OG Anunoby Part of Knicks Future Build

The New York Knicks are excited to have OG Anunoby back in the building for the long haul.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 9, 2024

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) celebrates his three point shot against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks couldn't say no to letting OG Anunoby go in free agency this summer. Ahead of July 1, the team signed Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million deal, placing him among some of the highest-paid players in the NBA.

Anunoby, who turns 27 next week, was traded to the Knicks on Dec. 30 of last year along with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Anunoby struggled to stay healthy, but when he was on the floor, he was dynamite for the Knicks. New York went 20-3 during the regular season with Anunoby on the floor and 30-29 when he didn't play.

That's why Knicks president Leon Rose is happy to have him back for next season and the following four.

"Since his arrival in New York, OG has personified the type of player and teammate this organization and city embody. 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," Rose said in a statement.

Re-signing Anunoby was the Knicks' clear priority in free agency, signing him before other teams would have a chance to negotiate with him. However, the deal didn't become official until Saturday when the new league year began.

Having Anunoby in the starting lineup with new trade acquisition Mikal Bridges alongside him on the wing gives the Knicks one of the best wing combinations in the NBA. Both players can defend multiple positions and it gives New York a ton of versatility to work with when it comes to lineups and matchups.

Anunoby's health is perhaps the one thing that may have scared the Knicks into re-signing him. He hasn't played in over 70 games since his rookie year back in 2017-18 and made just 50 appearances last season for the Raptors and Knicks. That being said, his presence when he was on the floor was too important for New York to not bring him back to the Big Apple.

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Published Jul 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.