Politicians and locksmiths may have been enjoying their weekends when New York Knicks president Leon Rose decided to lavish one of his foundational pieces with recent praises.
Rose and his front office released an official team statement on OG Anunoby and his return to the Knicks on the franchise’s PR X page all but giving him the keys to the city heading into the 2024-25 campaign (h/t Bleacher Report’s Andrew Peters): “Since his arrival in New York, OG has personified the type of player and teammate this organization and city embody,” Rose said in a statement. “OG’s offensive and defensive presence is undeniable and was a huge part of our success last season. We are thrilled to bring OG back to New York and continue the process of building a team and culture that makes our fans proud.”
Knicks have something special on their hands with OG Anunoby
Anunoby definitely balled out once he was traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Knicks last winter. The British wingman helped the Knicks go on a 12-2 run in the standings, and individually speaking, per NBA.com, “he held a positive +/- in all 23 games with the Knicks, which marked the longest positive +/- streak in Knicks history since the 1996-97 season (when +/- was originally tracked). Over the 23 games in which Anunoby played, the Knicks held a 20-3 record.”
Anunoby will have the chance to spearhead Knicks defense next season
The former 2019 NBA champion’s defense was felt on all fronts last season. Not only was he able to pick up premier scorers on the perimeter, he also saw time playing defense down low. Anunoby will once again have the chance to anchor the Knicks‘ defense, especially with Isaiah Hartenstein out of town, and also embrace a larger role in the offense. Rose’s stamp of approval ensures that Anunoby is wanted in New York for the foreseeable future. He’ll have to prove that starting next season.