Of all the players returning to the Knicks, no one would benefit more from a full training camp with the team than OG Anunoby.
Last year's key mid-season acquisition got off to a good start after joining from Toronto in late December, but suffered multiple injuries in the second half – an elbow problem that required surgery in late January; In the playoffs, a painful hamstring issue derailed his plans. This is my first year in New York.
“We know what more to expect this year,” Anunoby said Tuesday after practice in Tarrytown, the Knicks' first practice back home after training camp in Charleston. “Going through training camp and the whole season is definitely going to be a big help.
“Every day has gotten better and better. We understand each other, and although we have had some failures here and there, we have overcome them and grown every day.”
After signing a five-year contract extension worth $212.5 million in the offseason, the 27-year-old Anunoby is one of the core players on an upstart team that also acquired new starters Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Established a solid position.
Last season, the Knicks went an astounding 26-6 with Anunoby in the lineup, including the playoffs, but he played just five minutes in the second-round loss to the Pacers due to hamstring tightness. I couldn't participate.
All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson said of Anunoby, “First of all, it's great to see him healthy again and then start the year with him.” “It’s a lot easier to put together a team and go to training camp, just make sure you have the basics right.
“In-season trades are always difficult for individuals who are learning offensive schemes and defensive schemes. It's easier to learn all of that stuff when you're in training camp.”
The 6-foot-7 Anunoby, who was previously named to the All-Defensive Team as a member of the Raptors, was voted the league's second-most versatile defender behind Giannis Antetokounmpo in a poll of league GMs on Tuesday.
Anunoby, who is also a career 3-point shooter of 37.6 percent, including 39.4 percent in the regular season with the Knicks, will play the Wizards in a preseason game at the Garden on Wednesday night.
“He missed a lot of time last year. … So we still have to readjust to everything we do,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Anunoby. “Obviously, we're going to start from scratch and build. And that's where we are. We're building right now, but we need to understand that you're all building together. , we're looking for everyone to share the floor, share the ball, and work together defensively. And that's what we're working on.”
Anunoby agreed with Josh Hart's recent assessment that everyone will have to sacrifice individual performance for the Knicks to compete for a championship, emphasizing that he's not worried about the offensive numbers.
“Yeah, but it's also about knowing everyone is going to have a fun night,” Anunoby said. “Some nights it's going to be this guy, that guy, somebody off the bench. At the end of the day, winning is the most important thing.”
Branson added: “The key is finding the right read and making the right play at the right time. So, whatever it takes to win. We sit there and say, “Okay, you can do this.'' I'm not saying 'I'm going to sacrifice this so I can do it.' No, we're out there, we're playing the game, and we're going to attack whatever we see. If we need to cross that bridge and deal with something, we will deal with it. But we have guys who just want to win and are willing to do whatever it takes. ”
