Nightcap Hour 1: VINTAGE LeBron DOMINATES the Mavs + Nikola Topic makes NBA DEBUT after Testicular Cancer + Super Bowl CHAMPION Ernest Jones IV joins NIGHTCAP + NBA FINES Jazz & Pacers + Jaylen Brown SNEAK DISS Jayson Tatum?

15:40Shannon Sharpe:I mean, he's going to make it on the ball. He's a defensive guy. Yeah. Try to take some pressure off the guy. He normally tries to guard the best team's wing player. Hopefully, normally, if that's a point, it's not, you know. Even though he tried to guard KD, I mean, they don't have a whole lot of great defenders. Right. I mean, when you really look at this team, the Lakers, they got smart and they got a – what's it? Vando. Vando. Vando, that's it. Jackson Hayes is a rim protector. He's not a great on-ball defender. And, you know, yeah, he can help weak sides. He's not a king. He's not Ben Wallace.

16:19Shannon Sharpe:He's not Batumbo guys like that that can defend their position. He's a great help defender. He got great leaping ability. But they really have two on-ball defenders. They probably need another guy. Unfortunately, they weren't able to get one at the trade deadline, which makes it really – because your three best players aren't defenders. LeBron can't defend anymore. He can defend for a possession or two, but to ask a 41-year-old to still be able to defend at the level that he wants good in his 20s, you're asking a bit much. Hey, Luka, it is what it is. He's going to give you 30 to 40, but his guy might have 25 to 30.

16:57Shannon Sharpe:Austin Reed, he tries, but hey, it is what it is. And I don't even want to talk about D.A. I just, man, listen

17:08Ernest Jones IV:Look, Ocho In basketball Man, if you cannot guard that first Dribble, if you getting beat off the first Dribble, the first move, Ocho We can't get help there fast enough Because every play we're going to be In a huckleball, they're going to be penetrating the paint Kick out for three, throwing lob So we're going to have to pick our poison That's when I see what the Lakers Bro, they getting beaten off the first dribble You can't do nothing about that

17:34Shannon Sharpe:A whole defense weakened

17:36Ernest Jones IV:Yeah, it kills you. It breaks your whole defense down because now you let penetration in the teeth of your defense and now you're exposed because you got layups, you got lobs, you got kick out for threes. It's just too much, bro.

17:50Chad Johnson:Hey, Joe and Unc, that's the same conversation we've been having over the years when it comes to the Lakers. Yes. Obviously having so much offensive power, but being a liability defensively. Yes. I mean, at some point it all come down, you got the hustle. You got to want to at least pick and choose your times when to play goddamn defense. But if you're always getting beat, especially off the goddamn first dribble, I mean, I don't care how many points you score if the other team's scoring just as many.

18:19Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. Hey, look, that's why in the playoffs, Uncle Ocho, the Lakers don't need to see the Timberwolves or the Thunder. They don't need to see them type of teams. I don't know how. Like, you probably rather play against Denver, but you don't want them teams that got them dudes that go off the bounce like that. It just can't – it's too much. It's too much, bro. They give up too many points.

18:39Shannon Sharpe:Even though the Lakers, if you look at their record in clutch time right now, Joe, they're probably one of your better teams in clutch time. The game was in five points the last five minutes of the ball game. That's what clutch means. They're probably one of the better teams. But come postseason, when you get beat off the dribble like that in clutch situations, guys are going to get layups. They're going to get wide open shots. and you want to make it as difficult as you possibly can. Well, if you can't guard anybody off the first dribble and I got to come help, now I've weakened my defense. And so that's the problem that they have is that, yeah, and like I said, the regular season is one thing.

19:17Shannon Sharpe:The postseason is something entirely, entirely different. So you have success in the regular season and think that carries over, but no, teams weak. And that's what OKC, they were great in the clutch situation. Yeah.

19:32Ernest Jones IV:Because their game plan for OKC is to wear you down. Okay, yeah. You may get a couple appetizing shots, but we want this tempo. And we know, Ocho, at the end of the game, under five minutes in crunch time, we know you're going to be dead leg out there, man. You ain't going to be able to get too much. We're going to be still like we in the first quarter. You hear me? Yeah.

19:55Shannon Sharpe:And when one of your three best players is LeBron at 41, played the second most game, the most minutes in NBA history. He can't get up and down like he once could. That's not Austin Reeves and Luka. They're not speed merchants. So the one thing that you don't want to get into it with these teams is a track meet. You're a distance runner and you're trying to sprint. Nah, that ain't going to work, bro. Hey, every once in a while you might have a guy, I mean, you had a guy that could run the mile or the half mile. He was on your mile relay team.

20:32Ernest Jones IV:Yeah.

20:32Shannon Sharpe:But he was really, really special. That ain't what the Lakers have. Right. Nah. The Lakers got a lot of distance runners. So when you come to sprinting, they get last. Yeah. You just put them out there. Oh, Joe, to get some points. Hey, that's what I coach all you through. Hey, get out there. Coach, I ain't even ran the 800 all year. Don't worry about it. You get last, but that's a point. What? Whoa, whoa. What you mean? You already know I'm going to get left, but that's a point.

21:03Iso Joe Johnson:Right.

21:07Iso Joe Johnson:Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and now generated assets, which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 % year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one-of-a-kind index, and lets you backtest it against the S &P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks.

21:40Iso Joe Johnson:Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities. Completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com slash podcast and earn an uncapped 1 % bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com slash podcast. Paid for by Public Investing. Brokered services by Open to the Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA, and SIPC. Advisory services by Public Advisors, LLC, SEC-registered advisor. Generated assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures.

22:08Iso Joe Johnson:Pro drivers live for race day. But for small business owners, every day is race day. That's why going pro with Lenovo Pro matters. One-on-one advice, IT solutions, and customized hardware powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors keep your business on the right track. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro. Sign up for free at Lenovo.com slash pro.

22:34Ernest Jones IV:Lenovo, Lenovo.

22:38Chad Johnson:Less support through telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed. Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here, you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and terzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care, and confidence in their weight loss journey.

23:16Chad Johnson:And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging. So your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research. Ask the right questions. Then visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice. Eligibility required. See site for details.

