Oh, or even more salty, the Knicks could use OG Anunoby right now.
Josh Hart joins the injury rotation regular list, and Anunoby is scheduled to play in Sunday’s Game 7 against the Pacers after missing the past four games with a hamstring injury suffered in Game 2 against the Pacers.
The official injury report submitted by the Knicks to the NBA on Saturday listed both Anu Bobby and Hart (abdominal strain) as questionable.
ESPN reported Saturday that Anunoby had already been ruled out for Game 7, but officials said the two-way wing would undergo a private walk-through before tipoff at 3:30 p.m. After that, it will be decided whether or not to participate.
With Anunoby in the lineup this season, the Knicks have posted an impressive winning percentage of .839 (26-5, including playoffs), which would be an estimated 68.8 wins in 82 games if they maintain that number.
The 26-year-old Anunoby was arguably the boldest trade acquisition of Leon Rose’s tenure as team president, but Anunoby, a 2023 All-Defensive Team selection, was a former first-round draft pick in late December. Since trading high-profile players RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors, they have been unable to shake off their previous reputation for frequent absences.
Anunoby has missed more than 10 days since sustaining his latest injury, and it also comes after he missed 32 games in two stints with an elbow issue that required surgery in February.
Anunoby averaged about 59 games over the past five seasons with Toronto. He also missed the Raptors’ 2019 postseason championship appearance due to an appendectomy.
It’s clear that after he drove to the basket in Game 2, he was quickly hampered by this hamstring issue.
The Knicks are playing their most important home game, Game 7 at MSG for the first time in nearly 30 years since Patrick Ewing suffered a finger roll against Indiana in 1995.
Anunoby has not spoken to the media since the injury.
Thibodeau has announced only minor updates, including resuming “light training” before Game 5 in New York earlier this week.
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After Friday’s game, Thibodeau was mum about Anunoby’s condition, saying “whatever the medical judgment is,” but when asked what he was told “medically,” he said, “He’s in routine condition.” I just answered.
Even if he doesn’t play on Sunday, there’s still a chance Anunoby will return for Tuesday’s Eastern Conference Finals opener against the Celtics in Boston if the Knicks win.
Either way, the organization will have to decide whether to sign Anunoby to a luxurious long-term contract this summer, and if he declines his option for the 2024-25 season worth $19.9 million by the June 24 deadline. , can become an unrestricted free agent.
Assuming he opts out, the Knicks could offer him the most money while taking advantage of Bird Rights over the salary cap.
It’s worth noting that Anunoby broke ties with Klutch Sports last summer and joined Rose’s former agency, CAA, but one of the people listed as his agent is Leon’s son. A certain Sam Rose.
