You just never know who is going to interact with whom at a sporting event.
During Wednesday night’s New York Knicks home game against the Chicago Bulls, Knicks forward OG Anunoby stumbled and almost crashed into actor Anne Hathaway, who was sitting by the court.
This was a chance encounter you couldn’t predict, but the moment thankfully ended in just spilled popcorn and a story for both to tell their family and friends.
Celebrities sitting courtside is nothing new in the NBA, but a moment like this is always going to feel surprising and new. We’re glad it was just a brief hello for the duo and not an actual collision.
If you consume enough NBA media, you’ll note how often we pigeonhole players into rigid categories. The superstars get more than their fair share of the discussion, but everyone else falls into generalities: the game manager, the rim-running big …
If you consume enough NBA media, you’ll note how often we pigeonhole players into rigid categories. The superstars get more than their fair share of the discussion, but everyone else falls into generalities: the game manager, the rim-running big man, etcetera. After a while, players can blur together like uniform blocks within their segments, interchangeable and faceless. Categorization makes for easier conversation and analysis but loses the nuances that make basketball the best sport.
That’s a bummer! It’s fun to celebrate the individuality of each player, to look a little deeper into how they play. Below, I’ve gathered six players with quirks or tendencies that the general public doesn’t recognize enough. Some of these notes are borderline silly, and some are essential parts of what makes a player tick. But all deserve more (or at least a little!) discussion.
Disclaimer: I’m not always saying that these players are the absolute best at a thing. I’m simply highlighting unexpected skills or idiosyncrasies that aren’t well-known outside the local market. Don’t expect LeBron James to show up, but we may as well start with the biggest name (literally and figuratively).
The New York Knicks pulled the trigger yesterday by acquiring Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster to add another former Villanova star. Many people started wondering if that meant OG Anunoby was going elsewhere, considering the amount of money the Knicks …
The New York Knicks pulled the trigger yesterday by acquiring Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster to add another former Villanova star. Many people started wondering if that meant OG Anunoby was going elsewhere, considering the amount of money the Knicks had on the books with other players.
However, Adrian Wojnarowskireported that Anunoby was signing a five-year, $212.5 million deal to stay with the Knicks.
Here is how social media reacted after the news broke of Anunoby’s monster deal.
Potential Philadelphia 76ers target OG Anunoby will return to the New York Knicks on a deal.
With free agency set to begin on Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers are preparing to make their next move to help Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey take the next step in the East. They are armed with a ton of cap space as they move ahead into the summer.
After the New York Knicks made a big move on Tuesday to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, one had to assume that OG Anunoby would hit the open market. The Sixers have need for wings and he was mentioned as a potential target. Anunoby had declined his player option to enter free agency, but the Knicks are not going to allow it.
New York will retain Anunoby on a 5-year $212.5 million deal agreement. He will have a player option and a trade kicker in his deal.
Free agent F OG Anunoby intends to sign a five-year, $212.5 million contract to return to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Deal will include a player option and a trade kicker. pic.twitter.com/q5VcjOeryW
The Knicks are now a team that has a star in Jalen Brunson and a lot of reliable role players around him. Throw in the return of All-Star Julius Randle and the Knicks are a deep team heading into the free agency market.
The Sixers will certainly make a move of their own. They have that cap space for a reason and will look to help Embiid and Maxey move forward and challenge the Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
Despite the trade, the New York Knicks still plan on keeping potential Philadelphia 76ers target OG Anunoby.
The New York Knicks made a huge deal on Tuesday evening when they acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. Bridges now joins a Knicks team that was one win away from the Eastern Conference finals and could use a player of his exact skill set.
Logically, this could mean that New York loses free agent OG Anunoby. The Philadelphia 76ers, who will be major players in the free agent market, will certainly make a run at him due to his winning experience and his familiarity with coach Nick Nurse.
Anunoby also made a huge impact in New York’s Round 1 series win over the Sixers. He averaged 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds along with 1.3 blocks from the perimeter and gave Philadelphia fits. He is the exact player the Sixers need next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
However, it appears that despite the big trade, the Knicks plan on keeping Anunoby in New York.
The Knicks are still determined to keep OG Anunoby in free agency, sources tell ESPN, but the ability to resign center Isaiah Hartenstein becomes more difficult now. The Knicks are loading up on wings to match up with the NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Regardless of whether Anunoby can become available for the Sixers, it doesn’t change the fact that they should still focus on Paul George first. Whatever happens with that situation in New York, the Sixers still have the resources to acquire another big player to challenge both the Knicks and the Boston Celtics in the East.
