Mark it down
You can just call us Babe Ruth with the way we’re about to call our shot in these ten things we promise will (maybe) happen in the sports world in 2024.
2023 provided no shortage of memorable moments and talking points, but now that the calendars are preparing to take another turn forward, it’s time to get ahead of the trend. Allow us to look into the crystal ball to tell you our predictions for the world of sports in 2024.
Buckle up, the list is going to get wild. We guarantee with 100% certainty that these might happen. Maybe. Hopefully. We’ll see.
Shohei Ohtani Hits 60 HR but the Dodgers Lose the World Series
Ohtani recently signed a $700m deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB free agency, making him the recipient of the largest contract in American sports history.
The Dodgers, the current World Series favorites, are dominant year in and year out
The 2023 AL MVP slammed 44 homers in 135 games this year, which put him on a trajectory for 53 HR in a full season. The Dodgers, the current World Series favorites, are dominant year in and year out but continually come up small in the postseason, particularly on the mound.
Nick Saban Leaves Alabama
What? How could this possibly happen? Saban is Alabama! This feels particularly true when observing his heartfelt pre-game speeches.
At 72 years old, Saban is no spring chicken. He signed an eight-year contract in 2022 but has seen a power shift occur in the SEC recently, with the Georgia Bulldogs becoming the consensus top dog of the conference. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference and other schools potentially en route, we could easily see another program offering him even more money to help elevate them.
The Washington Commanders Change Their Name Again
This feels like the steal of our 2024 sports predictions. New owner Josh Harris reportedly has an interest in rebooting the franchise by cleaning out the front office, bringing in a host of new players, moving the stadium, and much more.
We fully expect Washington to underdog its third name change in the past five years
Nobody likes the Commanders’ name. The Washington Football Team worked for soccer fans but no one else, and the old team name is, well, not coming back. We fully expect Washington to undergo its third name change in the past five years, and we’ll float this idea out there: The Washington Marauders.
The NBA Schedules a Game in Africa
NBA commish Adam Silver has spoken repeatedly about his goal of expanding the league’s global reach. He scheduled games in Paris, France, and Mexico City, Mexico for the 2023-24 season and often has teams play in Asia during the preseason.
NBA Academy Africa is one of the few pipelines to American professional sports that has been put in place.
Reigning MVP Joel Embiid, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and many other stars in the league are of African heritage, and that combined with Silver’s commitment to pushing the game forward could motivate him to schedule the league’s first game in Africa.
Justin Herbert Is Ruined by Bill Belichick
NFL coach Bill Belichick is almost assuredly out of New England by the end of the year. But while he is a six-time Super Bowl champion as a head coach, he also has a losing record without Tom Brady and was responsible for Mac Jones losing his confidence and playing his way onto the bench.
The “Patriot Way” that allowed Belichick to berate his best players publicly, pay players less money than they could get on the open market, and be an overall unlikable figure won’t work with a young Chargers squad under the bright LA sun. The rumors are that he’ll still end up coaching the Bolts, but it won’t work.
Patrick Mahomes Becomes Kim Kardashian’s Underwear Model
Raise your hand if you’ve turned on an NBA game and seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flaunting Kim K’s new underwear.
a steal of a marketing opportunity for a woman with deep pockets
Mahomes is the most well-known figure in the NFL and was recently introduced to a new demographic, the ever-passionate fan base of Taylor Swift, because of his teammate’s relationship with the superstar singer. This seems like a steal of a marketing opportunity for a woman with deep pockets.
Paul George is Traded Back to the Indiana Pacers
Go listen to George’s interview with the Pacers’ budding superstar, Tyrese Haliburton. His affinity and admiration for Indy were palpable, and he often talks about how his favorite stories were from his time with that franchise.
Not only is George still a great player, but the Pacers desperately need a second star to complement Haliburton. The LA Clippers probably want to give their core one more go in the postseason before they make changes, but if they fall short again, a soon-to-be 34-year-old George could be available for not that high of a price.
F.C. Copenhagen Eliminates Man City from the Champions League
Manchester City beat Inter Milan in the last UEFA Champions League Final and is widely viewed as the best team in the world. However, they’re on their lowest points total at this stage of an EPL campaign during the Pep Guardiola era and have been anything but dominant in the Champions League thus far.
kept just one clean sheet in six matches
The English giants only won 6-3 on aggregate against Red Star Belgrade and have kept just one clean sheet in six matches. Copenhagen, meanwhile, managed several impressive results, including a win over Manchester United and a draw with Bayern Munich. Their defense is solid, and they have a couple of special attackers.
Jersey Minimalism Inspires a Change.org Petition
The new era of egregiously uninspiring, unappealing, and unaesthetic designs masquerading under the brand of minimalism has gone on long enough.
Seriously, what are the majority of these designs? Who wants to turn on a game to watch drab run into dull? Whether or not this is one of our accurate predictions for sports, let’s get some new jerseys in 2024 please.
Steph Curry, LeBron James Start a Business Together, Trade Rumors Swirl
Steph Curry and LeBron James are the two faces of the NBA and are both active in the world of business. They’ve also been extremely complimentary of one another over the years and often smile and joke around whenever they’re around one another, which has led many to believe they hold an interest in teaming up together in business.
That teaming up could occur in the basketball world too. The Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to turn their franchise over to Anthony Davis, but his injuries and inconsistency issues have made him look older than the almost 39-year-old LeBron. The Golden State Warriors are also unrecognizable compared to their dynasty years, and Steph looks like he’s just about fed up.