23:41Shannon Sharpe:Nikola Topic made his NBA debut four months after battling testicular cancer. The Serbian guard was the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL. He suffered before the draft, and then he received a testicular cancer diagnosis during the preseason. He had a procedure in October, then underwent chemo and worked his way back into shape. He entered Thursday night game against the Milwaukee Bucks late in the first quarter and received a loud ovation. That's really one of the blessings, Ocho and Joe. You guys know this. Is that playing a professional sports? Yes.

24:18Because when you go get the physical, they find out everything.

24:23Chad Johnson:Every, you know. They find everything.

24:25Shannon Sharpe:They find out if you got diabetes. They find out if you got cancer. They find out if you have, you know, certain ailments certain ailments that probably, probably a lot of times the general population, it goes undetected until it's too late. So congratulations to the young man that he got treated. I mean, he's had a tough time of it. Tears his ACL. He battles his way back from that. And then coming back into the preseason, oh, yeah, by the way, you have testicular cancer.

24:54Ernest Jones IV:I've seen that too, man. I've seen him get in the game. I've seen him give him a standing ovation. I mean, that was dope to see, Arkemocho. I don't know about y 'all, but my mother passed away 2019 from cancer.

25:06Shannon Sharpe:Yeah.

25:06Ernest Jones IV:So, you know, that's a tough battle, bro. I watched her take this battle for probably over a decade. You know what I mean? Just going in and out of remission. But, you know, when I hear about stories like this, bro, it was good to see that young man back out there. Glad he pulled through.

25:23Shannon Sharpe:My father died from it at 39 from cancer. He had two brothers that barely made it. One of them didn't make it to 50, and the other one was 50. So me and my brother has outlived my dad and my uncles tenfold. Now, we do have the oldest one, Richard, is I think 91, 92. So I'm on the other side, Joe. I go get A. Oh, yeah, I don't meant to deduct, but let me go. What I need, Doc?

25:55Ernest Jones IV:Yeah.

25:57Shannon Sharpe:I get everything.

25:58Ernest Jones IV:Yeah.

25:59Shannon Sharpe:anything. Well, you know, we don't think, yeah, I think there's something I need to worry about. So go ahead. Go ahead. Go on and send me to a specialist. It's covered. So, hey, they're like, well, you know, there's an abnormality going on. I said, what does that entail? They said, well, we can numb your penis up and put a thing. I said, no, y 'all can put me to sleep, but y 'all still put that scope down there. Let me see what's going on. Yeah.

26:25Chad Johnson:Uncle Joe, that's one thing about it if it runs in your family uh if it's hereditary you know and other people have had it in the past you got you got to go get checked and even if it doesn't you know especially for us fellas man when you hit when you hit a certain age it's very important to continue to get those checkups you know to make sure you to make sure you're okay man every six months i mean i mean to a year whatever whatever it may be or whatever a doctor sees fit for you especially if it runs in your family because it does it does get passed down you know you know through the generations especially if you've had others or uncles and aunts that have passed away from certain cancers.

27:03Chad Johnson:So, I mean, it sucks. It sucks the fact that we've made so much movement in certain areas when it comes to medicine and technology, but it doesn't seem we haven't been able to find a cure for some of these monsters out there.

27:19Shannon Sharpe:Ain't no money in the cure. The money's in the treatment. If I cure you, how do I get more money from you if I cure you.

27:27Chad Johnson:I need to treat you. So I need you to bring your ass back. Listen, I don't want to say that part. You know, the funny thing about it, Joe, it's funny and is we can find a way to do everything else. Hell, we can find a way to get to the goddamn moon. We have cars, Joe, that can drive themselves without us. And when it comes to some of the simple formalities, when it comes to us as humans, I mean, what do you mean? We don't have I mean, really? Yeah, we do. You listen. We wiped out polio. We wiped out smallpox. Come on now. You know I know.

28:05Shannon Sharpe:Move behind the plague. If they really if they really. But to your point, Ocho. Yeah. People that look like you're men that look like you would be you and Joe. Because normally God had to come to the foot of the bed. Yeah. Oh, you know, I saw God last night. Let me go. Let me go to the doctor. Yes, sir. that was when we absolutely had to go but we didn't have health care and my grandfather and my you know before us they didn't want to burn us with those bills yeah so but you know what hey let me go ahead and let this go ahead and take because i i can't leave my family in debt for forever and forever and forever so it was a situation no they weren't going to the doctors and considering they weren't trusting the doctors like they like, oh no, I get sicker when I go to the doctor.

28:56Ernest Jones IV:That's what it seemed like.

28:57Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, because they keep waking your ass up every 10 minutes. I say, damn. If I can sleep, I might get better and get the hell up out of here. But y 'all keep waking me up. Mr. Sharp, you got to check your blood. My blood is fine. It's boiling right now. I promise you. They talking about Mr. Sharp, your blood pressure's up. Yeah, because y 'all woke me up. until I get a damn more than I just finally dozed off. Because hear that beep, beep, beep, beep. So I'm trying to block that out. As soon as I get to sleep, Mr. Sharp.

29:29Chad Johnson:They wake your ass up. Mr. Sharp. Yeah.

29:32Ernest Jones IV:Right, right. Hey. I know exactly what you mean, bro. I swear.

29:40Shannon Sharpe:But I was like, but I'm glad the young man, I'm glad the young man got it. It was – got diagnosed because I think early detection is one of the best forms of treatment.

29:54Chad Johnson:Yes.

29:54Shannon Sharpe:You catch it into the initial stages. Now they can treat it. They say nothing about you. I'm saying treat it and get you on the road to recovery. So congratulations to Nikolai Topic. Made his NBA debut four months after battling testicular cancer, a year after he suffered a pre-draft ACL tear. still was able to go with the 12th pick in the NBA draft in 2024, and he finally made his NBA debut. So congratulations. That said a lot, man. Yeah, that's awesome. All right, guys, we got a very, very special guest joining us. You know, he'll love a nightcap. He starred in the Seattle Seahawks parade yesterday.

30:31Shannon Sharpe:Y 'all know him. EJ IV, Ernest Jones IV. Congratulations, man. Hey, you said, I'll be back. You said, I'll be back. You wasn't on the sportsmaker Terminator. You said, I'll be back. You're going to be carrying hardware with you. Congratulations. Yes, sir. DJ, you...

30:47Iso Joe Johnson:Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and now generated assets, which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 % year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one-of-a-kind index, and lets you backtest it against the S &P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks.

