NEW YORK — If you’re still trying to put OG Anunoby’s game in a box, make sure that it’s wooden. Use extra dovetail joints, too. Whatever is stronger than superglue, use that. Make sure it’s nice and secure.
Even then, with the way the Knicks forward has been playing lately, that might not be enough. This version of Anunoby is the best anyone has ever seen.
“He’s got a great mix going right now with attacking the rim, getting to the line and high-volume 3s … he’s not hesitating,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s really, really good basketball. And his defense is elite.”
Tuesday night’s 27-point performance in the Knicks’ 105-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was Anunoby’s seventh straight game with at least 23 points. This isn’t someone just taking a lot of shots because injuries are allowing him to. This is someone who is scoring with the quality of an elite player in this league. You’d be hard-pressed to name 10 better players in basketball over the last month. His offense has gone to another level, while his haunting defense has remained. In fact, it’s as good as it’s been at any point this year. Anunoby is still suffocating his man when he has the ball. He’s still terrifyingly jumping into lanes like a high school student texting while crossing the street.
All of this has been going on for the last three weeks, shortly after New York star guard Jalen Brunson went down with an ankle injury on March 6. Since March 14, one full week after Brunson went down, Anunoby is averaging 24.3 points while shooting 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 on close to six attempts per game. Furthermore, he’s averaging 2.2 steals and nearly a block per game during that stretch.
During that time, the Knicks have been a top-10 defense, ranking seventh in forcing opponent turnovers (15.0). Anunoby has been a factor in that. He benefited from the on-ball hounding of Miles McBride when he was available and the addition of Mitchell Robinson to the backline.
Anunoby is helping New York turn defense into easy offense, which needed to happen for the Knicks to survive without Brunson.
Anunoby has usually been among the league leaders in dunks among non-big men. This year, he’s dunking more than ever. Anunoby has a career-best 121 dunks this season with more than a handful of games to go. For context, Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has only dunked 29 more times. Anunoby’s instincts and aggressiveness defensively have been key to him getting easy baskets in transition, particularly lately. He’s been a good cutter, too.
However, Anunoby’s biggest improvements have come on drives, where he’s either finishing through contact or getting to the free-throw line at an exceptional rate. His drivers are fierce. Each dribble has had a purpose. Very few have been wasted. He’s even added a gather step with sweeping arms on his drives to draw contact, similar to many stars of today’s game. For his career, Anunoby has never averaged more than three free-throw attempts per game. Over his last 10 games, Anunoby is averaging just shy of six free-throw attempts per night.
Everything he’s done has been compact, efficient and with force. No frills.
“I’m not sure how many times you’ve guys have seen … in transition or semi-transition and he gets the ball with a head of steam,” Josh Hart said. “I feel like, earlier in the season, he’d kick it out and get the ball moving. Now, he’s realized that he’s a 6-foot-8, 245-pound demon. He’s put his head down and getting to the rim, layups, dunks and fouls. He’s put that little step-through gather step into his mid-post package. It’s helped him a little bit. We love him being aggressive.”
If you’re in the camp of Thibodeau playing his starters too many minutes and that it’s doing more harm than good, you might want to skip this part: Anunoby will play, at least, 70 games this season for the first time since his rookie season. Additionally, this will be the first time he’s played at least 65 games since the 2022-23 campaign. He’s logged, roughly, 2,500 minutes this season, which is the most of his eight-year career and only the third time he’s broken 2,000-plus minutes in a season. Anunoby, who has dealt with various injuries in the NBA, is playing the most basketball he’s ever played in his life. He’s rarely missed games. And, with all that said, he’s playing the best basketball of his career with the season winding down.
That’s a testament to the work Anunboy has put in behind the scenes, as well as a testament to Thibodeau’s understanding that Anunboy can handle the workload he’s placed on him and putting him in positions to succeed. Thibodeau has placed Anunoby in different spaces on the floor since Brunson went down. It’s helped unlock everything we’re seeing.
“I know when the season’s done and playoffs are starting, it’s time to play the best,” Anunoby said. “Everyone thinks that way. You want to be peaking at the end. That’s everyone’s goal.”
The trick for New York is to maintain this version of Anunboy while bringing Brunson back into the fold. Brunson is the engine. He makes it all tick. He’ll have the ball when he’s back, and Anunoby will have it less. However, what Anunoby is doing should translate to any lineup. His defense will always help create easy offense. He’s got confidence in his body and skills to challenge the rim with the aggressiveness that his frame warrants. His shot has always been consistent.
All season, the Knicks have talked ad nauseam about wanting to play their best basketball as the season winds down. Anunoby has done his part, and because of that, New York has a much better chance of doing the same.
(Photo: John Jones / Imagn Images)