OG Anunoby received a crash course in Tom Thibodeau's system and is expected to make his Knicks debut in Monday's game against the Timberwolves.
Two days after being acquired from the Raptors in a deal that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley north of the border, Anunoby participated in a morning walkthrough and said multiple times that he was “excited” to join the Knicks. .
“I'm excited just to start playing, to get going with my teammates and to play in front of the fans at MSG. I'm really excited,” Anunoby, who will wear No. 8, said in a pre-game press conference. He spoke at “I think it's a tough group, a hard-hitting group, and everyone wants to win. So I think I'll fit right in with that. We'll just do whatever it takes to win games.
“I've always loved playing as an opponent here, so it's really exciting to be here and play all my home games here.”
The 26-year-old London native is considered one of the league's better 3-and-D players, leading the NBA in steals last season and converting on 37.5 percent of his career 3-point attempts.
The 6-7 wing, who won the NBA title with the Raptors in 2019, believes Thibodeau's style suits his game.
“I think so. I think I'm a tough player. His players are tough, they play hard, they play to win. I think I do all of those things,” he said on Sunday in New York. Anunoby said upon arrival. “They sent me some plays. Then I came in early and got some experience on the court.
“We talked with the coaches about the terminology of offense and defense and explained a little bit of the same thing. We just need to review it a little more before the game and be ready.”
Anunoby was joined in the trade by Toronto teammates Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, the latter of whom missed Monday's game with an ankle injury.
Anunoby, who called the Garden an “iconic place,” could become a free agent after this season and is represented by CAA, the agency formerly run by Knicks president Leon Rose. .
“I'm just taking it day by day. I leave that to my agent,” Anunoby said. “We'll think about it when the time comes. But I'm really excited to be here.”