31:20Iso Joe Johnson:Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com slash podcast and earn an uncapped 1 % bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com slash podcast. Paid for by Public Investing. Brokered services by Open to the Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA, and SIPC. Advisory services by Public Advisors, LLC, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures.

31:48Iso Joe Johnson:Pro drivers live for race day. But for small business owners, every day is race day. That's why going pro with Lenovo Pro matters. One-on-one advice, IT solutions, and customized hardware powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors keep your business on the right track. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro. Sign up for free at Lenovo.com slash pro.

32:17Chad Johnson:Are you trying to get weight loss support through telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed? Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here, you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and terzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care, and confidence in their weight loss journey.

32:57Chad Johnson:And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging. So your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research. Ask the right questions. Then visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice. Eligibility required. See site for details.

33:19Shannon Sharpe:I was on the Rams when they won this thing actually in your own home stadium.

33:25Ernest Jones IV:Right. Is there a difference?

33:28Shannon Sharpe:I mean, can you compare or contrast the two if you could?

33:34Ernest Jones IV:Yeah, I mean, the biggest thing, man, I won at LA my rookie year, so I thought it was sweet, man. I thought that's what you do every year, man. And then, you know, it took me, you know, three, four years to get back to this point. And to do it with this group, man, the way we love each other, the way we fight for each other each and every day, man, it definitely was different because, you know, I understand, you know, the struggle and how hard it takes to get back to that point.

34:01Chad Johnson:Yeah.

34:03Ernest Jones IV:Oh, Joe. Hey, look, you won a Super Bowl, you know, with two different teams, bro. Tell me, tell us what's like, what's the mindset and preparation that separates, you know, championship teams from, you know, I probably would say just regular teams. Yeah, I think the biggest thing, I think, is the mindset. Like, man, we went into that game like, you know, we weren't going to be denied. We were coming out of that game with something, and it was something. We were coming out of that with a win, and mentality on all sides of the ball was just that. And I think that's what separates the teams that get the job done versus those that don't make it all the way.

34:45Right.

34:45Chad Johnson:Yeah, EJ, after watching that game and the way you guys dominated defense, obviously having a moniker for your defense now called the dark side that is reminiscent of that of the Legion of Boom, Did you know you would dominate the game in this way and fashion, the way you guys did?

35:02Ernest Jones IV:Yeah, man. I mean, we were watching the film for two weeks, man. We were like, man, ain't no way you give Mike McDonald two weeks. But not only that, we're watching the film, and we're like, man, we've seen it all. What is this team going to do against us? And you can tell from on film that we're a different group, but when we get in front of you, it's much different. and it's real life at that point. So I knew we would come out there and dominate.

35:29Shannon Sharpe:EJ, you must've been on Laporte yesterday cause you all been the other day. Cause you feeling good, man. I was like, what the hell?

35:35Ernest Jones IV:I wish I had some of that. I wish, nah, man, that was a little bit of that done then. But no. Where'd you get that t-shirt from? I had it made on the spot. I had it, I had been seeing it online. Like I seen the pictures of it floating around. and I'm like man I've been saying F you about my quarterback all year so let me go ahead and get this shirt

36:01Shannon Sharpe:when you

36:02Ernest Jones IV:you mentioned

36:05Shannon Sharpe:your first Super Bowl you're a rookie so you're coming in and you got J-Rams you got Aaron Donald you got veteran players you got OBJ you got Stafford you got Vaughn Miller you got Leonard Floyd you got veteran guys on that team now you're in a different role you're a leader now and so now guys are looking to you because even though you were a rookie on that team they're looking to you okay ej what do we need to do okay we win the championship game what do we need to do that between the time we win the championship game leading up to the to the super uh to the actual super bowl game so what type of advice were you able to give them man honestly

36:44Ernest Jones IV:for me you know it was it was a lot different being in la because our super bowl was home Everything we did was at home. Media Day, everything was at home. So I just told him, get ready, enjoy the experience. But ultimately, man, when it comes down to when it's time for us to go to practice or go to meetings, man, let's be locked in. We came here ultimately to win this game, win us the Super Bowl. And that's what we're going to do. So that was mainly my advice.

37:11Chad Johnson:What do you do now? You got the trophy. You got the ring coming. Off season is here. obviously your offseason is starting a little bit later than others that didn't make it to the playoffs so what does EJ do now that the season is over

37:26Ernest Jones IV:man I'm about to go get away you know me and my family we love going to Hawaii so we gonna get away here for a little bit and then you know at some point I'll get back in the lab and get ready to go you know do this thing again yeah hey you from Georgia EJ yeah South Georgia what part? way across Georgia Oh, hello. Your coach took a round. Yeah. See, Unk, that's what I'm saying. You didn't even. You just finding this out, man. I am. I didn't know you from Waycross. Yeah, man. I'm right there.

38:00Man, we used to go, man.

38:01Shannon Sharpe:We used to catch chickens over at Waycross and Baxley.

38:04Ernest Jones IV:Baxley, yes, sir.

38:07Shannon Sharpe:Hey, check this out. That ring, you guys kind of started that ginormous one of those big. I'm talking about this thing, this big around.

38:15Ernest Jones IV:Right.

38:15Shannon Sharpe:You trying to top that with the Seahawks?

38:19Ernest Jones IV:Oh, most definitely.

38:20Shannon Sharpe:We got to.

38:22Ernest Jones IV:I'm hoping and praying they let me design this thing. Let me get a few ideas out there.

38:29Shannon Sharpe:Man, the Seahawks, he might be a real, instead of the head, he might be the whole Seahawks.

38:38Shannon Sharpe:But on a more serious note, John Snyder smoked at the ceremony presentation about how you, Jake Bobo, Drew Locke, and Charles Cross all lost your fathers this year. Talk about that special kind of bond that you guys had going through loss, but still having the main focus because you know the football season doesn't stop, even though there might be a loss or tragedy that someone in the family might have faced.

39:03Ernest Jones IV:Man, it was definitely tough when we all had those conversations together. I think I lost my father first, and then right around the time that I was losing mine, You know, Charles had started going through, you know, the complications with his. So it was tough, man, you know, speaking to him and, you know, not having all the answers myself because I'm still trying to deal with it. But we got a great support system there. That team, I tell you, they look out for you. They really, truly care about you. So it was easy when we came back to work because they knew, you know, that we were dealing with stuff.

39:34Ernest Jones IV:But they let us they let us grieve. They let us have our moments. They let us come back and be around our boys and, you know, do this thing that we love. So it honestly, you know, made it easier being around the guys.

