Best of the week on The Herd

Live from Chicago, hour two kicks off with Where I Was Right or Wrong: Michigan looks like the full-package tournament team, the younger coaches are running the bracket, the Big Ten’s NIL heft is bullying the SEC, tanking still lingers because the league’s incentives allow it, MLB’s ABS challenge system is a blast, and the Knicks need a bold move because I would not touch Jalen Brunson.

On Jalen Hurts, the whispers are finally public: he resists schematic tweaks, freelances at the line, and it feels a lot like early Russell Wilson where the quarterback gets the shine and the roster takes the blame despite a sagging offense packed with talent.

He sticks to his own style on game day, holds the ball, and throws off timing, which the staff has tried to correct all season.

The Lakers are blazing in March, and the clean first-round draw is Houston because L.A. owns late-game execution while the Rockets stumble in clutch time and lack a guard who punishes LeBron, Austin Reaves, or Luca on defense.

Minnesota is the headache matchup since Ant forces your guards to work, and Chris Finch can pry at the Lakers’ weak spots.

NBA coaching does not swing games like the NFL, but the great ones still matter, and JJ Reddick shows solid late-game detail while learning to be less rigid.

Meanwhile, number seventy-seven has been outrageous for months, carrying L.A. through absences with a once-in-a-generation offensive engine even if his griping at refs is not for everyone.

Wemby already bends games in ways LeBron never could physically, and when his three is falling the possession is basically over because the rim might as well be within one stride.

He’s tracking as an all-time defender right now, but on offense he is not close to peak LeBron and likely not ahead of Devin Booker, and MVP is not a projection award or a bonus for playing fewer minutes.

The media also seems unusually charmed by a rookie publicly stumping for MVP; the tone would be different if a young NFL quarterback did that.

I love Brunson, but heavy usage and size mean he gets hunted, so the Knicks should chase Giannis to sync timelines and lift the ceiling.

New York feels like a third-tier contender after cashing big assets, and LeBron-to-Knicks actually fits because he can scale his role and has free agency leverage.

Back to Hurts: with coordinators turning over, are we at a crossroads in Philly?

The Russell Wilson comp holds: elite intangibles and winning pedigree, but questions about full-field passing, and AJ Brown’s flare-ups linger because some teammates likely share the frustration.

Hurts needs to evolve as a pure passer fast, and the Eagles’ owner and GM will not hesitate to reset if it stalls.

Joining us now, Hornets legend Dell Curry—jersey in the rafters and one of the original long-range specialists.

Back then threes were a niche skill in an inside-out league, you took only a handful, and you had to hit them or sit.

Dynasties look easy from the outside, but being the face comes with stress, egos, and constant expectations; did Steph wear that weight?

Pressure is baked in once you win, and he’s handled years of it with remarkable poise shaped by a lifetime around the game.

Steph’s calm and Draymond’s fire feel essential together—did that chemistry click or grow?

It grew with time, and every champion needs that balance: the steady star who centers the room and the enforcer who sets the edge.

Some rookies hit the league like veterans; your young guy looks the part.

He’s unusually mature, sets the tone, impacts games beyond shooting, and the front office nailed the pick.

Wild idea: scrap the corner three to bring back collisions at the rim.

Keep the corner three and adapt—stock mobile bigs, funnel drives, and build schemes that fit today’s spacing.

Wemby in person is unreal; got any comp?

There is no comp—he covers the floor in a step, sees passes as a decoy or hub, and still wins with defense on off nights, so if he stays healthy he is the face of the league.

Quick golf check: one-forty out, same club—who’s closer?

He’s got me there with touch, but our family golf trips keep that contest going all summer.

Your jersey night looked pure joy.

It was emotional and humbling to see my number raised and to keep serving Charlotte on the mic and in the community.