A mere two days after being traded from Toronto, OG Anunoby had an impressive debut for the New York Knicks. His two-way impact was on full display in a 112-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In 35 minutes OG tallied 17 points, along with six rebounds, an assist, and two steals. While OG did foul out in the process, he demonstrated exactly why the Knicks gave up two starting-level players for him. Anunoby was active and disruptive on defense, and contributed on offense by spotting up in the corners and cutting off drives.
Disruptive Defense
On the defensive end OG took on the task of defending Anthony Edwards for most of the game. OG made things difficult for Edwards, he did a great job navigating screens and using his length to contest from behind. Unsurprisingly, Edwards still had a great offensive game scoring 35 points on 11/21 shooting. Of course, it’s difficult if not impossible to completely shut down great scorers. And to Anunoby’s credit, he made Edwards work hard for every bucket while also forcing two key turnovers in the process.
Furthermore, OG’s defensive versatility was on full display. He defended Karl-Anthony Towns while Julius Randle was on the bench in the second and third quarters. OG won this matchup, as he forced KAT into two misses while only sending him to the line once.
Complementary Offense
Shifting to the offensive side of the floor, OG primarily operated as a spot-up shooter and cutter off the ball. Throughout the game he oscillated between the perimeter and the paint, racking up points by knocking down corner threes and finishing a handful of dunks.
Overall, Anunoby was very effective playing within the flow of the offense. He moved the ball well and didn’t force any shots. As he acclimates to the Knicks offense, I expect his role to expand. With Immanuel Quickley now on the Raptors, the Knicks’ bench unit struggled to create offense in this game. It could be beneficial for OG to become the primary creator with that group. Additionally, Anunoby could become more involved with the starting unit by operating as a screener and ball handler in the pick and roll. Even if Anunoby remains a complementary piece on offense, his two way impact will be a vital component for the Knicks going forward.