39:46Shannon Sharpe:Because it takes a special type of compartmentalization. Because you realize, like, you know what, I am grieving, but I know my dad would want me, would want X, Y, and Z. And I know the level of expectation. Because, you know, a lot of times sports is not like a regular job. You know, a regular job, they might give you bereavement time. You might get able to take a week or two. That ain't how professional sports work. Now, maybe in baseball. I can just speak to football, so I don't want to get out of character and say, well, this is how it is in basketball. I'm talking about football. Basically, you go to the – hey, also, you go to a funeral when you think you'll be back.

40:21Ernest Jones IV:Right, yes, for sure. And that's what I say, like, for most teams, and I can't speak for every team, but I know that, you know, they wouldn't be willing to let their start middle linebacker leave too much and miss that much of time during training camp and the things before. And they didn't stress me out about it at all. They let us, you know, do what we had to do. So I really appreciate them for that.

40:45Chad Johnson:Yeah, it's funny, especially when it comes to losing loved ones. I think teams understand that the owners, the GMs, obviously the head coaches, we've all dealt with loss. Sometimes it happens during the season and in season. I lost my father when I was with the Patriots. He passed away from pancreatic cancer as well. and they allowed me to do what I needed to do, to do what was necessary as far as funeral arrangements and going to a funeral and having to come back. And they understand that most of the time, your brothers in that locker room, they understand what you're going through. So sometimes it's somewhat good and you want to be back in that environment of your extended family, you know, to be around the fellas, to kind of get away from that.

41:26Chad Johnson:Because most of the time you go to work, especially after a tragedy like that, that's your sense of peace. That's your sense of peace being around your brothers, man. It may make you feel a lot better.

41:36Ernest Jones IV:Oh, for sure.

41:37Shannon Sharpe:Definitely. Well, the thing is, the best thing about that with you, EJ, is that you're a vested player. Because a lot of times, I remember my great-grandmother passed, I was afraid to ask. I was like, no, I ain't going to even ask. I ain't going to even ask. Then when my grandma, my dad's mom passed, we ended up like, we're going to have to have this thing on a Monday. Because if you don't have it on a Monday, I'm not going to be able to make it. Oh, for sure. So, you know, fortunate enough, like you said, you're a vested player and you know they gave you that kind of time because they like like i said we understand that this is uh they say this this is what they say oh you know family is the most

42:09Ernest Jones IV:important thing man stop it yeah it's football important too exactly man ej congratulations man

42:18Shannon Sharpe:we're proud of you thanks for coming on during the season and talking with uh ocho and i at nightcap congratulations two-time super bowl champ yes sir now hey in the same division one with the rams Now with the Seahawks. That's it. Been a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. Great defense. Had an unbelievable game. Before we get you out of here, what did you guys see on tape? Because y 'all brought Spoon a lot more on the blitz. Normally it's emo that would come on the blitz. But this time it was Spoon. And he was getting home because he timed it up perfect. What did you guys see that said, you know what, that Coach Mack said,

42:54Ernest Jones IV:you know what, Spoon, you can get home with him. We got to play them next year. But I will say this. I will say this. The way Coach Mike seen it is how it worked. The way Coach Mike seen it.

43:10Shannon Sharpe:So in other words, they had a tail.

43:12Ernest Jones IV:They had a little tail, and we had to do what we had to do.

43:16Shannon Sharpe:Yeah.

43:18Ernest Jones IV:Well, that's awesome, man.

43:19Shannon Sharpe:Well, congratulations, EJ, man. Enjoy. Hey, get away with your family for a couple of weeks. Hey, did you know it's either being the hunter, Hunter, That is the hunt here.

43:29Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. I love to hunt, though. We still go hunt. That's what I'm talking about.

43:34Shannon Sharpe:All right, man. Congratulations. Enjoy your time off, and we'll see you down the road.

43:38Ernest Jones IV:Thank y 'all. Thank y 'all. Congratulations, bro.

43:40Shannon Sharpe:Ernest Jones, the fourth Super Bowl champ of the Seattle Seahawks. Man. Man.

43:46Chad Johnson:That got to be a great feeling, Uncle Joe, man. What that? Obviously, you experienced it. Just winning Super Bowls, man. Just winning Super Bowls. Just being in a winning environment. That got to be one of the greatest feelings. one of the greatest feelings I've never been able to experience sometimes I'm in awe of players when they, I don't want to call it luck where you just have the opportunities to be on certain teams where they're structured the right way, we just have the opportunity to win, I think it's a great thing and just seeing EJ happy like that man, being able to do it his rookie year then come and do it again on a team like the Seahawks man with a great group like that that's dope, that's really really dope.

44:26Shannon Sharpe:It is Ocho. It's an unbelievable feeling. I can just imagine him coming in as a rookie. I came in the Broncos after they had gotten the eyes beat out 55-10 by the 49ers. But winning that first Super Bowl, look, and I was very fortunate, like you said, went back to back 97-98 and then went to the Ravens in 2001 again. But ain't nothing like that first one. Ain't nothing like it. Ain't nothing like it. The second one, Ocho, I don't even think I go into the parade I ain't go to the ceremony Baltimore same thing it's something about the first your first love your first time your first time

45:12Shannon Sharpe:ain't nothing like it I was very fortunate that it meant so much to me I gave my first ring to my brother because me I was a part of the journey and his career got cut short like two years after he ended up retiring, they go to the Super Bowl and win it. So, and he retired it, you know, his last year, Ocho, 18 touchdowns, 94 catches, and never played another snap. He was 29 years of age. So I was like, you know what, man? And I told him, I remember doing an interview with NBC. I was like, bro, we win the Super Bowl. I'm going to give you the ring.

45:46Chad Johnson:Hey, you know what I thought about too, Unc?

45:47Shannon Sharpe:What'd you think?

45:48Chad Johnson:You see how the rings look, you know, when Jerry Rice played? Yeah, yeah. How small the rings are? Yeah, I do. Do you think, would it be possible for players to be able to upgrade those rings? No, I'm just saying have them look like today's rings, but still have the dates from back then?

46:09Shannon Sharpe:It won't have the same meaning.

46:12Chad Johnson:Well, it don't look like no meaning when you compare it to any goddamn way.

