Best of The Herd

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd features a deep dive into the current state of professional sports, focusing on the disconnect between payroll and performance in Major League Baseball and the NBA. Cowherd critiques the New York Yankees and Mets for their poor on-field results despite massive payrolls, attributing their struggles to poor front-office management and a toxic, cynical media culture. He contrasts this with the Dodgers' success, highlighting their depth, culture, and effective player development. In the NBA, Cowherd challenges the perception of the New York Knicks as a title contender, arguing that Jalen Brunson, while excellent, is not a franchise-defining star and that the team lacks the necessary depth and star power to compete with elite teams. He supports this with a player poll showing that NBA players don't view Brunson as a top-tier superstar. The discussion then shifts to the Lakers' playoff outlook, with Cowherd predicting a first-round exit due to injuries and a lack of backcourt strength, and speculating on LeBron James' future, suggesting he may seek a role on a team where he can be a top-two option rather than a third-tier role player. The episode concludes with a broader reflection on the difficulty of winning multiple championships in the modern era, emphasizing the importance of team culture and the rare nature of sustained success.