Nightcap Hour 2: Pat Riley WISHES Coaches Still WORE SUITS + Kansas’ Darryn Peterson BREAKS his SILENCE + Draymond Green AGREES with Ant Man on MEMPHIS HOTELS + Floyd MAYWEATHER x Manny PACQUIAO 2 + Cowboys SET to FRANCHISE TAG George Pickens

Date: February 24, 2026
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe (Unc), Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson (Ocho), and guest panelists

Episode Overview

This episode of Nightcap dives into current hot topics from the world of sports, blending humor, athlete insight, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. The hosts go deep on evolving basketball fashion, controversy around Kansas' Darryn Peterson, NBA player hotel gripes, the bombshell announcement of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2, and the Dallas Cowboys’ plans for George Pickens. The show bounces naturally between sports, culture, and personal banter in classic Nightcap style—honest, direct, and funny.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Evolving NBA Fashion: Pat Riley Wants Coaches Back in Suits

[03:32–13:30]

• Pat Riley expressed he wishes NBA coaches still wore suits and ties, affirming it projects a leader’s image.
  • Ocho: “That's that old school right there, boy. Pat, Pat, old school. They buy the book…I understand where he’s coming from, but in today's world, man, everybody wants comfort.” [03:47]
  • The panel emphasizes that now coaches wear branded gear for comfort and merchandising—teams sell what coaches and players wear.
  • Shannon (Unc): "We trying to sell merchandise. We ain’t trying to sell no damn suits. [...] We don't work for Louis Vuitton." [04:23]
  • Fashion has become a key element for players and coaches alike; pregame arrivals are now seen as runways for self-expression.
  • Women athletes are highlighted for "shutting it down" fashion-wise even more than their male counterparts.
  • Comparison to soccer, where managers still appear in suits on the sidelines, with Italian teams referenced for their style.

2. Kansas’ Darryn Peterson Breaks Silence on Missing Games

[13:29–22:12]

• Darryn Peterson, Kansas basketball’s freshman star, played only 16 of 27 games this season and addressed public speculation about his absences:
  • Peterson: "Everybody got an opinion on it, but basketball is my life. If I could have been out there every game this year, I would have." [15:40]
  • Coach Bill Self’s take: “The way to change the narrative? Play. Finish. That’s the way you get people to quit talking.” [16:07]
  • Joe: "It's alarming, Uncle Ocho...If you can’t even play 30 games in college, how you going to play 82 in the NBA?” [16:29–16:45]
  • Discussion about “red flags” in Peterson’s durability and draft prospects, with mentions of other top picks like AJ Debonza and Cameron Boozer.
  • Debate on teams’ risk tolerance: "You saw all the signs and you ignored it...You shouldn't be surprised that he's doing in the NBA what he's done in college.” [19:23–19:51]
  • Speculation if it’s better for his draft stock to shut down entirely rather than risk being seen as unreliable.

3. NBA Players Roast Memphis Hotel Scene

[22:20–26:27]

• Draymond Green agreed with Anthony Edwards’ public criticism that “Memphis has the worst hotels.”
  • Shannon: “We stopped staying there because their sprinklers just went off for no reason in the room. Drenched all of Andrew Bogut’s stuff. And they didn’t do anything about it.” [24:31]
  • Panel discusses the lack of high-end options in Memphis, with the Westin as the sole luxury spot.
  • Ocho: “NBA players are giving Memphis a bad name…They rated a four, five-star hotel for a reason but the feedback is givin’ two, three-star.” [25:33]
  • Humorous quips about Memphis barbecue and back-and-forth about local hotels.

4. Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao II Announced

[30:23–46:46; main segment: 30:23–42:58]

• Netflix to host the blockbuster rematch, September 19, 2026, at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
  • Unc: “My only thing is…Floyd’s been able to hang that hat on that zero. If the zero is gone…” [31:03]
  • Ocho: “People tuned in to see him lose, and all 50 times, you debunked them. Now, far removed from your prime…Is this the time where we finally get to see him lose?” [31:33]
  • Debate on Floyd’s fitness and the uniqueness of his constant training: "Even at 40 years old, a shell of himself, Floyd Mayweather is still better than most." [33:35–34:23]
  • Conversation about future fights for Floyd after Pacquiao: ideas like Canelo, Ryan Garcia, and Bud Crawford tossed around.
  • Unc: “In order for you to generate a fight, you got to get casuals to watch it.” [41:20]
  • A playful tangent about Ocho wanting to fight on the undercard, ultimately deflating the idea when Adrien Broner’s name comes up:
    • Ocho: “…don’t give me nobody that experienced, Joe…A real boxer will hurt you if they want to. It’s different.” [47:29–48:10]
  • Notable: Deep appreciation for the physical intensity of boxing and what it takes for a layperson to even be in the ring.

5. Cowboys to Franchise Tag George Pickens

[49:14–56:44]

• Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones confirms the plan is to franchise tag George Pickens.
  • Jones (clip): “Once you have a tag, you have a tag and you know we know George is going to be here.” [49:45]
  • Ocho (vehement): “If you don't see the value in me and George Pickens after what I did this year, just let me go. Keep your tag.” [50:40]
  • Discussion of the tag as a de facto pay cut and team leveraging power; Ocho expresses frustration with NFL owners:
    • “You see how the owners fool the fans…Long as it’s their team, they don’t care about players getting what they deserve.” [52:33]
  • Pay scale breakdown: CeeDee Lamb at $34M, Justin Jefferson at $35M, Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25M, with Pickens likely below that for now.
  • Verdict: “These are the cards you’re dealt…you gotta play ‘em.” [56:34]
  • Ocho: "His next move has to be his best move, huh? It got to be, bro." [54:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Shannon: “We trying to sell merchandise. We ain't trying to sell no damn suits... We don't work for Louis Vuitton.” [04:23]
• Joe: “How you gonna play 82 in the NBA? You can’t even play 30 in college.” [16:45]
• Ocho: “You see how owners fool the fans...Long as it’s their team, they don’t care nothing about the player and him getting what he deserve.” [52:33]
• Shannon: “These dudes will hurt you if they want to, especially when you not used to punches coming...It’s different.” [47:57]
• Ocho: “Golden era NBA coaching? You might want it back, but they’re not selling suits, they’re selling sweatshirts now!” (paraphrased, [04:38])

Segment Timestamps

• Pat Riley Wants Coaches in Suits: [03:32–13:30]
• Darryn Peterson’s Absences / NBA Draft Prospects: [13:29–22:12]
• NBA Players Roast Memphis Hotels: [22:20–26:27]
• Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II Announcement and Fallout: [30:23–46:46]
• Cowboys, George Pickens & Franchise Tag: [49:14–56:44]

Episode Tone and Style

Classic Nightcap: conversational, irreverent, insightful, sometimes heated, always entertaining. Ocho and Unc dish honest athlete takes with an emphasis on player perspective and real talk about league politics and culture. Casual sports banter is peppered with personal stories, competitive one-upmanship, and locker-room style humor.