OG Anunoby forever etched himself into the hearts of New York Knicks fans after his game-winning tip-in shot in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
Knicks fans got to see his expanded all-around game on full display, whether he was lighting it up from downtown or operating with the ball in his hands.
Anunoby proved he can be more than just a catch-and-shoot or cutting specialist during the Knicks’ championship run, showcasing incredible control of the ball on drives to the rim and footwork on some self-created looks.
You won’t often see Anunoby probe the midrange or call for a screen to create his own shot attempts, but in the limited opportunities he’s gotten in those areas, he looked incredibly fluid.
With Jalen Brunson turning 30 years old before the season begins and his smaller stature, he may need to embrace slightly fewer shot attempts per game so he can stay fresh for the postseason, where the games matter most.
Brunson was largely relegated to playing hero ball over the last few seasons, but coaching adjustments put the ball in Karl-Anthony Towns’s hands more often and allowed him to take over as the Knicks' de facto point guard, allowing Brunson to make an impact off the ball, whether it was through relocating or screening actions.
Towns has proven willing to sacrifice for the betterment of his team in past seasons, so that could also give Anunoby more touches over the course of his game and allow him to expand his game.
It’s important to note that the Knicks need Anunoby to lock down on defense, especially with Mitchell Robinson headed to the Boston Celtics. Luckily, Anunoby has Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Jose Alvarado by his side to help provide suffocating defense, but it’s Anunoby who is required to key in on the opposing team's best player and make each and every shot difficult for him.
Next season could very well see Brunson and Towns continue to provide the bulk of the scoring with Anunoby’s role largely staying the same, but if their workload eventually proves to become too overwhelming or, in the worst case, one of them gets hurt, the Knicks have an incredible third option for them waiting in the wings (no pun intended).
Most championship-contending teams need to have at least one three-level scoring wing to get over the top. Anunoby has all of the intangibles to develop into just that for the Knicks.
