OG Anunoby entered Wednesday matching or exceeding his profession highs in factors, rebounds and steals per recreation.
And if it had been as much as his head coach, the veteran Knicks ahead would have one other milestone on the horizon, too.
“OG is an All-Star, in my opinion,” Mike Brown mentioned Tuesday after the Knicks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Now in his ninth NBA season, Anunoby has by no means been an All-Star. However in his first yr in Brown’s fast-paced system, Anunoby has an opportunity to ship his finest all-around season.
Coming into Wednesday’s assembly with the Orlando Magic on the Backyard, the 28-year-old Anunoby was averaging 18.0 factors, 6.0 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists per recreation via 10 appearances.
His 39.2% clip from 3-point vary marked the second-best charge of his profession — and the quantity was even larger earlier than a 1-for-10 displaying in Tuesday’s 133-120 victory.
Anunoby exceeded 20 factors in 4 of the Knicks’ first 10 video games, and he recorded at the very least three assists in 5 of the final seven.
“He’s worked his tail off in the summertime, first of all, and then secondly, he’s just getting comfortable with what we’re trying to do,” Brown mentioned. “He knows where guys should be on the floor when he drives. He’s making quick decisions with the basketball.”
Final week, Anunoby mentioned he believed he’s developed higher timing on his drives to the basket, and that it’s paying dividends.
“I watched a lot of film,” Anunoby mentioned after scoring 25 factors in a 137-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I always try to improve on each and every game, and I watch a lot of basketball as well, so I’m always trying to pick up on stuff.”
The NBA is ready to debut one other new All-Star Sport format at this yr’s occasion on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, this time deploying a U.S. vs. World competitors.
The format, which the league introduced Tuesday night time, will embrace two groups of U.S. gamers and one other of worldwide gamers, with every consisting of at the very least eight members.
Anunoby was born in London however principally grew up in Missouri.
The Knicks had two All-Stars final season in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities. After all, Anunoby’s All-Star candidacy isn’t solely about offense.
Coming into Wednesday, Anunoby’s 2.2 steals per recreation had been the fourth most within the NBA, whereas his defensive score of 104.6 ranked 14th amongst gamers to common at the very least 20 minutes per recreation and to make at the very least seven appearances.
He earned second-team All-Defensive honors in 2022-23 as a member of the Toronto Raptors, and that continues to be the one season by which Anunoby obtained votes for the NBA’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
“Not only is he an All-Star, he’s an All-Defensive performer,” Brown mentioned. “In my opinion, he should have an opportunity, amongst others in our group, to fight for Defensive Player of the Year in the league.”
