THE HERD - Hour 3 - Thoughts on who should be the MVP

The Herd with Colin Cowherd34mMarch 31, 2026

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AI-Generated Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd dives into the 2026 NBA season, focusing on the MVP race with a deep analysis of Victor Wemby, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Cowherd and co-host J-Mac debate Wemby’s historic per-minute impact despite limited minutes, highlighting his defensive dominance and offensive catalytic role in the Spurs’ elite offense, particularly through his ability to draw defensive attention and create open three-pointers. They contrast this with the Lakers’ explosive but potentially unsustainable regular-season dominance, questioning their defensive liabilities in the playoffs. The discussion shifts to college basketball, where they critique Duke’s youth and chaos in a tournament game, praise Arizona and Michigan for building complete teams despite NIL advantages, and highlight AJ Devon’s unique blend of scoring and relentless attacking style as a top draft prospect. The segment also covers NFL draft dynamics, including J.J. McCarthy’s struggles with the Vikings, Kyler Murray’s potential to displace him, and the Jets’ Geno Smith signing, while touching on broader themes like team culture, character, and the evolving role of NIL in recruiting. The episode closes with reflections on mental health and the importance of support systems, particularly in high-pressure environments.

Key Takeaways
1

Victor Wemby’s per-minute impact is arguably the greatest in NBA history, with the Spurs outscoring opponents by 645 points when he’s on the floor.

2

Luka Dončić’s scoring volume and consistency make him a strong MVP candidate, but his defensive limitations remain a concern.

3

The Lakers’ regular-season dominance is impressive, but their defensive vulnerabilities could be exploited in the playoffs.

4

College teams like Arizona and Michigan succeed not just on talent, but on team cohesion, character, and complete roster construction.

5

AJ Devon is a top draft prospect due to his relentless attacking style and high floor, despite being overlooked for his scoring archetype.

…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus

Chapters
5:07
12 min

The MVP Debate: Wemby vs. Luka vs. Shai

He's like a hundredth in the league in total minutes played. They're negative with him off, and yet they're threatening for the number one overall seed because of how dominant he's been when he's on the floor.

Highlight
17:07
8 min

The Lakers’ Postseason Paradox

They're clearly a puncher's chance threat. They are capable of beating anybody because if those three guys are all clicking on offense and your role players happen to miss threes, you're just going to lose to this Lakers team.

Highlight
25:08
15 min

College Basketball: Culture Over Talent

You can have a lot of talent, but you still have to build a basketball team. And one of the reasons why I think Arizona is so good... they've got great guards, great bigs, and wings that can shoot and defend. Ultimately, they're a full, complete basketball team.

Highlight
40:01
12 min

NFL Draft & QB Controversies

The hosts examine the Vikings’ quarterback situation, questioning J.J. McCarthy’s viability with Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz in the mix, and predict Murray could displace him. They also discuss the Jets’ Geno Smith signing and the need for a fresh start for struggling players like McCarthy.

52:01
25 min

Team Culture & the NIL Era

Cowherd and J-Mac reflect on the importance of character, culture, and team fit in modern sports, using examples from baseball, basketball, and football to argue that talent alone doesn’t win games—cohesion, leadership, and locker room chemistry do.

High-Impact Quotes
If you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit.
Will Ferrell (via Ako Wodum)22:03
Viral: 90.0
He's like a hundredth in the league in total minutes played. They're negative with him off, and yet they're threatening for the number one overall seed because of how dominant he's been when he's on the floor.
Colin Cowherd5:47
Viral: 85.0
They're clearly a puncher's chance threat. They are capable of beating anybody because if those three guys are all clicking on offense and your role players happen to miss threes, you're just going to lose to this Lakers team.
Colin Cowherd10:41
Viral: 82.0
Speakers

Hosts

Colin CowherdJ-Mac
Topics Discussed
NBA MVP Race95%Victor Wemby's Impact90%College Basketball Team Building88%Lakers' Playoff Viability85%Team Culture and Chemistry82%NIL and Recruiting Culture80%NFL Draft QB Controversies75%Player Development and Mental Health70%
People & Brands

Victor Wemby

person

12xPositive

Luka Dončić

person

10xPositive

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

person

8xPositive

AJ Devon

person

7xPositive

Nikola Jokić

person

6xPositive

J.J. McCarthy

person

6xNeutral

LeBron James

person

5xPositive

Kyler Murray

person

5xPositive

Clifford Taylor IV

person

5xPositive

Geno Smith

person

4xNeutral

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