Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

These Are the ONLY Things That Can Stop the Knicks

August 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"43.5% on wide open threes on 161 attempts from three. If that is real, then there's nothing you can do with the Knicks." That is the narrow line between a dynasty and a problem, according to Gavin and XJ on Locked On Knicks. The defending champion Knicks are entering a season where the rest of the league has caught up, and the hosts spend this episode drafting the biggest threats to a repeat — not injuries, but real basketball variables: roster construction, coaching decisions, and one very tall Frenchman.

The Victor Wembanyama Problem Is Existential

XJ takes the number one pick in the anxiety draft and goes straight to San Antonio. Not just Wembanyama, but the specific scenario where Spurs coach Mitch Johnson realizes he should keep Wemby planted at the rim on defense — no matter the matchup. "If Mitch Johnson does not get in their way, that's going to be a dominant dominant team. One of the most dominant teams of our generation," XJ says. The reasoning is layered: Wemby's defensive impact alone could make him a five-time MVP even if his offense never improves. Add in the improvement of Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, plus the addition of Tobias Harris and another rim protector the Spurs drafted, and you have a team that might overwhelm the Knicks without needing Wemby to develop a go-to move.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:30) **Drafting the Biggest Threats to a Knicks Repeat** - Gavin and XJ introduce the rules of their "anxiety draft" for the biggest threats to a Knicks championship repeat.
  • 2 (03:00) **Pick #1: The Spurs' Ideal Wembanyama Deployment** - XJ argues that if Spurs coach Mitch Johnson keeps Victor Wembanyama planted at the rim, the Spurs become an unstoppable defensive force.
  • 3 (07:43) **Gavin's Turn: The Thunder's "All-In" Trade** - Gavin picks the Oklahoma City Thunder making a major trade for a big shooter/scorer like Trey Murphy III or Lauri Markkanen.
  • 4 (16:40) **Pick #3: Josh Hart's Shooting Regression** - XJ picks the threat of Josh Hart's three-point shooting regressing to his career norms, which would allow teams to "ghost" him on offense.
  • 5 (21:01) **Pick #4: The Knicks' Crunch-Time Offense** - Gavin selects the Knicks' late-game offensive process as a lingering concern, arguing they don't effectively use Karl-Anthony Towns in high-leverage moments.
  • 6 (27:10) **Wrap-Up and Call to Subscribe** - The hosts tease Part Two of the draft for tomorrow and ask listeners to subscribe to help them reach 15,000 subscribers.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

The New York Knicks brace for a new title chase as Victor Wembanyama’s rapid emergence threatens to shake up the NBA hierarchy. Is Mitch Johnson’s deployment of Wemby (and offseason upgrades like Tobias Harris) the key to unlocking a Spurs dynasty and derailing a Knicks repeat chances?

Gavin Schall and XJ kick off a high-stakes “threat draft,” spotlighting Western juggernauts OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs as the greatest roadblocks, while exploring how a blockbuster trade for shooters like Trey Murphy or Lauri Markkanen could tilt the balance.

Closer to home, the conversation heats up around Josh Hart’s possible shooting regression and the Knicks' lackluster crunch-time offensive approach. Can Jalen Brunson keep carrying the late-game load, or will the Knicks need Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby to step up in pivotal moments?

Don't miss this anxiety-charged rundown of the biggest threats to a New York repeat.

 

00:00 — What are the biggest threats to a Knicks' repeat??

01:30 — Wembanyama's development and deployment

07:00 — Cozy Earth Ad Break

08:48 — OKC Thunder make a big trade

14:40 — Josh Hart shooting regression

19:08 — Fan Duel Ad Break

20:44 — Why no East team has an answer to the Knicks

 

Photo Credit: Scott Wachter; Vincent Carchietta; Stephen Lew - Imagn Images

 

 

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Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

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