What's Wright - NBA Season Takeaways: Knicks REPEAT chances, Giannis to Celtics? + USMNT expectations | Nick Wright

Quick programming note: during the World Cup we’re shifting out of mornings and dropping a couple shows each week around this time, plus I’ll be in Miami next weekend at the Hard Rock for a live taping. Also, happy pre–Father’s Day to Demanze; I had this goofy moment eyeing that new Lego Sagrada Familia and then realized it’s his first one, which your mom met with a very dry, he’s not my dad.

Appreciate the early Father’s Day love.

Voicemail blitz: Cam Jordan staying with the Saints is a cool legacy finish, I had daydreamed about a late Chiefs run at him. Brennan Soresby heading to the supplemental draft feels right after the gambling mess, and Darren Peterson meeting only with the Wizards before the draft is on-brand for his zig‑zag pre‑NBA path; now, about that Knicks parade.

Parade was packed for a weekday, Brunson had a word for the doubters, and James Dolan called the second apron suicidal. Any parting thoughts on this Knicks core?

Dolan’s wrong to treat the second apron like a hard stop; a short stay mostly trims the tax mid‑level, cash in trades, and salary aggregation, and freezes a far-out pick, which is fine if you’re running it back. The danger is living there for years, not dipping in to keep a champion intact.

If one cap casualty must go, I’d prioritize Mitchell Robinson over Landry Shamet because of defense and glass, especially with Towns’ foul issues; Deuce McBride can soak up more of Shamet’s role.

On Brunson’s place in history, I get Simmons bumping him for proving he can steer a title team; that matters. The Harden‑versus‑Brunson debate shows the split between admiring pure skill and valuing what translates to winning, and that’s where leadership and durability live.

Brunson has that Isiah‑like, do‑what’s-needed edge that stats miss; small, fearless, decisive in big moments. And even as a Luka guy, I can’t say swapping him in makes New York better when they just steamrolled everyone as is.

With eight champs in eight years, who sees a roadmap in this Knicks run?

Minnesota should; Ant can be their Brunson, with Towns and Gobert as the bigs who tilt series. Denver can feel confident against San Antonio while Wemby builds strength and a go‑to post option, and OKC needs Chet sturdier after he got worn down; the lesson is about resilience as much as talent.

What matters more, the secret recipe or the path and health?

Health is everything, then true buy‑in; the path usually gets overrated in the NBA because it’s hard to fake your way through four series, though timing and matchups bite harder in football.

Where does this Knicks drought breaker rank?

Among modern sports droughts it sits right behind the Cubs and Red Sox; New York’s profile and the Garden make fifty‑plus years feel heavier, and it rewrites a franchise long stuck under bad decisions into a model of patience and the right lead guard.

Way‑too‑early 2027 pick?

If Boston lands Giannis, I’d lean Celtics; that trio with Tatum and Brunson as the East’s top tier would force a style shift away from living by the arc, which could unlock a scarier version of them.

USMNT smashed Paraguay and now faces Australia. Are we raising expectations or tapping the brakes?

Raise them, and Christian Pulisic should suit up despite the calf so the U.S. can win the group; the bracket swing is massive. Win Group D and you likely see a third‑place team in the first knockout, then someone like Belgium or Egypt, with a winnable quarter on the horizon, but finish second and Argentina probably greets you in the round of sixteen.

This team’s healthy, the crowd boost is real, and a win over Australia could all but lock the group if Paraguay nicks Turkey; I expect Pulisic to go and the U.S. to handle business. We’ll drop a quick World Cup roundup tomorrow; like, rate, and subscribe, and we’ll see you then.