WASHINGTON — On the one-year anniversary of the OG Anunoby trade, the evidence was overwhelming.
The Knicks are a better team with him.
After Monday's win over the Wizards, New York's regular season record with Anunoby was an impressive 43-13.
Without Anunoby, the Knicks are 13-14, especially when he underwent elbow surgery last season.
This is the best argument for a home run deal for team president Leon Rose, who traded Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to the Raptors for Anunoby on Dec. 30, 2023.
Barrett has had a decent showing in Toronto, but the team has lost 10 straight and is near the bottom of the standings.
Quickley has played in just three games due to injury.
Anunoby, on the other hand, has played in every game this season.
Has there been a change in his preparation to stay healthy?
“No. There were no bone spurs in the elbow,” Anunoby said while bashing Wood last season, referring to the problems that led to surgery. “Really, it's the same thing I've been doing: taking care of my body, eating well, training, recovering. It's all the same thing.”
Anunoby wore it on his elbow in recent games, but removed it in the second half.
He scored 18 points in 34 minutes.
“It was falling off. I just peeled it off,” Anunoby said of the wrap. “I just took it off.”
MSG Networks and Altice have reached an impasse in negotiations, and Optimum cable subscribers may lose access to the network and all Knicks games starting Tuesday.
MSG Networks said in a statement: “Despite our good faith efforts, Altice has refused to offer us anything close to market terms, and we are unable to agree to their unreasonable demands. ''. “Their marketing slogan is 'Local is big time,' but they could be depriving Optimum subscribers of their favorite sports teams soon after their contracts expire. There's nothing optimal or local about it.”
If no deal is reached, Wednesday's game between the Knicks and the Jazz will be the first game that Optimum subscribers in their area won't be able to watch.
MSG Networks also broadcasts Rangers, Islanders, and Devils games.
The Wizards brought back Kyle Kuzma, who hasn't played since mid-November due to a rib injury.
The forward scored nine points in 21 minutes of action.
There was a scary moment in the third quarter.
Wizards' 19-year-old rookie Babs Carrington collided with a Knicks player, fell to the court holding his head and was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
He missed the remainder of the game due to post-traumatic headaches, a Wizards spokesperson said.
