OG Anunoby, trending in the right direction, makes history on back-to-back nights

A big weekend for the Knicks power forward

OG Anunoby’s tenure as a Knick has been interesting, to say the least. The team is significantly, and very clearly, better when he plays, evident by his 55-22 regular season record since being traded here last season. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the league. And, his shooting provides some much-needed spacing for Jalen Brunson. But from time to time, Anunoby has left fans wanting more, which is fair given his recently signed $212.5 million contract. His inconsistencies on the offensive side and lack of creation have been on display this season, and his averages of 16.2PPG, 4.7RPG, and 2.1APG on just 36.4% shooting from three feel like a step backward in a way, especially because he started the season looking like a potential All-Star.

Those concerns grew louder over the last couple of weeks when Anunoby, who was finally starting to recapture his offensive form from early on in the season, went down with a foot injury before the All-Star break. And when he did come back, it wasn’t what fans wanted to see, or what the Knicks needed. In his first two games since his nearly three-week absence, Anunoby averaged just 7.5 PPG and shot a combined 4-13 from the floor, and 3-9 from three. Those atrocious performances were made worse by the fact that the Knicks lost both of those games to the Cavaliers, and the Celtics, to fall to 0-7 against the top three teams in the league this season.

But in his last two games, Anunoby has looked not only like the player from earlier this season but like the player the Knicks gave a massive contract to just last summer. In the Knicks’ win against the Grizzlies, Anunoby was in contention for the best player for New York along with Brunson, and Deuce McBride, who scored 23 points, and 17 points respectively. The Knicks’ starting power forward scored 19 points on 7-17 shooting, but more importantly, he went 4-10 from three, and nailed the game-winning three, which remarkably, was the first go-ahead three-pointer by a Knick when down by two with less than 10 seconds left since 2012.

And less than 48 hours later, Anunoby one-upped himself by having maybe his best all-around game of the season. Against the Heat, the Knicks came out sloppy, and slow-footed and went down by as much as 19 points. And when they did, it was Anunoby’s relentless defensive energy, and determination that not only got the Knicks back in the game but gave them a much-needed win over an inferior Miami team. Anunoby, who has been solid to good all season long defensively, reminded fans that he’s not just a good defender, but an elite defender, all while registering 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals on 9-18 shooting from the field, and 4-9 shooting from three. And as if making history on Friday night wasn’t enough, Anunoby did it once again, becoming just the second Knick to score 20+ points, and swat 3+ shots while shooting 50% from the field, and 40% from three since 2017.

Anunoby will put up offensive duds once in a while, and he’ll likely never become a consistent offensive creator. It’s just not his game, and it’s also difficult for him to become one when he’s the third, and sometimes, even the fourth option. But the last two games from Anunoby have been incredibly encouraging with last night’s performance being one of the most inspiring all-around masterpieces from a Knicks player this season. If we are to read into those two games, and the seven games leading up to his injury, in which he was averaging 19.1PPG on 50/45/80 splits, it could mean that Anunoby has regained his legs, and is primed to finish the season strong.