Knicks’ Rising Star: OG Anunoby
Jalen Brunson is the current NBA Clutch Player of the Year, and as the Knicks continue to strengthen their offensive closers, they’re winning a lot of tight games lately. This has made a noticeable impact on their success.
However, OG Anunoby stands out as a defensive powerhouse.
In the Knicks’ recent 130-125 win against the Pelicans, he played a crucial role on the defensive end under coach Mike Brown.
This marks the sixth time Anunoby has secured this accolade, surpassing teammates even though he’s missed ten games this season.
Most of his efforts were focused on guarding Zion Williamson throughout the game.
Williamson managed to score 32 points, but Anunoby almost turned the game in favor of the Knicks in the pivotal fourth quarter, helping them outscore the Pelicans by a solid 12 points and clinch the win.
When the team was trailing by three with 9:27 left, Anunoby intercepted a pass from Williamson—a critical play that kept the deficit at just one possession.
According to tracking stats from NBA.com, only 12 of Williamson’s points were scored while Anunoby was defending him.
Additionally, he forced two turnovers from Williamson during the game.
“He’s a great player, one of the toughest in the league to defend,” Anunoby shared. “It was a good challenge playing against him.”
With the game tied and 7:50 on the clock, Anunoby read the play well, sneaked past D’Erick Queen for another steal, and converted that into a three-pointer from Karl-Anthony Towns, establishing a lead for the Knicks.
Throughout the game, Anunoby contributed 23 points, snagged 11 rebounds, and achieved three steals along with one block. He was the team’s top performer with a plus-16 rating.
With just under two minutes left, Anunoby secured a critical dunk while the Knicks were clinging to a one-point lead, which they never gave up.
Interestingly, this past Tuesday marked two years since Anunoby joined the Knicks.
If Brunson is “Captain Clutch,” it’s clear that Anunoby plays an equally vital role alongside him.
Coach Brown praised Anunoby for his dual impact on both ends of the floor, pushing for his first All-Star appearance. “Who can really shut him down?” Brown remarked, highlighting Anunoby’s physicality and skill.
Despite some inconsistent offensive numbers—averaging 15.5 points and 2.0 assists per game—his presence is pivotal. His shooting has dipped a bit recently, yet he still holds a 36.4% shooting rate from beyond the arc.
Statistically, when Anunoby is on the court, the Knicks allow 111.3 points per 100 possessions, which is significantly better than when he’s not available—about 8.6 points less. They also outperform opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions during his playing time.
In context, Jalen Brunson helps the Knicks outscore their enemies by 7.2 points per 100 possessions, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributes 9.4 points, and Mikal Bridges adds 8.7 points.
Preliminary All-Star voting positions Anunoby at 13th among East players. The most popular five players from fan, media, and player votes will start, while coaches will choose seven reserves to form three teams.
This year features a round robin tournament format with two American teams and one international team. Should the choices not yield a balanced roster, Commissioner Adam Silver has plans to add extra players to either side. This might benefit Anunoby, born in England and a participant in the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge.
“I hope fans can see beyond the stats and appreciate the subtle impacts of my game,” Anunoby said regarding his All-Star candidacy. “The influence works both ways.”
That caliber of influence certainly places Anunoby in an elite category. Will he finally get the recognition he deserves?