46:15Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, I mean, I guess, I don't know. I guess you'd have to look at it like a class ring or something like that. You know, the rings, I mean, ain't nobody have no 15, 20 carats. I mean, there are only like a handful of people that have big diamond rings. Not everybody in the NFL white got a big-ass diamond ring. So it kind of – You know what I mean, though, right? Yeah. I think what it means, the size doesn't add more meaning to it. I won the Super Bowl. They could have gave it to me out of a cracker jack box. I'm a Super Bowl I'm Super Bowl 32, 33 champ and I get it I'm looking at my ring and I've seen guys like God dang Yeah

46:58Chad Johnson:Hey, did you see, you saw the Philadelphia Eagles ring last year?

47:01Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, I saw it

47:02Chad Johnson:Yeah, I see it

47:03Shannon Sharpe:Jason of Beverly Hills, I've got a couple of pieces from him I do too He has all the rings that he's basically designed since then Tampa and the Eagles and the Rams the Patriots not the Patriots the Chiefs so he's kind of I think he did the Chiefs but I know he's done the Rams I know he did the Eagles he did someone else's too and you're right I mean you look at you like golly but the meaning behind it size don't even matter I mean you look at the Packers on the first one I'm like damn that look like a class ring but when you see a real champ on the side?

47:46Chad Johnson:Yeah. I mean, I don't know. It's like an upgrade. I mean, Joe, sometimes, you know, it's always good to upgrade things. Sometimes you upgrade things to make them look a little better. You know, as time evolves.

47:59Shannon Sharpe:You'd have to get a whole new ring. You can't, you can't, you can't. That's, it is what it is. That's not, that's not like a house that you could add on to. You'd have to get a whole new ring. I'll give you an example, Ocho. It's kind of what we did with the Hall of Fame rings. Yes. We had one company that was doing the rings and they were small. And then I think K came in and they're big now. Right. And so they like gradually, gradually, gradually. And they just like ended up and guys got bigger rings. But I think also guys started wearing them on the index finger. They started wearing them on their middle fingers.

48:37Shannon Sharpe:And they started putting them on their thumb. Will you wear yours? if I wear it I wear it on my right ring finger

48:45Chad Johnson:hey Joe if so happened if I was ever able to win one I would have had mine on my pinky

48:55Ernest Jones IV:why aren't you pinkies

48:57Chad Johnson:I mean I wear everything on my pinky they say

49:02Ernest Jones IV:it's like some pimp style

49:04Chad Johnson:I don't know about that Joe I don't live that lifestyle I just

49:07Ernest Jones IV:when you wear them pinky rings

49:09Chad Johnson:they said they're like oh no no it just it just it's always been me it's always been me i know i

49:13Shannon Sharpe:have i have gargantuan you're gonna get on the ring because you you want it big you already talking about the size it ain't gonna be the same size with your pinky as it would on your middle finger yeah that would look weird there yeah you wear yours on your middle finger sometime huh no

49:28Chad Johnson:no no no it's it's fit to my ring finger okay okay this one yes okay okay okay yes yeah hey look i

49:35Ernest Jones IV:I know it feels – I'm sure it feels good to, you know, win a championship, win a Super Bowl. But can you imagine making it that far and losing, bro? No. You got to take that into the – you got to take that into the summer?

49:48Shannon Sharpe:Like, no, I can't imagine because I know I'm a sore loser. Right. My whole family is a sore loser. My sister was – my sister had a headache because she was so worried. She showed up and it seemed like there were so many Green Bay Packer fans. and she was so worried because they got the ball and would go straight down the field, Ocho, 80 yards for a touchdown. And she's like, Lord, have mercy, here we go. So she was a nervous wreck. I don't think my sisters, I don't think in the pros, I don't think she saw me lost every game that she's come to, we've won. But unfortunately, she didn't like coming to the games.

50:26Shannon Sharpe:My sister get that one game, normally the first game of the year. If it was home, she would be to that. My sister would say, if y 'all go to the Super Bowl, I see y 'all there. If not, that's it for me. Yeah. Now, my mom would come because, you know, she would have to go get the kids. Sometimes she would get the kids and bring them out. So, that was right up her alley. But, no. No, I couldn't. I can't. To lose that game? Whatever. And you see how Drake was trying to find Sam Donald and then everybody just, like, disappeared. They had done roped it off and the confetti falling and they ushered.

51:02Shannon Sharpe:Okay, move it. Move it along, move it along.

51:05Chad Johnson:Hey, that got to be the worst feeling, man, when they scoot your ass off the field. Yes. Yeah.

51:12Shannon Sharpe:Joe, can you imagine how San Antonio felt in game six? They already got the court. They already brought the champagne out, and then Ray Allen hit that shot, and now they got the guy, and they pushed the champagne back in the locker room. And they did. Sorry, Ash. I'm sorry, Ash.

51:30Ernest Jones IV:Hey, listen. And you get to see that as players, though, because I'd have been in a few closeout games. And the one that I can really remember is when I was playing in Phoenix 2004, Uncle Ocho. We was playing against the Spurs. They was up on us. They was up on us 3-1. And we was playing. No, they was up on us 3-0. And we was playing at their house for game four. As soon as we come into the arena to go warm up, Uncle Ocho, I'm talking about, man, they got confetti stuff already pent up. They got champagne. I went in a room. It was shit. I said, oh, man, they finna try to celebrate on our end tonight.

52:05Ernest Jones IV:And we can't – look, I went back and talked to him. Hey, man, them four ready to celebrate that. But anyway, we end up winning the game. But, man, yeah, when you see that, yeah, it'll make you lock in.

52:16Chad Johnson:That's crazy.

52:18Shannon Sharpe:Joe Ocho's NBA fined Utah Jazz 500K for what leagues call conduct detrimental to the league. And Indiana Pacers will fined 100K for violating the league's player participation policy. In addition, Adam Silver said in an NBA news release that the league is seeking to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct. Overt behavior like this prioritized draft position over winning undermines the foundation of the NBA competition and will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games. Additionally, we are working with our competition committee and board of governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.

53:02Shannon Sharpe:On February 7th, the Jazz played Orlando Magic. In Orlando, Laurie Markkinen and Jaron Jackson had combined to score 49 points over the first three quarters, helping Utah to a 94-87 lead, entering the fourth quarter. But the Jazz held out Markkinen and Jackson, fellow starters Yusef Nurkic for the entire fourth quarter, and they lost the game 120-117. Two nights later, Jazz carried an 85-82 lead over the Heat in the fourth quarter. And once again, Markkinen, Jackson, Nurkic did not play in the final period. But Utah ended up beating Miami 115-111. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith responded to the five saying, agree to disagree.

