The first quarter 2024-25 Knicks the regular season was a period of rest. New York has a dynamic offensive duo Jalen Brunson And Cities of Karl-Anthonybut the team as a unit is still trying to discover their identity.
A player who appears to have played a role in the offense is OG Anunoby.
When the Knicks acquired the wing in a mid-season trade with the Toronto Raptors last year, he was solid on offense and an elite defender who destroyed the Knicks’ perimeter offensive attack. opponent. Anunoby still has an impact on defense, but his offense has been just as impressive. Through 19 games this season, he is third on the team in scoring with a career-high 17.9 points.
Entering the season, Mikal Bridges He was expected to be the team’s third option, but he struggled on both ends of the floor. Anunoby has stepped in to provide an unexpected source of additional offense, and he thrives on doing more with less. He makes quick decisions and doesn’t hold the ball or dribble constantly.
After 18 games, Anunoby is last among Knicks starters in touches per game according to NBA stats. It also averages just 1.91 seconds per touch. Of New York’s eight rotation players, only backup center Jericho Sims has per-touch possession for a shorter duration than Anunoby.
The 6-7 forward has been able to score in a variety of ways, usually quick, he is skilled as a spot-up shooter. Anunoby has been New York’s best ball-cutter. He can also play as a rim-diving center at the dunker level and he has also been able to score in the post when teams are switching or trying to hide smaller defenders on him.
Anunoby produces 1.19 points per possession on post-ups, which ranks 10th in the NBA. He can make plays in transition. 19.7 percent of Anunoby’s points come from fast break opportunities according to NBA statistics, the highest mark among New York’s eight rotation players.
Make an impact
The results on the ground are promising. In Anunoby’s 698 minutes this season, the Knicks have outscored opponents by 6.8 points per 100 possessions. New York has lost the minutes Anunoby is on the bench. He has the highest net rating of all starters.
Anunoby’s strong offensive play is a bit of a surprise. He was always a solid scorer throughout his career, but he was never considered a traditional bucket getter. But he has found different ways to score this season.
Anunoby’s increased role as a scorer also comes at an important time. Bridges has yet to look comfortable in New York’s offense, so the Knicks don’t have much shot creation outside of Brunson and Towns. Finding other ways to score outside of the dribble or isolation is essential for the Knicks to establish a quality offense.
After 19 games this season, the Knicks are ranked second in offensive efficiency, scoring 121.4 points per 100 possessions. Brunson and Towns both average over 25 points per game. But for the team to take another step forward, they will need another player to step up their offense.
Could Anunoby consolidate himself as a third option?
Even though he’s done well, it’s still fair to wonder if Anunoby can be a third option on a championship-contending team. After his 40-point explosion against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, Anunoby is in a bit of a slump. He shot just 6 of 26 from the field and 0 of 12 from the three-point line over the last two games.
Outside of Brunson and Towns, there has been a lack of individual shot creation on the roster. This could be an issue to watch for the rest of the season, but Anunoby’s ability to play in the offensive flow has been an early complement to New York’s two stars.
