OG Anunoby has reminded ex-New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford of a former Tom Thibodeau player who played a vital role in his successful Chicago Bulls teams.
“OG Anunoby brings a different attitude to this [Knicks] team,” Crawford said on Inside the NBA on TNT during the Knicks’ dominant 106-79 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, March 12. “They play differently when he’s out there. They play with a different confidence. They know he covers a lot of mistakes.
“Thibodeau has had a player like this before that was critical to their success in the past — Luol Deng. He has a lot of Luol Deng qualities. He can play with guys. He plays hard. He follows Thibs' approach every time he steps on the court.”
Like Deng, Anunoby has an NBA All-Defensive Second Team nod. Both players have the size and length of an elite perimeter defender.
Like Deng, who was the two-way stud of the Bulls team led by Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer, Anunoby plays a similar role with this Knicks team led by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
During his impressive 14-2 start in his Knicks career in January, Anunoby was asked about this comparison.
“Similarities, yes. But we’re both different. There’s similarities, for sure,” Anunoby said, per New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield.
Anunoby returned from an 18-game absence due to an elbow injury with skill.
He scored 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. The Knicks outscored the 76ers by 28 in Anunoby’s 29 minutes.
The only noticeable difference that separates Anunoby and Deng’s career path is the former Bulls wing’s two All-Star berths.
OG Anunoby Boosts Knicks’ Odds to Win East
Anunoby’s arrival in New York has turned them into a tough defensive team that has the best defense in the league in January.
His easy addition has improved their chances of winning the Eastern Conference from +2400 before the trade to +950 on March 12 at FanDuel, named as one of the top sportsbooks on VT Betting.
It did not take long for Anunoby to prove why the oddsmakers have been excited about the Knicks’ chances. With Anunoby in the lineup, the Knicks improved to 13-2 overall against 8-10 during his absence.
“It was big,” Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein told reporters of Anunoby’s return. “Just having him back, I think he even makes my job a lot easier on defense, so I can kind of help a little bit more, just knowing either he’s behind me or if he’s on the ball, I know I can veer [away] and defend different players, even 5s easily. So just having him back, I think it makes my life easier. And lets me kind of roam a little bit more.”
Knicks Add Mamadi Diakite
The Knicks have picked up Mamadi Diakite for a 10-day contract, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.
The 6-foot-9 Diakite is unlikely to be part of the Knicks rotation but serves as insurance while their starting frontcourt duo of Randle and Mitchell Robinson are still on the mend.
Diakite, 27, went undrafted in 2020 but he was able to land a two-way contract, which was later converted into a multi-year deal with the Milwaukee BucksHe earned a championship with the Bucks in 2021 while being a substitute player.
Diakite was part of the initial roster for the Westchester Knicks in October last year, then he signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs in January. After being released by the Spurs, he went back to Westchester on March 6. A week later, the Knicks gave him a 10-day contract.
Diakita has played in 7 games with Westchester this season in the G League, with an average of 12.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks.
