The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2 (February 19, 2026)

Guest Host: Jason McIntyre
Co-Host: Rachel Nichols
Guest: Miles Simon (Fox Sports College Basketball Analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into post-All-Star NBA predictions, the rise of college basketball stars, and serious concerns about Kansas’s Darryn Peterson as an NBA prospect. Jason McIntyre, filling in for Colin Cowherd, is joined by Rachel Nichols. They share bold NBA forecasts, analyze college hoops, and host Miles Simon to discuss red flags surrounding Peterson’s draft stock. Notable side discussions include Steph Curry's future, the economics of NBA contracts, and handling player mental makeup and adversity.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

NBA Second-Half Predictions (02:34–08:59)

Jason’s “Hot Five” NBA Takes:

• Cleveland Cavaliers as #1 Seed:

  • “I have the Cavs stealing the number one seed in the East. ...The schedule’s loaded with teams that are tanking.” (04:10)
  • Factors: easier schedule, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden meshing, division rivals Atlanta and New York potentially resting stars.

• Oklahoma City Thunder Won’t Reach Conference Finals:

  • “No defending NBA champ has gotten past the second round in six straight seasons.” (05:05)
  • Team started 24-1 but has been “slightly above league average” since; SGA’s health and team fatigue questioned.

• Boston Celtics First-Round Exit:

  • “Sorry, Boston. I don’t think the Celtics will get out of the first round of the playoffs.” (06:19)
  • Concerns about Jason Tatum’s return, chemistry disruption, and tough first-round matchups.

• Con Kanippel to Win Rookie of the Year:

  • “Canippel...he’s shooting 43% from three, best among rookies. ... I wonder if Dallas shuts down Cooper Flag for the season to tank.” (07:05)
  • Suggesting Dallas may rest Cooper Flag for draft positioning.

• Finals Prediction – Knicks vs. Spurs:

  • “Knicks from the East and the Spurs in the West. ... Love me some Wembanyama.” (07:49)

Memorable Quote:

“I think Jalen Brunson & co. get it done. ... Knicks-Spurs in the NBA Finals.” – Jason McIntyre (08:02)

Miles Simon Interview — Darryn Peterson’s Red Flags (09:01–12:49)

Concern Over Peterson’s Reliability:

• Jason introduces the topic: “He had an amazing first half last night and then cramped up second half. ...Hamstring, ankle, illness, cramping—missed 15 of 26 games.” (08:56)

Miles Simon’s Analysis:

“NBA teams are going to have to do a very deep, deep dive into one, his injury history, his mental makeup. ...That’s super concerning for not only the Kansas Jayhawks this year...but for NBA teams going forward.” – Miles Simon (09:01)

• Simon likens Peterson’s situation to the opposite of Jordan’s iconic flu game.
• Losing the top pick status? “It’s knocking him down, in my opinion, from the number one spot.” (09:58)

Bill Self Baffled:

• “Bill Self was baffled last night. ...Pulls himself out of the game and Self says, ‘I thought we were good to go. Then all of a sudden...’ The talent’s tantalizing but he’s just not on the court enough.” (10:27–10:47)
• Kansas is learning to “play without him,” which may loom large in March.

NBA Comparison and Floor:

• Jason asks about Jalen Johnson’s rehab after early criticism. Miles says: “He’s not dropping past like three in the draft...At some point, the talent is going to override because he’s better than those guys.” (12:07)

College Basketball Deep-Dive (12:49–18:07)

Michigan vs. Duke Preview:

• “Cameron Boozer, he’s the clubhouse leader for National Player of the Year right now...He’s everything you want—shows up every night.” – Miles Simon (13:19)

Key Player Spotlight:

• Yaxel Lindenberg (Michigan) and his matchup with Boozer analyzed:

  “He’s a special type player...shoots threes, switchable defender. ... I’m really looking forward to that matchup.” – Simon (14:06)

Nike Basketball Academy Insights:

• “Linda Borg just showed this elite skill set of shooting...handling it at his size, athleticism. ...Some intangibles: how hard you play, how you compete—all there.” (15:18)

Big Ten Final Four Prospects:

• Miles sees Michigan and Illinois as most likely reps, with Illinois getting shout-outs for depth and Keaton Waggler’s breakout 46-point game.
• “Illinois is a big team...They’re really fun to watch. ...Their size, it’s hard to score over them.” (16:27–17:44)