53:46Shannon Sharpe:Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined. That makes no sense. The Jazz owe a protected first-round pick of the 2026 draft.

53:57Chad Johnson:Hey, what the hell are they trying to do, Joe? Man, listen, let me tell y 'all something.

54:03Ernest Jones IV:Let me tell y 'all something. Okay, Ocho, I'm with Adam on this as far as fining these teams, but if I'm these teams, I'm going to take that little fine. Because look, let me tell you, as talented as this draft class is going to be, it can put you ahead 15, 20 years. Ocho, you get the right, you pick the right one. It's going to be some stars in this draft class, bro. And if you got, I really believe even if you got a top five, top seven pick, you still going to get great value, bro. It's deep. This is a good one. This is a good draft class. I'm going to take the fine too if I'm NBA team. Yeah, I'm going to take that fine too.

54:45Shannon Sharpe:The problem that Utah have, Ocho, if their pick is eight or down, they have to turn that pick over to OKC. So they want to make – they want to try to get as many ping pong balls as they possibly can to stay one through seven. So we get the key down there. Because the last thing you want to have is a top ten pick that's eight somewhere, eight or below. And I be, damn, we got to turn this thing over to – they already got an abundance of wealth and now we got it

55:13Chad Johnson:that sucks for the players that's playing on the jazz Joe we going out here playing and I know management they trying to tank they taking us out the game they taking away our minutes we out here we got a job to do that ain't part of our job trying to worry about where we drafting at

55:37Ernest Jones IV:hey look Look, Ocho, you absolutely right. And as a player, you ain't finna go out there point shaving. You trying to get to the money. Cause look, you want your numbers to look good too at the end of the year when you try to go up there and negotiate your contract. I don't care that's why they have to sit those guys out cause if they don't, they gonna win. They know Lauren Marker and JJ,

56:01Shannon Sharpe:Triple J, they tried to win. Yeah, they be balling. Hold on, you're messing up our draft pick. Yeah. Sit y 'all ass down.

56:07Chad Johnson:Hold on, hold on. Hey, hey, hey, Joe, and how do the players feel about this, knowing what the team is doing?

56:14Ernest Jones IV:Man, players go play, bro. Like they may, obviously with those guys, they send them guys out in the fourth quarter, he probably already told them, but man, ain't no guys going out there lollygagging, Ocho. Guys really, because they got some nice pieces over there that's having pretty good, that's have, like give you the guard. George? George Balling, marketing can ball.

56:36Shannon Sharpe:They just gave up a boatload of picks to get Triple J.

56:40Ernest Jones IV:Yeah.

56:41Shannon Sharpe:You know, the Cavaliers fired Ty Lue. Yeah, see, that's what I'm trying to take. Ty Lue's like, I ain't trying to take. I'm playing my guys. I'm playing my best player. You got to go there, bro.

56:50Chad Johnson:Hey, Joe, I wouldn't be that type. You know, if I'm one of the ballers on the Jazz, honestly, I mean, knowing me and my mentality, I don't care about what you're trying to draft, and you definitely ain't taking me out of no game. And I'm definitely –

57:03Shannon Sharpe:Then you'll get fired for conduct detrimental. See how that works? What? Absolutely. They go. Hey, Ocho. You're going to find me because I don't want to come out of the game? Yes. That's contract detrimental to the team.

57:16Ernest Jones IV:Ocho, we already ain't won but like 16 games. Ain't like we going to make no play-in and no play-off. Like, we need more ping-pong balls so we can try to get one of these phenoms that's coming out.

57:29Chad Johnson:I got you.

57:30Ernest Jones IV:Now, the team ain't going to come out and say that, but we know what's going on.

57:34Shannon Sharpe:Okay, I understand. Come on, now. You get looking like the Spurs. They get David Robinson. And then they get Tim Duncan. Duncan, yeah. And now they get Wimby.

57:44Ernest Jones IV:But look, how did they get Tim Duncan? That's because David Robinson and them had set out pretty much that year before they didn't play. They got hurt. They was one of the weakest teams in the league, and they ended up getting the number one pick, and you get Tim Duncan and David Robinson together. Now you got a dynasty. That was the start of it. That was your linchpin. Yeah. Yeah. So this is all it takes, man. It takes one more piece that Utah can add to that puzzle over there, and they could be one of the top teams in the West real quick.

58:11Shannon Sharpe:And you got to get lucky. I mean, you look at the Lakers. The Lakers win the NBA championship, and guess what? They get the number one over pick. They get James Worthy. How the hell? Hold on. You mean to tell me they got Magic and Kareem. We win the championship, and guess what? The number one overall pick, University of North Carolina, 6 '8", James Worthy. Hey, how did that happen, though, Unc? Oh, that ain't no happening. How do you win a championship and get the number one pick? Back, you know, early on, Joe, this was before your time, but you could draft like the Celtics drafted Larry Bird his junior year and kept his rights.

58:44Shannon Sharpe:So you could draft a player and still have his rights. Wait.

58:51Chad Johnson:I'm not even going to ask.

58:53Shannon Sharpe:Oh, because it used to be you drafted territorial.

58:57Chad Johnson:Right.

58:58Shannon Sharpe:So you drafted a player that was in that area. Okay.

59:02Chad Johnson:Yeah. But you could draft a player, he go back to school,

59:09Shannon Sharpe:and you still maintained his rights. Hmm. Hmm. So that's what happened with the Celtics. And the Celtics did a good thing. They ended up trading Joe Barry Carroll. And guess what? They traded Joe Barry Carroll. They got Robert Perriss. Oh, lo and behold, Kevin McHale. So now you got a big three for them. Well, they had an eight. You go out and you trade and you get Nate Archibald. You get rid of Nate Archibald and then guess what? You get DJ, who had just won the finals. I think he was a finals MVP with Seattle.

59:40Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. Dang. Oh, nah. They had a whip. They had a whip. They did.

59:47Shannon Sharpe:That Boston Celtics team was, oof. I mean, a lot of the rules back in the, see like in the free throw, Joe, you used to get three to make two. You got three attempts to make two shots. There was a lot of me like, damn, this is no – hey. So, hey, you made one, you missed one, hey, he got one more free throw. But – and I agree with you, Joe. I see what the Jazz is doing. It doesn't look good that you tank. But they're going to tank. Ain't nothing you can do.

