In 1970, Willis Reed played a few minutes during Game 7 of the Finals at Madison Square Garden. Injured, the Knicks captain gave courage to his teammates, who would defeat the Lakers.
This is a bit what OG Anunoby wanted to do yesterday, during Game 7 of the conference semi-final against the Pacers.
Affected in the hamstring since Game 2 of the series, the winger was clearly not in any condition to play and, after having still managed two shots which set the room on fire, he watched the rest of the match on the bench…
“We lost, so it sucks” did he react afterwards, in statements repeated by the New York Post. “I just tried, but I couldn't accelerate or jump. I did my best. I just wanted to play. I wanted to at least try and help my teammates. We worked so hard that I wanted to at least be on the field… But I just couldn't move. »
Soon “free agent”?
And Tom Thibodeau only needed five minutes to realize it.
“Given the way he was moving, I felt it wasn't worth it.” explains the coach. “He gave us momentum by putting his shots in, but afterward he clearly wasn't moving well. It did not make sense. I didn't think it was worth it. I didn't want to take any risks. I love OG. I talked to the medical staff, and we didn't know what it was going to be like until he got on the field. He gave us everything he had, and that’s all we can ask for.”
Weighed down by injuries, including that of Jalen Brunson during the game, the Knicks simply had nothing left in the tank. From now on, we must think about the future, with an OG Anunoby who can test the market by giving up his last year of contract, as a “player option”, at 19.9 million dollars.
“I didn’t think about it at all” assures the person concerned. “The match just finished, so I didn’t think about it at all. »
But let Knicks fans rest assured: given the impact of OG Anunoby in New York (26 wins – 5 losses) and the fact that his agent is Sam Rose, the son of Leon Rose, the president of the franchise, there is little doubt that it will be extended to the “Big Apple” and that it will be there over the long term.
| OG Anunoby | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 74 | 20 | 47.1 | 37.1 | 62.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.9 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 67 | 20 | 45.3 | 33.2 | 58.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 7.0 |
| 2019-20 | TOR | 69 | 30 | 50.5 | 39.0 | 70.6 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 10.6 |
| 2020-21 | TOR | 43 | 33 | 48.0 | 39.8 | 78.4 | 1.3 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 15.9 |
| 2021-22 | TOR | 48 | 36 | 44.3 | 36.3 | 75.4 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 17.1 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 67 | 36 | 47.6 | 38.7 | 83.8 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 16.8 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 50 | 34 | 48.9 | 38.2 | 75.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 14.7 |
| 2023-24 * | TOR | 27 | 33 | 48.9 | 37.4 | 71.7 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 15.1 |
| 2023-24 * | NYK | 23 | 35 | 48.8 | 39.4 | 79.1 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 14.1 |
| Total | 418 | 29 | 47.4 | 37.6 | 74.5 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 12.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
