New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby is making steady progress in his return from a left hamstring strain, coach Mike Brown said Sunday before the Knicks hosted the Toronto Raptors in a pivotal NBA Cup game at Madison Square Garden.
“He’s doing some on-court work and we’re continuing to monitor him,” Brown told reporters, via the New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield. “We’re not gonna rush him.”
Anunoby, who has missed six consecutive games entering Sunday, has advanced to controlled 3-on-3 scrimmages — one of the final steps before being cleared for full 5-on-5 participation. He has not played since New York’s 140–132 win over the Miami Heat on Nov. 14.
The Knicks have gone 4-2 in his absence, holding steady in the Eastern Conference playoff race despite a thinning rotation.
Anunoby Close to 5-on-5 Clearance as Knicks Battle Injuries
Anunoby is expected to sit out Sunday’s game against his former team, marking his seventh straight missed contest. His gradual progress comes at a challenging time for New York, which recently lost guard Landry Shamet for at least four weeks due to a right shoulder sprain.
The Knicks have leaned heavily on Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart in recent games, but Anunoby’s return would provide a major boost on both ends of the floor.
Durability questions have followed Anunoby since his time in Toronto, where he never surpassed 70 games played after appearing in 74 as a rookie. Last season, however, he matched that 74-game mark with the Knicks while delivering one of the most complete two-way campaigns of his career, averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
His versatility and efficient shooting were central to New York’s stunning run to the Eastern Conference Finals — the franchise’s first appearance in 25 years.
Knicks Relying on 3-and-D Star’s Elite Two-Way Impact
Before going down with the hamstring strain, Anunoby was posting 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He was shooting a strong 39.2% from three, reinforcing his status as one of the NBA’s premier 3-and-D wings.
Anunoby is the Knicks’ second-highest-paid player behind Towns and has become one of the team’s most indispensable defenders, often taking the toughest assignment nightly.
His absence has forced Brown to elevate role players into larger responsibilities — an adjustment that has kept New York afloat but underscored Anunoby’s importance.
OG Anunoby Once Challenged Ronnie2K Over NBA 2K Rating
Off the court, Anunoby made headlines this offseason after confronting NBA 2K spokesperson Ronnie Singh — better known as Ronnie2K — over his player rating in NBA 2K26.
At the House of 2K launch event in New York City, Singh recalled Anunoby approaching him in Las Vegas with a detailed case for why he deserved a 92 overall.
“He was so prepared,” Singh told Heavy Sports in September. “He was like, ‘I want to be a 92 because XYZ,’ and a lot of his logic made sense. I’m sure he’s frustrated he’s 85 this year.”
Anunoby’s 85 overall rating places him in the fifth tier of NBA 2K26’s Top 100. He sits just behind an 86-rated group that includes Julius Randle, Tyler Herro, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, and Franz Wagner — and two points behind top-tier players like Domantas Sabonis, LaMelo Ball, Darius Garland, Zion Williamson, Derrick White, Jimmy Butler, and Amen Thompson, who all have a rating of 87.
On the Knicks, Anunoby ranks third, behind Brunson (93) and (92), with Bridges (84) and Hart (81) rounding out the top five.
Anunoby remains at 85 — but the Knicks would welcome the real-life version back long before any digital upgrade.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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