It is not exactly clear whether, in the course of criticizing referees publicly during a press conference, a coach can earn some leeway by first acknowledging that officiating is a difficult line of work. But it’s something Knicks coach Mike Brown regularly attempts to do, anyway, and something he tried to pull off after New York’s loss to the Sixers. Brown wasn’t happy with the way OG Anunoby was officiated in the game.
Anunoby had a brutal night in the game against Philadelphia, making just one of his nine field-goal attempts and wrapping up the night with two points. It was his worst night of the season, matching his low of two points he set last month when he was injured against Miami and played only 5:08 in the game. He has not been held to just two points since March of 2024, when he went 1-for-8 with two points in a win in Sacramento.
OG Anunoby ‘Didn’t Get Any Calls’
Anunoby missed all four of his 3-point tries, but it was how he was handled by the Philadelphia defense on his drives into the paint that had the Knicks coach unhappy after the game. Sure, he tried yo butter up the referees in the game, but his criticism was clear.
“I thought he was aggressive on his drives and he didn’t get any calls,” Brown said. “It’s one of those, it’s a weird game and, you know, the officials they got a tough job, but I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what’s a foul and what’s not a foul because guys, especially quick guys, they’ll put their head down and they’ll drive the ball from point A to point B. And if you lead with your chest and they’re able to flop or fall off you good enough it’s a foul.”
GettyNew York Knicks coach Mike Brown
Knicks’ Brown Saw Aggression
Part of Anunoby’s problem–if it could be called that–is that he is not much of a flopper. In fact, one reason he is respected as a defender is for his upper body strength, and that strength can sometimes work against the Knicks. Defenders often hit the floor when he drives on them.
“And OG’s a big, strong guy, and when he drives, he doesn’t do that. He’s trying to attack the rim and he’s getting rerouted on his drive, but he can’t seem to get a call,” Brown said.
“I thought his aggression was there. He just couldn’t get to the free-throw line. I thought he had a couple of good looks from the three-point line and it just kinda got away from him. But again, I’m not sure what he can do right now to get a call on his drives—not necessarily always at the rim, but I’m talking on the drive. Because he’s getting hit just like everybody else is, but he’s a little bit bigger than some of those other guards that are getting those calls.”
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