OG Anunoby’s expanded offensive workload has gotten the New York Knicks’ attention early in the 2026-27 regular season, and not in the way they wanted.
The idea behind the change was straightforward enough. Put the ball in Anunoby’s hands more, ask him to do more off the dribble, and see if that can both support an All-Star push and lighten the load on Jalen Brunson. With Karl-Anthony Towns also providing standstill playmaking and driving, the Knicks wanted another outlet who could handle pressure and create something off the bounce.
That hasn’t really happened.
Anunoby’s frontcourt touches are up 20 percent from last season even though his minutes are about the same, and his 12.9 drives per 36 minutes are a huge jump from the 9.4 he posted in 2025-26. But the added responsibility has exposed real limits in his game.
There are a few encouraging signs. He’s at least showing a willingness to move the ball more, with over half of his drives now ending in a pass. He also hasn’t fallen into a heavy diet of mid-range shots; just 7 percent of his attempts have come from the in-between area, down from 15 percent last season.
But the overall production has taken a hit. His effective field-goal percentage is below 47, the lowest of his career.
The Knicks can live with him making more than 27.8 percent of his threes, but the bigger issue is what happens when he attacks downhill. Only 43.3 percent of his drives are ending in points, which ranks 39th among 48 players with that many finished drives.
The handle hasn’t been strong enough to consistently beat a set defense once the lane gets crowded, and the passing hasn’t translated into cleaner looks for everyone else. His assist-to-usage ratio sits in the 36th percentile, barely better than last season’s 33rd percentile finish.
The sample is still small, and the numbers could shift. Anunoby will make more shots, and his teammates probably will too.
Even so, the early returns are starting to show up in other parts of his game. His defensive impact hasn’t been as steady as the Knicks are used to seeing, and his plus-minus profile has taken a hit.
He now has the second-worst net rating swing on the team, and New York has actually been better on both ends with him off the floor. The only other starter in that same conversation is Mikal Bridges.
That doesn’t mean the Knicks should shove him into a pure spot-up role and forget about the rest. His driving still has value.
It just works best when it starts with movement, not when he’s asked to operate from a standstill. He’s not the kind of player you want running a bunch of ball screens or probing deep into a set defense.
That’s not a knock on him. It’s a reminder of what he is and what he isn’t. Anunoby is not a superstar creator, and expecting him to become one in Year 10 is asking too much of him and the Knicks.
In Other News...
Knicks Starters Suddenly Under Pressure After Another Loss To Philadelphia
The Knicks uneven start took another hit in Philadelphia, where a loss to the 76ers dropped them to 2-4 and kept the early-season questions coming. There were a few encouraging individual signs in the defeat, though, with Jordan Clarkson giving New York a lift off the bench thanks to his defensive work in his minutes and Mikal Bridges turning in a promising showing even as the team came up short.
The bigger concern sits with the starting group, which still has not found a clean rhythm. OG Anunoby struggled with his decision-making and efficiency, while Jalen Brunson had a tough night against the pressure Philadelphia put on him, leaving the Knicks with more to sort through as they try to steady themselves before the schedule gets any less demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Brunson Takes Playful Shot As Knicks Grind Starts Showing
The early-season grind is already showing up for the Knicks, and Josh Hart has been one of the players most openly feeling it. After the loss to the 76ers, Hart pointed to the teams demanding schedule, the shorter offseason and even his finger injury as part of the physical toll, a reminder that this start has been about more than just wins and losses. The defeat left New York at 2-4, with the kind of stretch that can expose how quickly legs and patience start to wear down.
Jalen Brunson, never one to pass up a little locker-room mischief, responded with a lighthearted jab at Harts fatigue, joking about his teammates age. It was a playful moment in a season that already feels like it has asked plenty of the Knicks, and it also underscored how much of the conversation around this team has shifted toward survival mode. The schedule will keep coming, and for New York, the challenge is finding enough energy to keep the early bumps from turning into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A New Problem In Their Backup Center Search
Chet Holmgrens expected absence for eight to 10 weeks has already changed the market for big men, and it could create an unwanted ripple effect for the Knicks. With the Thunder now considering adding another frontcourt body to cover for Holmgrens patellar tendon tear in his right knee, one of the leagues more aggressive and better-equipped teams may soon be shopping in the same lane New York has been eyeing.
For the Knicks, the timing is awkward. They have been looking for help behind their center rotation, but Oklahoma City has more assets and salary cap flexibility, which gives it a clear edge in any backup big man chase. If the Thunder decide to move quickly, New York may find itself competing not just for available size, but for whatever is left after a team with deeper pockets and more trade ammunition gets involved. [Read more 🡒]