1:00:19Ernest Jones IV:You're going to just eat that fine. Yeah. Because, look, at the end of the day, if we get the number one pick or even a number two pick. Ocho, we back in business, baby. Yeah.

1:00:32Chad Johnson:Hopefully those picks turn out, Joe. You say you got a deep class this year?

1:00:38Ernest Jones IV:Ocho, them top, I'm talking about for sure, them top four, five picks, Ocho, they going to be special.

1:00:46Shannon Sharpe:Orlando got Shaq. And then guess what? Guess what they got the next year? Chris Webber. They traded Chris Webber for Penny Hardaway. Yeah, yeah. It work out. You get the right player, all it takes is one. Yeah.

1:01:04Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. Yeah, that's it. That's it.

1:01:07Shannon Sharpe:It changed your fortune. Yeah.

1:01:10Ernest Jones IV:That was a smart move. I wonder why Orlando just didn't take Penny one. I think because Chris Webber was so - He was so dumb.

1:01:17Shannon Sharpe:People don't realize how good C-Webb was before his knees.

1:01:22Ernest Jones IV:Knees gave out on his mouth.

1:01:24Shannon Sharpe:Man, C. Webb was a monster.

1:01:26Ernest Jones IV:Well, coming out of college, he was a beast, Ocho, in college. But coming into the league, you couldn't see him and Shaq on the same team. I couldn't really see that.

1:01:39Shannon Sharpe:It was perfect because you remember leading up, Penny and Shaq was in blue chips. You remember? Yeah. Yeah, that's one of my favorite basketball moves, bro. He was in blue chips.

1:01:48Ernest Jones IV:Ocho don't know nothing about that, Joe. Blue chips? I ain't see that, Joe, or no? Oh man, boy that's a classic. We might take your black card behind that one. What is on Joe? I'm sure you can go see it on Netflix. It might be on Amazon or something like that.

1:02:05Chad Johnson:Yeah, Amazon, yeah. Matter of fact, you know what? I'm gonna watch that tonight. Cause you know, I slept another four hours before we started. Yeah, I was knocked out.

1:02:17Shannon Sharpe:Joe, you see up there, we see right now of the top 10 prospects is Darren Peterson, 6 '6 guard, freshman guard out of Kentucky. Cameron Booz, a 6 '9 freshman. A.J. DeBonza, a 6 '9 freshman. Kingston Flemings, a 6 '4 freshman. Caleb Williams, a 6 '10 freshman. Keaton Wagler, a 6 '6 freshman. Michael Brown Jr., a 6 '5 freshman. Nate Amit, a 6 '10 freshman. LeBron Filion is a 6 '4 sophomore and Braylon Mullins is a 6 '6 freshman.

1:02:55Ernest Jones IV:They gotta have a little Darius Acuff and he leading the SEC in scoring and assists. Ain't no way he ain't in there. He ranked 14, Joe. Yeah, he getting money over there as a freshman. Ocho, he leading the SEC in scoring and assists, partner.

1:03:09Chad Johnson:You like that?

1:03:10Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. Hey, you know what?

1:03:14Chad Johnson:At my daughter's school, I think he tore his ACL last year. He was supposed to be, from what I heard, the number one pick at Kentucky. What school? He got the braids a little bit. Tore his ACL last year.

1:03:30Ernest Jones IV:Oh, I think I seen him. He playing now this year?

1:03:34Chad Johnson:I think he's playing. He was at Arizona State first, I think, if I'm not mistaken.

1:03:38Ernest Jones IV:Oh, the big fella. Yeah, I mean, Kentucky doing all right, but they ain't like having no, you know what I mean? Hey, and if Gil's son keep playing like this,

1:03:48Shannon Sharpe:he going to throw his damn name in the hat.

1:03:51Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. See, the thing is. He tall. He like 6 '8", isn't he, Joe? Yeah, he about 6 '7". He about 6 '7". He got some nice lint on him. But the thing is for him, because he kind of came off late. He's such a late bloomer to the party. But he'll go to like a good team and end up paying it out. He can play. He can get money. He can play. I watched him, he been getting to it out there. So Peterson. It's a deep draft man, hey, March Madness gonna be fun. Oh Joe, we're gonna have to do brackets. I know I'm gonna beat y 'all in that. Nah, you ain't gonna do that Joe. Yeah, in brackets, we all fill out a bracket.

1:04:26Shannon Sharpe:You not gonna do that Joe. Nah, that's definitely not gonna happen. Man, please. Yeah, we definitely gonna do that, but you not winning Joe.

1:04:39Shannon Sharpe:Jalen Brown posted on IG 24-25. The record was 39-16. They were the two seed going into the break. Now in 25-26, they're 35-19, two seed. Offensive rating, they were number four in offensive rating. Now they're number two in offensive rating. They were fifth in defensive rating. this time they're ninth in rating net rating they were third this year they're third yeah put them facts out there hey can I ask you a question Joe what he said he said one person

1:05:14Chad Johnson:tweeted say bro say he better than JT hey Joe well hey now that we at the halfway point and it's all-star break is what message is JB trying to send outside of we've seen he's improved you You know, he's playing extremely well, even with JT not being in. But is there a reason for doing this? Or is he trying to send a message to the Celtics?

1:05:39Ernest Jones IV:No, he's sending a message to, I think, the people. I think for everybody who counted them out to start the season. Nobody had them coming out the East. Nobody had them in the top of the East. You know what I mean? And they've stayed afloat. And honestly, Ocho, he's in the MVP conversation, rightfully so. He's been balling, bro. He's been balling. But they've had other guys who stepped up. Peyton Pritchard. They helped as well. Hauser. Yeah. White.

1:06:02Shannon Sharpe:Hey, the Celtics counted them out. They the one that sold all those pieces. They the one that let their hell forfeit go. They traded Christopher Zingas. They traded Holliday. What you talking about? We, the fan. No, y 'all did that.

1:06:15Ernest Jones IV:Right.

1:06:16Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. Yeah. They didn't think you were going to be as good as you are. But JB, like you said, is averaging 28 points a game. Peyton Pritchard has been Peyton Pritchard, Cole Hauser. They've had Derrick White has played phenomenal. they've had guys to step up. It's surprising that the Boston Celtics considering that JT went down and he was not expecting that. He may or may not come back this season. But when you get rid of Horford, when you get rid of Holiday, when you get rid of Pazingas, I don't think nobody thought they would be in the position that they're currently in. And he's just singing their praise and I don't have a problem with him doing that.