With New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby “widely expected” to decline his player option, could the Brooklyn Nets be interested in him?
The Brooklyn Nets have plenty of avenues to consider this offseason as they look to improve the team enough to hopefully make it back to the playoffs next season. As Brooklyn looks to get better through free-agency, there could be a player that becomes available if he declines his impending player option.
Per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports!, New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby is “widely expected” to decline his player option of $19.9 million for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The Knicks traded for Anunoby, along with guard Malachi Flynn and forward Precious Achiuwa, during the 2023-24 season from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Immanuel Quickley, forward RJ Barrett, and a 2024 second-round pick.
While Nets Wire wrote about five free-agent small forwards that the Nets could consider this offseason, Anunoby was not included in the list due to his player option. However, if Anunoby indeed declines his player option, he will be an unrestricted free-agent and Brooklyn could enter the bidding for Anunoby’s services.
Anunoby, 26, just completed his seventh season in the NBA after being taken by the Raptors with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Indiana University. During his time between Toronto and New York this season, Anunoby averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 48.9% from the field and 38.2% from three-point land.
The one thing to keep in mind is that if Anunoby declines his player option for next season, it could be because he believes that he can receive more money from the Knicks on a new contract.
Fischer points out that “while league personnel are of the mind (Pascal) Siakam will certainly be re-signing with Indiana, there was word circling among team officials at last week’s NBA Draft Combine that Anunoby’s situation with the Knicks is not as cut and dried.”
If Anunoby truly ends up using his player option as leverage to get more money from New York, he may price himself out of what the Nets would be able to pay this offseason anyway. But, he could be another option for a Brooklyn team looking for talent.
Could the Philadelphia 76ers make a run at New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby in free agency?
The Philadelphia 76ers are going to have seemingly endless options throughout the 2024 offseason. They are armed with cap space and draft assets to pull off moves either in free agency or in the trade marketplace.
President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey stated the Sixers need a wing player. They need somebody who can produce on either end of the floor in the big moments of the playoffs, and there are options for them.
One option could be New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who has a $20 million player option for the 2024-25 season. If he opts out, the Sixers could be an option. Per Ian Begley of SNY:
As previously reported, members of the Philadelphia 76ers have seen Anunoby as an offseason target. Paul George is also a target for Philadelphia. But if the Sixers can’t get George, I could see them making a big offer to Anunoby – if for no other reason than it would force New York to match the money.
Anunoby, obviously, does have a history with Nick Nurse from their days together with the Toronto Raptors. One could make a case that the Knicks would still be playing right now if Anunoby didn’t get hurt early in New York’s semifinal series loss to the Indiana Pacers.
While Anunoby would be an obvious big help to the Sixers, one has to believe there is little chance New York would let him go. He was much too important of a piece in the Knicks’ success.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby was listed as a potential San Antonio Spurs free agency target.
The San Antonio Spurs have some big-time decisions to make this summer. Victor Wembanyama is already a superstar, and putting solid pieces around him should be the top priority as the Spurs look to improve their overall level of competitiveness. The 2024 NBA Draft will give them a chance to do that, and so will free agency this offseason.
Tyler Watts of FanSided recently put together a list of potential free agency targets for the Spurs this summer on Air Alamo. One of the guys he mentioned San Antonio should target, should he hit the market, is New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby.
Watts believes Anunoby’s two-way play would be a perfect fit next to Wembanyama.
“If Anunoby becomes available, a massive bidding war will take place,” Watts wrote. “Every team wants a 6’7 wing who is an elite defender capable of sinking open 3-pointers and averaging over 15 points per game. It is a crucial role. Anunoby is one of the best in the league at it and would draw massive interest.
“The Spurs would likely have to overpay, but this is a wish list. Could San Antonio convince him to spend his prime playing next to Victor Wembanyama? It is worth a shot even if he quickly re-signs with the Knicks and tries to chase a championship in the Big Apple over the Alamo.”
Clarifying that this is a “wish list” target for the Spurs, Watts believes that San Antonio should go after Anunoby if he left the Knicks for some reason.
Anunoby made his debut for the Knicks on Monday during a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, one of the strongest teams in the West. Although it was his first game, he finished with 17 points (7-of-12 from the field, 3-of-6 on 3-pointers) while adding six rebounds and two steals.
After the game, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson called his new teammate a “perfect” fit for this New York roster. While it was a small sample size, it provided insight into the role Anunoby will play for his new team.
