's just such a tough business for running backs.

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.

on Humor 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, it's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Tolodano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season.

And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to you. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love.

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