While Julius Randle is out for the rest of the season, OG Anunoby is getting closer to returning to the New York Knicks for the final stretch of games.
According to Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, Anunoby has been given the green light for contact and has participated in 4-on-5 and 5-on-5 drills, as reported by Kristian Winfield from the New York Daily News..
Thibodeau expressed, “He’s doing well. He’s getting closer. We’re hopeful, but we're also being cautious,” in a statement to reporters, as noted by Michael Scotto from Hoopshype, prior to the Knicks' game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, April 4.
Anunoby will miss his ninth consecutive game, but the Knicks aim to have him back before the playoffs. Following the game against the Kings, they will have six games remaining in the regular season.
The Knicks are a formidable team with Anunoby.
The team holds a 15-2 record with Anunoby playing since acquiring him from Toronto in a major trade on December 30. They achieved victory in their first five games after the trade and secured an 11-2 record before Anunoby sustained the elbow injury.
Anunoby underwent a procedure to remove a loose bone fragment from his right elbow on February 8 and made a comeback on March 12. However, his return was brief and was cut short after the third game.
Anunoby felt soreness in his surgically treated elbow on March 14 in Portland. Despite the discomfort, he continued to play in Sacramento on March 16. Subsequently, following a game where he only made 1 of 8 shots from the field, he flew back to New York for an MRI.
Thankfully, Anunoby's MRI results were clear, and the team only needed to alleviate the inflammation.
Julius Randle Reluctantly Agreed to Undergo Surgery
The Knick’s aspirations for a deep playoff run took a significant hit when the team declared on April 4 that Randle would have season-ending surgery.
Initially opposed to surgery, Randle chose to rehab his dislocated shoulder in the hopes of returning this season. However, after two months of attempting this, he reluctantly made the decision to stop.
“He had exhausted all options to avoid surgery and make a comeback for the playoffs. Nonetheless, recent consultations with two specialists indicated that surgery was becoming unavoidable due to the risk of further injury and potential permanent damage to the shoulder if he returned to play prior to a surgical procedure, sources revealed,” as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN..
Randle was having another standout season as an All-Star, averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists when he suffered the injury in a fall during the game against the Miami Heat on January 27.
The Knicks stated that he will undergo reassessment in September and is anticipated to fully recover by the start of the next season.
Shaq Anticipates Magic Sweeping Knicks in Playoffs
Amid the Knicks’ string of injuries, Shaquille O’Neal believes the Orlando Magic will sweep the Knicks if they face each other in the first round of the playoffs.
“No, it's not going to be an enjoyable series because Orlando will sweep them,” confidently stated O’Neal during the “Inside the NBA” postgame show on April 2 following the Knicks’ 109-99 loss to the Miami Heat, marking their third consecutive loss.
“Orlando will win that series,” O’Neal reiterated despite former Knicks guard Jamal Crawford attempting to make a friendly bet with him.
The Magic are in a good position to have an advantage of playing at home as they are ahead of the Knicks by half a game for the fourth seed. They also have the tie-breaker in the series with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.