With 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 106-100 win over the Magic on Sunday, Magic guard Desomond Bane fired the basketball “Dodgeball” style at Knicks swingman OG Anunoby, who has returned from injury. It was probably the Magic’s best chance of slowing down Anunoby. He finished the game with a +20, the highest plus/minus of any player on the court. The Knicks will need this version of him to contend, given the rogue’s gallery of wings and ball-handling bigs standing between them and an NBA title.
Anunoby’s per-game stats are essentially on par with previous seasons. He’s more efficient, pairing deadly shooting with All-NBA level defense. His ability to be a spot-up threat and score on the move adds another dimension to a Knicks team that’s already fifth in points per game and third in offensive rating.
The Knicks Need This Version Of OG Anunoby To Contend
Efficient Off-Ball Scoring
With a high percentage of his looks coming from three, Anunoby has fit right into head coach Mike Brown’s new offense. Despite playing six fewer minutes than last year, he’s attempting and making more threes per game. He takes over half his total shots from three, 52 percent compared to 44 percent last season. The increase in attempts has not dulled his efficiency. Anunoby is having a career year, shooting 40 percent from three.
His true shooting percentage and usage rate would also be career highs if they stood for the entire season. Anunoby has always been an excellent catch-and-shoot player. Additionally, he remains one of the league’s best three-point shooters from either corner. Mike Brown’s emphasis on equal opportunity offense means OG can now spread his proverbial wings as a shot creator. That’s led to a lower percentage of assisted makes than any other season with the Knicks.
Although he hasn’t been as successful scoring in transition, Anunoby’s athleticism and ability to slash to the rim make him an asset when the Knicks choose to play with pace. He’s also an excellent offensive rebounder for his position, embodying Brown’s mantra to get in the “crash zone.” Slotted alongside Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, Anunoby’s play means defenses must play him honestly.
Defensive Impact
True to form, Anunoby has remained a defensive stalwart even as he’s improved his offense. He’s currently 10th in defensive win shares and 13th in net rating. Always a dynamic defender, Anunoby is finding ways to translate that into offense, becoming an on-ball pest. He ranks second in the league in steal percentage, with Bridges right behind him at third. Doing all this while taking on the opponent’s best perimeter player puts Anunoby in a different category of players.
He’s increasingly adept at turning those steals into buckets, part of the Knicks’ new commitment to seizing fastbreak opportunities. While he’s never been the most terrific rebounder, his defensive rebounding percentage this season is the highest of his career. Ditto on the offensive glass.
It’s been needed on a Knicks team that’s been middling defensively. With no credible defenders outside of Bridges and the oft-injured Mitchell Robinson, Anunoby’s role as a defensive stopgap can often be the difference in close games.
The Bigger Picture
If Anunoby can consistently score 15-17 points per game while shooting above league average from the field, the Knicks can rely less on Karl-Anthony Towns amidst his continued struggles. To win the Eastern Conference, the team may face players like Jaylen Brown, Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner, Evan Mobley, and perhaps even Anunoby’s former team, which employs wings Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett.
Playing defense on those stars is one thing; forcing them to defend you is another. The latter would certainly mark Anunoby as a complete player, one whose play this year is deserving of an All-NBA selection.
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