76ers Rival Knicks See Historic Stretch From Trade Acquisition

OG Anunoby's run with the Knicks is something the Sixers will have to keep an eye on.

Searching for a move to boost their odds of competing within the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks struck a deal with the Toronto Raptors to land one of the NBA’s most notable trade targets in OG Anunoby.

Since the former Raptor suited up for the Knicks, everything has gone perfectly so far. 

The Knicks hold a 5-0 record since Anunoby’s debut. One of those victories came against the Philadelphia 76ers, as New York handed the Sixers their worst loss of the 2023-2024 season.

While New York’s recent success is certainly an overall team effort, Anunoby’s impact can be seen in the numbers, as he’s put together a historic stretch so far.

Anunoby is the first player in NBA history to have a plus/minus of 100+ in his first five games with a team

(h/t: @TommyBeer) pic.twitter.com/G7M4IoZBIV

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 10, 2024

In his first five games with the Knicks, Anunoby has posted a plus-100 plus-minus in 166 minutes of playing time. 

Although it’s a small sample size, it’s safe to say that Anunoby has been as good as advertised for the New York Knicks.

So far, he’s averaged 33 minutes per game. He’s knocking down 46 percent of his threes on four attempts per game. After his 23-point showing against Portland on Wednesday night, Anunoby has averaged 14 points per outing. He’s also coming down with five rebounds per game and averaging at least one steal.

With the Knicks going 6-4 in their last ten games, they hold a record of 22-15, which ties them with the Indiana Pacers, who sit in the fourth seed just behind the Sixers.

New York still has a lot to prove as there is a lot of basketball left to be played, but it seems they haven’t missed their outgoing duo of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley too much, as they’ve been hitting their stride with Anunoby in the fold.

The Knicks will search for their sixth-straight victory on Friday night with a road matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The Sixers will get another look at New York on February 22, when the Knicks return to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly.