The NBA's Summer of Chaos, World Cup Fever, and Why New York Is Simply Unbeatable Right Now

Welcome Back to the Greatest City on Earth

If you’ve been following along with S&P’s Why Not Us?, you already know the vibe: two New York natives with fifty years of friendship and a lifetime of sports obsession are back to discuss everything that matters in the world of sports. And right now? The world of sports is heavily concentrated in New York City.

The Knicks just won a championship. The World Cup is literally in our backyard. And frankly, as Scott and Peter will tell you, we’re not taking questions about whether New York is currently the greatest city on earth. It just is.

But there’s a lot more than championship euphoria to unpack this week. The NBA offseason is moving at breakneck speed, the World Cup is delivering riveting matches, and the MLB Rookie of the Year race is heating up. Plus, there’s Wimbledon, the NHL, the College World Series, and—because these guys are thorough—a full segment on beach season in Rockaway.

Let’s dive in.

The “Wemby Effect” Is Real: Big Men Dominating the Draft

The 2024 NBA Draft was a fascinating study in how one transcendent player can reshape an entire league’s priorities. With Victor Wembanyama now in the NBA proving that elite big men can still be game-changers, teams went all-in on traditional centers in the first round.

Seven traditional bigs went in the first round—a remarkable number that signals a clear shift in draft strategy. Cameron Boozer heading to Memphis at three, Morris Johnson Jr. going to Dallas higher than projected, Jaxson Lendenberg and Adi Mara to OKC—the big man pipeline was flowing.

But perhaps the most intriguing move was San Antonio’s selection of Tarris Reed Jr., a two-year Michigan player who transferred to UConn and looked exceptional in their deep tournament run. The Spurs seem to be taking a long view here, potentially trying to replicate their legendary Twin Towers era with Duncan and Robinson. Reed probably jumps into the rotation quickly, but the real intrigue is watching how San Antonio’s front office continues to build around Victor Wembanyama.

Speaking of which, OKC’s draft approach deserves a standing ovation. The Thunder came out of an incredible Western Conference Finals run and immediately bolstered their roster with Adi Mara—a huge defensive anchor for Wembanyama-type battles. Combine that with Bennett Sturtz from Iowa, a savvy, non-traditional big who was a real difference-maker in the tournament, and you’ve got a team that looks primed to remain at the forefront of the NBA landscape.

Sam Presti continues to be the model executive, and OKC is probably still the number-one power-ranked team heading into next season.

The Giannis Blockbuster: Miami Makes Its Move

While the draft was reshaping rosters, the Miami Heat made one of the offseason’s biggest splashes: acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s the latest in a long line of star-studded moves for the Heat—LeBron in the day, Jimmy Butler more recently—and it feels like a smart fit.

Boston was in the mix as well, but Miami pulled it off. The Heat have a lot of team to figure out and work around, but don’t be surprised if this squad jumps right back into being extremely competitive. For the Knicks, the good news? They showed during the Finals that they can play tough against elite big men. The Heat rivalry games are about to get even spicier.

The Knicks’ Offseason: Keeping the Band Together

While the NBA world was buzzing about trades and the draft, the Knicks made a quietly excellent move: keeping Jose Alvarado in the fold with a three-year, $14 million-plus deal.

This was the perfect first move of the offseason. Alvarado earned every penny of this contract, and Leon Rose—who has been stellar in his role as team president—deserves credit for getting this done quickly. The question now becomes: what happens with Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson? Both players will have plenty of suitors, and both deserve to get what they’ve earned in free agency.

But here’s the thing: even if Robinson ends up elsewhere, what a way to cap off his Knicks career. He was integral to a championship run, and he deserves everything he gets in free agency.

The Mailbag: OG’s Tip-In and New York Sports Immortality

The team received a flood of emails to whynotuspod.com following the championship, so they decided to do something special: a mailbag segment. The first question came from Josh in New York, asking whether OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left in Game Four is the greatest single moment in New York sports history.

Scott’s answer? He called it the greatest shot and greatest moment in all his years of Knicks fandom. When you’re comparing it to moments like John Starks’ Game 6 three-pointer against Michael Jordan and the Bulls, that’s saying something.

Beyond Basketball: The World Cup, the MLB Rookie Race, and More

But this episode isn’t just about basketball. The World Cup is in full swing with the USA squad front and center, and there’s a riveting MLB Rookie of the Year race to discuss. Wimbledon is coming up, the College World Series is happening, and the NHL has plenty of storylines.

Plus, there’s a special “PS Segment” dedicated to beach season in Rockaway—because Scott and Peter are heading out for their annual cousin beach day out in Queens, and they’ve got some insights to share about summer in New York.

Why Not Us? Because We’re Living It

Fifty years of friendship. One shared obsession. That’s what S&P’s Why Not Us? is all about. And right now, in the summer of 2024, there’s no better time to be a New York sports fan. The Knicks just won a championship. The World Cup is in our backyard. And two guys who’ve been watching this city’s teams for decades are here to break it all down with the wit and wisdom that only comes from half a century of fandom.

This episode is packed with analysis, humor, and the kind of insider perspective that only lifelong New Yorkers can provide.

Want to hear the full breakdown of the NBA Draft, the Giannis trade, the Knicks’ championship aftermath, and everything else happening in the sports world right now? Listen to the full episode of S&P’s Why Not Us? on your favorite podcast platform. And if you’ve got questions or comments about the Knicks, the World Cup, or anything else sports-related, submit them to whynotuspod.com—you might just hear your question discussed on the show.