Miscellaneous Hot Topics

Mick Cronin/UCLA Ejection (18:07–19:54)

• Controversial Ejection:
  “I thought the kid was hustling...That’s the things you ask from a player as a coach. ...I don’t think it was right that he got ejected by his coach.” – Miles Simon (18:36)

LeBron’s Future & Lakers Memories (20:33–21:50)

• “Winning the championship in the bubble—hardest championship...No disputing that on my end.”
• “LeBron in year 23, still putting up these numbers...No one’s done that.” – Simon

NBA Bubble Title Respect (22:39–23:20)

• Rachel Nichols passionately defends the difficulty of the 2020 bubble championship:

  “Teams were so unhappy and overwhelmed, they wanted to go home. ...It was the toughest championship I’ve seen.” (22:39)

News & Notables with Rachel Nichols (26:00–37:18)

Steph Curry’s Future (26:05–29:44)

• Curry says he’ll know when the time is right, not soon. Rachel insists only Steph should define his “perfect ending.”
• “Steph gets to decide what his perfect ending is.” – Rachel Nichols (28:23)
• Jason says: “I want to see him in the playoffs. ...The postseason with Steph just hits different.” (26:41)

Jaden Daniels’ Mentality (31:11–32:59)

• Praised for embracing tough road environments: “He’s not hiding from Philly fans...This is what you want from an athlete.” – Nichols (31:37)
• Jason: “You just gotta keep Jaden upright.” (32:59)

Jalen Brunson’s Team-Friendly Deal & Future Payday (32:57–36:46)

• Brunson took $100M+ less to help the Knicks now; may get $417M over five years as a 10-year vet.
• “He could be making more than a million a game in the regular season.” – Nichols (35:16)

Darryn Peterson: Big Risk or Future Star? (39:09–47:14)

Jason’s Recap of Controversy:

• Details Peterson’s repeated absences (cramps, injuries, illness) and surging skepticism about his mentality or durability.
• Direct quote from Bill Self showing concern about Peterson’s reliability:

  “I thought we were past it but obviously we’re not. ...All it takes is for one day like that to derail not only a game but a season.” – Bill Self (40:44)

Comparisons with NFL/Other NCAA Examples:

• Jalen Johnson at Duke — sat out, got ripped, but is now a pro standout (41:53–43:17).
• NFL example: Teams sometimes miss red flags in draft prep, which proves costly (44:11).

Rachel Nichols on “Mental Makeup”:

“Mental makeup isn’t just ‘is he tough?’...Are you worried about protecting yourself from injury? ...Kawhi Leonard protects himself, and he’s a two-time MVP.” (45:09–45:46)

• Suggests teams need to find why Peterson sits out—injuries, mental approach, or protecting future value.

Broader NBA Context:

• Mentions Embiid’s and Kawhi Leonard's approaches to games and injuries; Ben Simmons’ questions about his approach at LSU as a cautionary tale.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Jason McIntyre (NBA Finals prediction):
  “Knicks from the east and the Spurs in the West. ... I just love this team.” (07:49)

• Miles Simon (On Peterson’s risk):
  “NBA teams will have to do a deep dive… injury history, mental makeup…That’s super concerning for not only the Kansas Jayhawks, but for NBA teams going forward.” (09:01)

• Rachel Nichols (Bubble championship legitimacy):
  “Teams were so unhappy and overwhelmed, they wanted to go home. ... It was the toughest championship.” (22:39)

• Miles Simon (on Mick Cronin/UCLA story):
  “I didn’t think it was right that he got ejected by his coach.” (18:36)

• Rachel Nichols (Steph’s future is his choice):
  “Steph gets to decide what his perfect ending is.” (28:23)

• Jason McIntyre (on Jalen Brunson’s big discount):
  “Jalen Brunson took $113 million less than he could have. ... I don’t believe in loyalty. ... It’s a ruthless business.” (33:34)

Summary Takeaway

This episode stands out for sharp, provocative NBA predictions, a clear-eyed and honest breakdown of top NBA and NCAA storylines, and a revealing examination of Darryn Peterson as a high-risk, high-reward NBA prospect. The dialogue is lively, knowledgeable, and packed with both insider and analytical insight—notably about the future of stars like Curry and Brunson, and the shifting expectations for top college players approaching the draft.

Highly recommended for fans eager to understand the NBA’s current landscape, the drama of college prospects, and the evolving stakes for elite players.