On the offensive side of the ball, Anunoby was mostly used as a catch-and-shoot floor spacer who used off-ball screens and someone who finished cuts at the basket. But it was on the defensive side of the floor where he mostly proved his value.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch summarized it well: Anunoby can defend star guard Stephen Curry during one game and star big man Joel Embiid the following match and have similar success against both.
OG Anunoby begins his first game as a Knick guarding Anthony Edwards – exactly the kind of player he was acquired to go up against.
During his first game in New York, for example, Anunoby exemplified that perfectly. The wing defended Anthony Edwards for 32.9 partial possessions and switched on to Karl-Anthony Towns for 10.5 partial possessions.
Edwards scored 8 points when he was defended by Anunoby on Monday. For comparison, Edwards scored 9 points on 20.4 partial possessions guarded by Josh Hart and 11 points on 7.6 partial possessions defended by Julius Randle.
Anunoby held Edwards to 24.3 points per 100 possessions during this game, which is significantly better than what the Minnesota star is averaging (36.9) this season. It was hard to ignore his defensive presence whenever he was on the court.
It was a significant upgrade for New York to have Anunoby for this matchup.
When the Knicks faced the Timberwolves earlier this season, Quentin Grimes drew the assignment against Edwards. Grimes’ defensive matchup difficulty has ranked in the 99th percentile or higher both this season and last, per BBall-Index.
Now, he won’t have to do that as Anunoby will take on such tasks. Even when it’s not Edwards, like Grimes did, we already know that Anunoby will step up to guard the best player on the opposing team.
Both this season and last, Anunoby has also ranked in the 98th percentile or better in defensive matchup difficulty. But his overall defensive impact is far higher than what we have seen from Grimes.
For example, per DARKO, Anunoby grades out far better than Grimes in the defensive catch-all metric D-DPM.
Last season, via dunksandthrees.com, Anunoby had the highest overall D-EPM (Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus) among those who played at least 26 minutes per game. He also led the league in steals and he earned NBA All-Defense Second Team.
While he isn’t having the same type of impact this season, he still has one of the most unique intersections of defensive positional versatility and matchup difficulty.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau had concerns about playing two smaller guards and he didn’t want to play Brunson and Quickley in the backcourt at the same time.
Anunoby, at 6-foot-8 with a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan, addresses those problems and will provide the length and versatility desired on the perimeter. His presence is a relief to Grimes and his offensive usage rate is low enough that he won’t take the ball away from Brunson, who is the most capable floor general and engine for New York.
This trade already looks like a win for the Knicks, who will eventually need to agree to terms on a long-term contract with the former NBA champion.
Coach Nick Nurse gives thoughts on the big OG Anunoby trade as well as any possible upgrade for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The first domino of trade season fell on Saturday afternoon when the Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks combined to make a big deal.
The Raptors sent OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick. Anunoby is the big get for New York. He brings an elite 3-and-D ability to the Knicks to fit next to Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson.
Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse has a great deal of history with Anunoby from Nurse’s days with the Raptors, and he gave his thoughts on the deal.
“I obviously know very well most of the guys in it,” Nurse told reporters. “Quickley’s the only guy I haven’t coached pretty closely, but I think there’s a lot of good players changing teams there. I think RJ was amazing to coach for Canada. He’s really a good team player. Kind of complete player. He does a little bit of everything. OG, as I’ve mentioned many times, is as good a defender as there is in this league. You can put him on everybody in every position. So those two guys are switching and hope makes both teams worse (he said as a joke).”
Anunoby is averaging 15.1 points and shooting 37.9% from deep to begin the season. He will make the Knicks a much tougher team to contend with and one has to wonder if the Sixers need to make an upgrade of their own.
“I think you’ve always got to be in the mindset to upgrade at all times,” Nurse added. “Whether I was coaching the Iowa Energy or coaching the Sixers like there’s always places. Can you improve 10 through 12? Can you prove eight through 10? Can you improve three through five? I think you’re always trying to do that or are you getting assets so you can do something else so I think there’s always that’s what Daryl (Morey) and these guys do every day, right?”
With that being said, the Sixers are still a very good team. Whether they make a move or not, they are going to contend for a championship in the Eastern Conference. Nurse knows that as Philadelphia moves forward.
“I do think that we got guys,” he finished. “We got some experienced guys. We have a lot of experience coming off the bench. I think when we lose a few guys, we’re able to withstand and not have to lose a whole bunch of games in a row or something like that. We can plug away and keep our head above water a little bit. So there is — I’m still trying to figure out half of these guys I got right now so we’re OK.”
