The Knicks already have a clear read on what OG Anunoby brings when the game gets chippy and the floor tightens up. He takes the toughest defensive jobs, covers ground, and makes bigger wings work for every inch without needing touches to stay engaged.
What still waits on the other side is a little more assertiveness.
Anunoby has the strength and the touch to do damage once he has an angle. He can punish a closeout, get to a spot before a smaller defender can recover, or strike before the defense fully loads up.
New York does not need him to become Jalen Brunson. It needs him to make the first move more often instead of standing around until the ball swings for the fourth time.
The Knicks need OG Anunoby to attack more often
He showed in the Finals that he can handle a bigger body at the rim and still go toe-to-toe with top scorers on the other end. That kind of workload is not going away after a championship.
Even a modest bump in offense would matter. When Brunson pulls two defenders or Karl-Anthony Towns draws extra attention, Anunoby can hit the opening before the defense has a chance to reset.
This is not about asking him to live on isolation or chase shots every night. It is about a firmer downhill approach, a few more well-timed cuts, and less hesitation when the look is there. If Anunoby plays that way, the Knicks become a much tougher team to map out.
In Other News...
Josh Hart Gives Knicks A Tough Decision In Their Biggest Moments
Josh Hart has become one of the Knicks most useful players because he does a little bit of everything the roster asks for. He can rebound, defend multiple spots and help move the offense along as a secondary playmaker, which is why his value tends to show up most clearly when games get tight and possessions get heavier. For a team that has spent so much time leaning on effort and versatility, Hart fits the identity almost too well.
Still, the Knicks also have to think about the bigger picture with him now that the roster is deeper and the roles are more defined than they were before. Hart remains the kind of player you want on the floor when the game is on the line, but the challenge is making sure he gets there fresh enough to matter most. The balance is no longer about whether he belongs in those moments, but how carefully the Knicks should manage him so he can keep swinging them. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Guard Battle Just Took A Turn That Helps Tyler Kolek
The Knicks' guard picture got a little more interesting with Jack Kayil heading to Alba Berlin on a five-year deal, a move that keeps the 2026 draft pick overseas for now and gives New York one fewer immediate piece to sort through. For a team that already has to manage a crowded backcourt, it is the kind of development that can quietly ripple through the rest of the roster discussion, especially when every available spot and rotation minute matters.
Tyler Kolek sits closer to the center of that conversation than he did a few days ago. Mike Brown has already shown a willingness to trust Kolek in meaningful moments even with the defensive concerns that come with his game, and that kind of faith can matter in a competition where opportunities are never handed out freely. For all the help this opens up on the guard side, it also leaves New York with another decision looming as it weighs how best to balance the backcourt against bigger needs elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]