OG Anunoby Sparking New York Knicks Turnaround After Trade

The New York Knicks are 11-2 and have the best defensive rating in the NBA since trading for OG Anunoby, who is plus-239 with the Knicks. The former Indiana Hoosier has been a perfect fit for the Knicks as they aim to make a playoff run.

Early returns on the OG Anunoby trade have given the New York Knicks exactly what they needed.

On Dec. 30, the Knicks made a blockbuster trade by sending former third overall pick RJ Barrett, fellow guard Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Anunoby, forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn.

The Knicks are 11-2 since making the trade, improving their record from 17-15 to 28-17. They've jumped into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just 3.5 games out of second and seven back from first.

The former Indiana Hoosier, Anunoby, has been a major reason why. The 6-foot-7 small forward is a combined plus-239 in 13 games with the Knicks in the plus-minus statistic, which measures a player's impact based on the score of the game when he's on the court. 

Anunoby had the best game of his Knicks career from a plus-minus standpoint on Thursday against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Finishing plus-38, Anunoby scored 26 points and totaled six steals in the Knicks' 122-84 blowout win over the Nuggets at Madison Square Garden.

"Just following the game plan and then being aggressive," Anunoby said postgame. "Like a ballhawk, that's how I play, so making reads on the ball. If I see something, if I feel something, then just being aggressive and going for it."

Alongside leading scorers point guard Jalen Brunson and power forward Julius Randle, Anunoby has been the perfect fit for the Knicks. The Knicks have the No. 1 defensive rating in the NBA, 103.3, since trading for Anunoby, the reigning NBA steals leader and All-Defensive team member.

Offensively, Anunoby is averaging 15.4 points and shooting close to a career-high from 3-point range at 39%. Add 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.3 assists and a career-high 1.2 blocks per game, and Anunoby is doing a bit of everything for New York.

"He's finding a good rhythm," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday. "I think he's making really good decisions as to when to shoot, when to pass. But he's getting downhill and making a lot of plays for us. He's very aggressive, which I like, but he's not forcing it either. Then the defense and the hustle, it's terrific."