1:06:51Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, I don't either.

1:06:52Ernest Jones IV:I don't either. But they've had other guys outside the guys that Uncav mentioned. They've had other guys come off that bench. Oh, Simon. Remember, Simon was playing well before they traded him. He's on the expiring contract. He had a stretch. He was playing well. It's kind of like plug and play, guys. It's like a great system, and guys just kind of go out there and do their thing. You know what I mean? Yeah. It's been fun to watch. They've been competing.

1:07:17Shannon Sharpe:He's talking about the fans. No, no, no, no, no. The Boston Celtics, they didn't think y 'all was going to be that. Because if they thought y 'all was going to be that, they'd have kept them pieces. Right. But J.A., J.B.

1:07:27Ernest Jones IV:letting the critics know. He letting everybody know who was like, oh, yeah, Boston ain't going to do X, Y, Z. Yeah, he letting y 'all know we ain't far off from where we was at last year. We really in the same way.

1:07:37Shannon Sharpe:So when you got two guys making$300 million, they damn sure better keep – one go out, they better stay afloat. I'll break this issue up. Yeah.

1:07:46Chad Johnson:So they second in –

1:07:48Ernest Jones IV:Hey, look.

1:07:50Chad Johnson:I'm going to say they second in the East right now at the break, right? Yeah. How far do you see them? How far do you see them going? Especially without big teams.

1:07:59Ernest Jones IV:I think it's matchups, me. I think because if you get the wrong matchup in the first round, you could be. Yeah, I'm serious. You could be. It's some teams. Look, I know we talk a lot of crap, and I don't know how long they can keep it up, but the Hornets, prior to the loss against the Pistons the other night and the LeBron, they had – and the Hornets had won what? Eight and nine games in a row. They won an eight and nine in a row. Yeah, absolutely. Yep. if they end up, if they continue to keep playing well, let's say they do get in the play-in and do get the seventh or the A.C. Man, they can cause problems.

1:08:35Ernest Jones IV:They're a young team. I think Toronto can be a problem also. Toronto? Yeah, Toronto. Hey, them teams gain confidence, bro. It'll be hard to shut them off in the playoffs when they out there playing, just having fun, not really understanding the moment, just enjoying the game.

1:08:51Shannon Sharpe:Ever since JB let that hair go, he ain't painted no more.

1:08:56Ernest Jones IV:He been, hey, off to the races, man. Off.

1:09:00Shannon Sharpe:He free.

1:09:04Shannon Sharpe:He's gonna get me a cough drop.

1:09:06Ernest Jones IV:Yeah, hey, JB look good out there, man. I'm sure they gonna try to give for this second half, make a good run, but it's sitting top heavy in that East.

1:09:17Shannon Sharpe:Former lottery pick, all-rickey team selection, Jeremy Sohan, has decided to side with the New York Knicks. He will join the Knicks once he clears waivers. He reached a buyout agreement with the Spurs on Wednesday. So Han had interest from 10 teams before deciding on the Knicks. Joe, how much did this signing help the Knicks?

1:09:38Ernest Jones IV:Man, I like him. I guess because the Spurs are so deep that, you know, they had to give up some Uncle Ocho. But he's a great guy, like a tweener who can guard multiple positions, plays with high energy. I like him. He's going to help the Knicks a lot. As you can see, the Knicks, you know, they done made some key changes. Look, Alvarado over there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:09:58Shannon Sharpe:You see what he did?

1:09:59Ernest Jones IV:Desperado, man.

1:10:01Shannon Sharpe:Picking people's pockets.

1:10:04Chad Johnson:Alvarado be balling, man. Yeah, he does. Hey, Joe, I don't mean to change the subject. Alvarado remind me the young dude, man. I can't – was he a Puerto Rican player? He was short, but real high energy on both ends of the court, man. I think he played for the Mavs. Was it the Mavs? Oh, you talking about J.J. Barrera? J.J. Barrera. Yeah, where's J.J. at? He don't play no more? I think he's coaching,

1:10:30Shannon Sharpe:and he's still at the Mavs, Joe.

1:10:33Ernest Jones IV:I don't know. Okay, go ahead.

1:10:35Chad Johnson:You can make your point now, Joe.

1:10:37Ernest Jones IV:I'm not sure. But no, Alvarado, he had like 20, he had like, what, 25 the other night. Ocho, that's a, you know, Nick's trending in the right direction.

1:10:49Shannon Sharpe:Man, sometimes you just need to go to a team and you get an opportunity. See, people think all these guys, I mean, and some of them, but when you that size and you make an NBA roster, you can play. Like, people look at Peyton Pritchard, and people probably see him like, man, I cooked this white dude. Boy, that joke will drop 50 on you.

1:11:09Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. No, for real, in the summer, yeah, in the summer league, yeah, he will drop 50, 60 points on you, also.

1:11:15Shannon Sharpe:Yeah.

1:11:15Ernest Jones IV:Yeah, man, that boy be out there getting money, man.

1:11:18Shannon Sharpe:That boy can play. Hey, TJ McConnell is another one. You look at it like, boy, I better cook, old boy. Okay. Yeah.

1:11:26Chad Johnson:Hey, Joe, you know.

1:11:27Shannon Sharpe:He be in the camera doing all this on you, Ocho.

1:11:30Chad Johnson:Yeah. Hey, Joe, they had to show me, Joe. Oh, they would? Huh? They had to show me, Joe. They would have no problem with that.

1:11:39Shannon Sharpe:No, he could. You see what you call him? Peyton Pitcher get 30 in an NBA game.

1:11:45Ernest Jones IV:Yeah. He ain't playing out there, Ocho.

1:11:47Chad Johnson:He nice. Yeah.

1:12:18Iso Joe Johnson:Intelligence data 1H2025. Oakley trademarks use their license and reprinted with permission. Pro drivers live for race day. But for small business owners, every day is race day. That's why going pro with Lenovo Pro matters. One-on-one advice, IT solutions, and customized hardware powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors keep your business on the right track. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro. Sign up for free at Lenovo.com slash pro.

1:12:47Ernest Jones IV:Lenovo.

1:12:52Iso Joe Johnson:At CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack. At CVS, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So visit us at cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.