Knicks Offense Relies on Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby

Jalen Brunson is quite well-known. When considering the Knicks’ offense, it helps to see Brunson as the foundation, while his teammates can be thought of as the ceiling. A key player in this dynamic is OG Anunoby. When he’s actively involved in the game, it usually bodes well for the team’s success.

This season, when Anunoby hits 20 points or more, the Knicks have an impressive record of 22 wins and 4 losses. He recently scored 25 points in his past two victories over the Grizzlies and Bulls, and then followed that up with a 31-point performance.

This is the type of Anunoby that the Knicks really need come playoff time.

“I think he’s beginning to fully grasp his role within the offense and where he can be impactful,” Josh Hart commented after practice on Sunday. “One admirable trait of Mike [Brown] is that he encourages aggression. He wants us to take shots. There are no limits imposed on us, and I believe OG is starting to figure out how he can be aggressive and find his scoring opportunities. He’s a skilled scorer, strong, and athletic—so he’s starting to piece that together.”

In Mike Brown’s system, Anunoby primarily occupies the corner and waits for opportunities, especially for catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. At times, his role might feel a bit restrictive. Brown has pointedly established a hierarchy: Brunson takes precedence, followed by Karl-Anthony Towns, and everyone else comes after.

However, with Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges all as offensive threats, the Knicks have a chance to have a varied and dynamic offense. Striking the right balance between being a catch-and-shooter and aggressively driving to the rim is something Anunoby and the Knicks are still trying to refine as the season progresses.

“When OG is on the attack, he’s really challenging to defend,” Landry Shamet noted on Sunday. “The advantage of our team lies in the numerous options available. Sometimes the ball just finds you. There’s a rhythm to the game. Right now, OG is experiencing a lot of that. When the ball is coming his way and he’s aggressive and decisive, it’s tough to stop him when he drives.”

In other news, Giannis Antetokounmpo has mentioned to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that there were preseason discussions between the Bucks and the Knicks. Earlier reports suggested that the two teams looked into a potential trade for Antetokounmpo, but negotiations stalled as the Knicks felt the Bucks had no real motivation to make a deal.

Looking ahead, the Knicks have a clear injury report going into Monday’s game against the Hawks in Atlanta. Towns, who sat out the previous game due to an elbow issue, is not listed as injured, so he’s likely to play unless something changes.