The New York Knicks have checked another big box on their offseason to-do list. A day after pulling off a massive trade to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, New York took care of business on the OG Anunoby front by securing the former Indiana Hoosiers star's commitment to a new deal.
After news broke that Anunoby has struck a massive five-year 212.5 million contract with the Knicks, New York star point guard Jalen Brunson immediately fired a wild reaction to his team running it back with its trade acquisition.
“OG CAN I HOLD A DOLLAR!!!!!!!!” Brunson posted on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) Wednesday night.
Traded by the Toronto Raptors to the Knicks back in December along with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Anunoby has clearly impressed the Knicks, who believe that he's going to be one of their top performers for years to come.
In 23 games with the Knicks in the 2023-24 NBA regular season, Anunoby averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and posting a 39.4 percent success rate on shots taken from behind the arc. Anunoby's ability to do at least a little bit of everything and do damage on opponents in a number of ways makes him a perfect weapon alongside Brunson, who is unquestionably the Knicks' top offensive option. Anunoby also shined in the 2024 NBA Playoffs where he put up averages of 15.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks across nine games.
Anunoby's journey in the NBA started in 2017 when he was taken 23rd overall in the first round of that year's NBA Draft.
Knicks gearing up to challenge the Celtics in the East
Having landed Bridges and earned the nod of Anunoby on back-to-back days, the Knicks have sent a strong message to reigning NBA champions and chief Eastern Conference rivals Boston Celtics. Those are two notable weapons that can play elite basketball on both ends of the floor. The Knicks are thinking of the NBA championship and their recent moves are undeniable proof that they are looking in the direction of the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The Celtics are a huge obstacle for the rest of the East, but the Knicks seemingly have the tools to put up a tough challenge for Jayson Tatum and company should they cross paths in the next playoffs.
They could have given the Celtics plenty of headaches in the 2024 NBA Playoffs but a banged-up New York squad just couldn't overcome injuries to some of their key players, including Anunoby, as they fell prey to the Indiana Pacers after seven games in the second round. The Pacers, of course, ended up being a sacrificial lamb in the Celtics' incredible playoff run that culminated in a championship parade in Beantown — the same type of celebration the Knicks are eyeing the Big Apple to have in 2025.
In the previous season, the Knicks had a great offensive and defensive balance, as evidenced by the fact that they ranked eighth in both adjusted offensive rating and adjusted defensive rating with 117.4 and 112.8 ratings, respectively. With Bridges in the fold and Anunoby about to play his first full season with the Knicks, New York can be expected to raise those numbers in the 2024-25 NBA campaign.
Follow Us
Subscribe