The New York Knicks got a positive injury development on one of their starters ahead of a game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, December 5.
OG Anunoby was upgraded to questionable on the official injury report. The ninth-year forward has missed the last nine games for New York with a left hamstring strain, which he sustained against the Miami Heat on November 14.
Anunoby was acquired by the Knicks in a trade with the Toronto Raptors during the 2023-24 season and signed a five-year, $212.5 million contract to remain in New York in June 2024. His ability to knock down threes and defend multiple positions has made him one of the Knicks’ best two-way players.
While the Knicks have won six out of the nine games he’s missed, getting Anunoby back would certainly be a boost for New York. This season, he’s averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.
OG Anunoby Injury History
This is not the first time Anunoby has dealt with an injury while with the Knicks.
He injured his left hamstring in Game 2 of the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers. Anunoby missed the next four games, returned to the lineup for Game 7 but was pulled after a few minutes after showing discomfort. He also missed 18 games between February and March after undergoing elbow surgery.
The forward had a mostly healthy 2024-25 season, only missing short stretches of games with minor injuries. However, the Knicks will likely be cautious when bringing him back into the fold following his most recent ailment. New York will likely wait until pre-game warm-ups Friday night at home against the Jazz before making a final decision on his availability.
Other Knicks Are Stepping Up During OG Anunoby Absence
The Knicks have gotten solid production from their auxiliary players during Anunoby’s absence, allowing them to stay afloat while down one of their key rotational pieces.
Josh Hart and Miles McBride have stepped into starting roles over the last nine games and been highly effective on both ends of the floor. The former is averaging 16 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field and 40.9% from three the latter is averaging 14.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists and shooting 44.4% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.
When Anunoby is cleared to play, the Knicks’ depth should allow head coach Mike Brown to ease him back into the starting lineup as he works his way back to full strength. Brown now has the luxury of bringing Anunoby off the bench with a minutes restriction, as opposed to playing him his normal amount (roughly 30 minutes per game) right away.
New York will face the Orlando Magic at home on Sunday before traveling to face the Raptors and Pacers. They conclude next week with home contests against the Philadelphia 76ers and Heat.
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