NBA Power Rankings: Knicks on the Rise After OG Anunoby Trade

Perfect since trading for OG Anunoby, the New York Knicks are on the rise in newly-released power rankings.

Jeremy Brener | Jan 9, 2024

NBA Power Rankings: Knicks on the Rise After OG Anunoby Trade /

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have turned a page since the ball dropped for the 2024 calendar year.

Since trading for OG Anunoby, the Knicks are 4-0, taking care of business against low-quality opponents and impressing against two of the best teams in the NBA, almost all in convincing fashion with an average margin of victory of over 18 points.

Kyle Kuzma Wizards OG Anunoby — Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

With the team's current run, the Knicks moved up five spots in this week's power rankings from CBS Sports. After sitting at eighth in last week's ranking, New York moved all the way to third behind only the Boston Celtics and the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

"The Knicks couldn't have asked for a better start to the OG Anunoby era, as they dispatched the Bulls, 76ers, and Wizards this week with a ridiculous net rating of plus-21.8," CBS Sports' Colin Ward-Henninger writes. "Overall, the team's net rating is nine points better with Anunoby on the court compared to when he sits, a nod to his two-way ability."

Anunoby's College Coach Lauds Fit With Knicks

The Knicks (21-15) will have a chance to continue climbing the power rankings and extend their win streak with on Tuesday at home against the lowly Portland Trail Blazers (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

After the Blazers' visit, the team heads out on the road to face Jalen Brunson's old team, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Memphis Grizzlies without Ja Morant, who is out for the season with a torn labrum. The week wraps up with a matinee game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day against the Orlando Magic at home.

Published Jan 9, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.