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Close to two years ago, shortly after arriving in New York, OG Anunoby found his footing again.
The Knicks had just finalized a deal to bring in the versatile swingman. His immediate challenge: a New Year’s Day game against the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves. Anunoby was unfamiliar with the Knicks’ playbook, relying solely on what he had learned during his lengthy tenure with the Toronto Raptors. He hadn’t yet grasped the team’s terminology and had to devise his own strategy on the spot.
Before the game started, he approached point guard Jalen Brunson with a straightforward plan.
“I’m not entirely sure what I should be doing,” he confessed to Brunson. “So, I’ll just keep cutting.”
True to his word, Anunoby made an immediate impact, converting a cut from the corner for his first basket within the opening minutes, and then navigating through the Timberwolves’ top-ranked defense for another score shortly thereafter.
His presence injected a fresh dynamism into the Knicks’ offense, altering their style from what it had been before his arrival. For the remainder of that month, they caused defenses considerable trouble until injuries disrupted the promising start of the 2023-24 season.
In an unfamiliar environment and with limited preparation time, Anunoby chose to stick to what he knew best: movement was key.
As he embarks on his third season in New York, a new transition awaits.
This season marks the first time since that encounter with the Timberwolves that Anunoby will be under a different coach. The Knicks parted ways with Tom Thibodeau in June, just days after an exhilarating playoff run that marked the organization’s most significant postseason progress in a quarter of a century. Mike Brown will take over.
Speculation surrounds how the Knicks might shift under new management.
Who will be in the starting lineup? What about the minutes distribution, everyone’s favorite topic of debate for the past five years? Will the team alter its defensive philosophies with Brown at the helm? Is a switch to more zone defense on the table? And what does this situation mean for Brunson, who has stood by Thibodeau since his early days? How will Mikal Bridges adjust, after appearing less than comfortable in his first season with the Knicks?
Yet, amid the discussions, there is an essential aspect to consider: Anunoby, the reliable and aggressive 6-foot-7 wing, who expanded his contributions during the month when Brunson was sidelined and scaled back when circumstances called for it.
How will Brown’s arrival influence Anunoby’s role?
The answers will only emerge once the Knicks take the court. However, the inquiries will arise long before games begin.
Last season, a dunk from Anunoby served as a significant indicator of the Knicks’ offensive vitality. A defender would often focus intently on Brunson or the team’s other scoring powerhouse, Karl-Anthony Towns, which would then open driving lanes for the wings. Anunoby recorded 135 cuts resulting in layups or dunks during half-court offenses—almost double his previous best.
In an early-season victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, when the Knicks’ offense was firing on all cylinders, Anunoby threw down seven dunks, contributing to a significant win. However, as the season progressed, and for various reasons—ranging from strategic to statistical issues, including difficulties in getting to the free-throw line or achieving consistent success from beyond the arc—both Anunoby’s scoring and dunks decreased.
Could Brown explore innovative ways to utilize Anunoby as a cutter? Might he implement strategies similar to those used with Domantas Sabonis in Sacramento to facilitate more dribble-handoffs around Towns? Could there be an increase in transition opportunities that lead to more finishes at the rim?
At his introductory press conference, Brown expressed a desire to increase the team’s tempo. A key shortcoming for the Knicks last season, despite their talent and structure, was their sluggish pace in initiating offensive plays. Particularly late in games, they frequently wouldn’t begin their sets until there were only 10 seconds left on the shot clock.
If the Knicks successfully adopt a more up-tempo style, will it benefit Anunoby, who excels in transition? Could this shift lead to more 3-point opportunities for him as well?
Anunoby has a knack for breaking free on fast breaks.
Indeed, during his inaugural season with the Knicks, Thibodeau often paired him with the bench unit partly because the reserves favored a quicker pace. Anunoby thrived in that setup. Notably, around one in every six of his field-goal attempts that season were dunks, a rate that would stand as a career-high if he maintained it throughout an entire season.
Last season, Anunoby spent a disproportionate amount of time alongside the starters. Brunson and Towns, in particular, favored a more half-court-driven style. A new coach might seek to redefine that approach.
Could integrating Anunoby with faster-paced players yield greater opportunities for him in transition? Can he exploit mismatches in the half-court by getting the jump on defenders?
When Brunson was sidelined last season, Anunoby began attacking the basket twice as often, averaging just below 25 points per game over that month-long period. His success didn’t stem from flashy moves; rather, Anunoby played with a workmanlike intensity, steamrolling anything in his path.
Could a quicker pace generate more advantageous matchups, putting smaller defenders on him more frequently in 2025-26 compared to last season? If this occurs, how will he respond?
If he manages it well, the Knicks could create more chances for mismatches.
Brown has access to a weapon that Thibodeau could not utilize effectively for most of last season: Mitchell Robinson, who emerged as an elite center during the playoffs. Should the Knicks opt to start Robinson alongside Towns, as they did during the Eastern Conference finals, Anunoby would likely shift to small forward. This positional adjustment wouldn’t necessarily change whom he defends, but teams that deploy three smaller players—an increasingly common strategy in 2025—might struggle against Anunoby’s physical style.
Especially if Robinson is on the floor, providing a strong inside presence for the starting unit, the new coaching staff may experiment with Anunoby’s defensive assignments.
During the previous season, Bridges mainly covered the point of attack while Anunoby took on the opponent’s top wing or forward. Their roles were reversed during the first round of the playoffs, when Anunoby guarded Detroit Pistons All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham, yielding positive results.
The Knicks’ defense appeared more effective in the early playoff rounds against Detroit and the Boston Celtics, particularly when Anunoby was operating as the primary point-of-attack defender. The team also switched more frequently than it had previously, aided by a healthy Robinson, which significantly altered their defensive capabilities entering this season.
It’s premature to draw conclusions. However, it’s worth considering: How will the transition from Thibodeau to Brown shape Anunoby’s game? Can he take on a larger offensive role, similar to when Brunson was injured last season? And how will he adapt to yet another change?
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Fred Katz is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic. Follow Fred on Twitter: @FredKatz.
