It's hard not to mention the name ofOG Anunoby when it comes to talking about the best defenders in the league. Arriving at the Knicks last year, the winger helped the Knicks climb to 9th place in “defensive efficiency”. But by having to integrate Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, New York is currently trying to launch its season by relying instead on its attack, the 3rd most effective at the start of the season.
But here again, the offensive regularity of OG Anunoby plays a role. By shooting at 50% success, for an average of 17.4 points, the former Raptor is on the basis of the best offensive season of his career, even if his outside success percentage (36.7%) has dropped a little. Irritated to be seen like a “simple” defender, the player is proud of his progress. “I’ve always been proud to be a two-way player, not just a defender.”.
In nine seasons, OG Anunoby has indeed posted a very respectable 37.6% 3-point success, 47.5% overall.
Among the best finishers near the circle
The winger is thus a reliable shooter and, apart from the pivots, he has been one of the best finishers in the paint since the start of his career, converting 74% of his attempts under the hoop. By playing alongside other talented attackers like Jalen Brunson, but also Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, he still manages to stand out in the Knicks' attack by having exceeded the twenty-point mark six times this season. .
And Tom Thibodeau appreciates his versatility. “OG is a very good player. He knows how to shoot, move without the ball and knows how to be effective in transition. If a small player defends on him, he will play with his back to the basket. He knows how to read the game very well. His positioning, his movement without the ball and his ability to cut the lines is valuable for us.”.
Before each match, OG Anunoby undergoes “pre-training” with the younger players to work on his 3-point shooting. To continue this momentum, he wants to continue shooting more and would like to hesitate less behind the arc. Tracks which are of the order of detail, but which mean a lot for the Knick.
“Even if the numbers don’t go up that much, I feel like I’m making progress” thus affirms the player. “I refused shots. I'm trying to stop that to make things less complicated.”.
| 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 | 0.7 | 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 |
| 2024-25 | NYK | 14 | 36 | 50.0 | 36.7 | 80.0 | 1.1 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 17.4 |
| Total | 432 | 29 | 47.5 | 37.6 | 74.8 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 12.1 | |
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.
