Brunson Back, OG Still Scorching

"We are watching the emergence of a lethal offensive weapon."

Final Score: Knicks 112 - Suns 98
Record: 50-28

There are plenty of directions to go at the start of today's newsletter. One obvious headline is the return of The Captain. We also have to highlight the Knicks winning 50 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in three decades (a feat that seemed unimaginable before Leon Rose's arrival).

However, while there are plenty of storylines to discuss, I think OG deserves top billing.

After heaping praise on Anunoby consistently over the past three weeks, many of us assumed OG would take a back seat with Jalen Brunson making his triumphant return to The Mecca Sunday night. There's no way Anunoby could continue shooting and producing at an unpredicted clip, right?

Wrong.

OG poured in a game-high 32 points in Sunday's win while tacking on six rebounds, three assists and six three-pointers in 36 minutes. He converted 13 of his 17 field goal attempts and was 6-of-8 from behind the arc. What we are witnessing from OG of late is genuinely astonishing.

Over the Knicks' past ten games, Anunoby is averaging 27.6 points, 3.3 made three-pointers, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals. Even more impressively, he is shooting a mind-boggling 56.3% from the floor, 45.8% from downtown and 91.8% from the free-throw line.

I've seen many great Knicks have many great stretches, but I'm not sure of the last time I've seen someone play as well on both ends over a 10-game span as this version of OG. Could it be Patrick?

Brunson has had incredibly brilliant bursts, but we'll never confuse him for a DPOY candidate. Ditto for Melo. Amar'e had that incredible run at the start of the 2010 season. Linsanity was unforgettable. But, again, these guys did their damage on the offensive end.

With OG, his primary value throughout his career stemmed from his contributions on the defensive end. The Knicks traded for him and then signed him to a lucrative new contract mainly because of his ability to function as a lockdown defender who also chips in by knocking down corner threes when left open.

As expected, Anunoby has been dominant defensively again this season and deserves a spot on the NBA's All-Defense First Team, but his offensive explosion has been stunning.

To put his numbers in context, consider this: According to Basketball Reference, OG is just the second player in NBA history to average more than 25 points, three made three-pointers and 1.5 steals while shooting above 55% from the floor, 45% from 3PT rage and 90% from the FT line over a ten-game span. The other player in this unique club is Steph Curry.

Regarding the Knicks-specific query, the only other player in NY franchise history to tally more than 250 points (on > 55% shooting), more than 15 steals, and more than five blocks over ten games is… Patrick Ewing.

OG was initially drafted out of Indiana back in 2017. This is his 8th year in the NBA. Coming into 2024-25, Anunoby's career-high for most games with 23+ points in an entire season was 14 during his final year in Toronto. OG has topped that with 15 such games over the past five weeks.

Mike Breen said it best during Sunday's third quarter, as OG exploded for 19 points in less than nine minutes. "We are watching the emergence of a lethal offensive weapon," Breen exclaimed.

As noted above, there was concern that Anunoby and Mikal Bridges will slide back into their roles as tertiary options and periphery scorers with the Knicks fully healthy, but that was not the case Sunday night.

OG's 17 FG attempts vs. the Suns were the most on the team. Bridges was second with 14. KAT and Brunson finished with 13 and nine, respectively. It was Anunoby and Bridges whom the team leaned on in the fourth quarter as well.

That won't be the case every night, but Sunday's box score was a scary sight for teams New York might face in the postseason. The emergence of Anunoby this spring makes the Knicks that much more difficult to prepare for.

Other Takeaways and Knicks Notes:

🏀 As expected, Brunson looked a bit rusty playing his first game in a month. He lacked his usual quickness and pop but still tallied 15 points (3-of-9 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), two rebounds, six assists, one steal and one three-pointer in 34 minutes.