Tom Crean and his wife spoke Monday night of a former college player to Joani, the sister of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, after the Wolverines beat Alabama in overtime to advance to the national championship. I received a message congratulating me on what I had done.
The message, which came within minutes of the end of the game, came from newly acquired Knicks OG Anunoby, who played two seasons under Crean at Indiana University before starting his NBA career in 2017.
“OG is one of the most loyal players and people I've ever known, so I wasn't surprised that he contacted me right away,” Crean told The Post in a phone interview Tuesday. Ta. “That's what he's always been. I'll say this now, New York is going to really love him.”
Crean, who served as an analyst for ESPN after being released to Georgia last season, said the former Raptors forward made his versatile debut in Monday's game, joining New York and the Knicks' system under head coach Tom Thibodeau. He agreed with the sentiment that it would be a “perfect fit.” The win over the Timberwolves was “a great example of everything he can do for a team.”
“There's no question about it, he's going to fit into the fabric of this city and the Knicks,” Crean said. “He has the game, he has a lot of substance to his game, he has some style to his game, he works on both ends, he makes a difference, and most of all he is who he is. New York has always been open to that combination, that type of player.
“He's not going to say any crazy quotes, but he's going to be a very good representative of that team and that city because of the kind of person he is. He's an old soul in many ways and very caring. Although he is a man, he has an incredible drive. You could say it's an insatiable drive to be great and win.”
Crean has “known Tibbs for many years” and believes the 26-year-old Anunoby is “absolutely” a stylistic fit for Thibodeau's plans.
Although he did not practice with the Knicks after Saturday's trade that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto, Anunoby scored 17 points with three 3-pointers in a game against the West-leading Timberwolves at the Garden. He was Anthony Edwards' main defender in the win.
“I know Tom is going to love coaching him,” Crean said. “You saw that [Monday], and he'll get even more comfortable, but he's a very smart player. It wasn't a shock that he picked things up quickly and then played based on instinct and who he is as a player.
“But as he's gotten used to the system, he's gotten more confident in that role with his new team – because I don't think it's even really hit him yet and it's been such a whirlwind of events so far. Because he was — but once he gets used to it, even considering all this, he's going to be special there.”
Crean coached at Indiana for nine seasons from 2008 to 2017 between stints at Marquette and Georgia.
He said the London-born Anunoby was “very underrated, very undervalued” coming out of high school in Missouri, but that the 6-foot-7 wing was “not sure when to recruit him and if we… I definitely wanted to know what the plan would be if they hired him.” I saw him being an NBA player. ”
Anunoby's second season with the Hoosiers was cut short at 16 games by an ACL injury, which Crean believes is why he wasn't selected in the lottery.
However, the Raptors drafted Anunoby 23rd overall, and he played in 74 games and started 62 games as a rookie for a team that went 59-23 in the regular season.
Toronto won the NBA championship the following year, but Anunoby required an emergency appendectomy in April and missed the playoffs.
“He wasn't on the court for that, so I think that created an incredible hunger in him,” Crean said. “It’s like, yeah, he got a ring and contributed a lot to that ring all season, but he just didn’t feel like he was at the level to win a ring in his own mind.
“He's been around the team and helped get it there, but at the end he wasn't able to get on the court. I think that's what he really wants more than anything.” It's the driving force. ”
Crean added that Anunoby is a “silent killer” and stressed that fans and media should not confuse short answers in interviews with aloofness or indifference.
“He's just a quiet guy, but a very happy guy. He's like an old soul with a young heart, if that makes any sense,” Crean said. “He had an incredible drive and he always loved New York and wanted to be in New York.”
Raptors radio analyst Jevon Shepard, a Toronto native who played collegiately at the University of Michigan and professionally overseas, said: “For the Knicks, definitely getting the OG, who played in college at the University of Michigan and professionally overseas, will play against the Bulls at the Garden on Wednesday night. I believe it's easy. It's all because he fits perfectly into the way they want to play. ”
Shepard also said Jalen Brunson told him after Monday's game that Anunoby “just keeps cutting to the basket because you don't know every play,” which resulted in him making four of his 17 dunks. I laughed when I heard that he said that. point.
“There's no question that Thisbs loves tough, gritty, defensive-minded players, and he definitely fits that mold,” Sheppard told the Post. “I think you guys find him to be a very straightforward, straightforward guy. That's his humor, he says, 'I'm just going to cut to the basket,' and he does exactly that and immediately… Benefits the team. That's exactly what he is. ”
Mr Crean added: “OG is very introspective, has an incredible brain and memory, and sometimes people don't quite know what to make of him, but I promise it's not aloof. There's a quietness to it, but he's incredibly smart in how he picks things up, reads things, and looks at the game and life. There aren't many people who have. He's one of the most thoughtful, caring, loyal people I know. At the end of that we were total basket cases. [Michigan football] game [Monday] At night, and with perfect timing, I received a text from OG.
“That's exactly what he is. New York will love him.”
