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OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
OG Anunoby is one of the most complete two-way forwards in the NBA. He guards the opposing team’s best player every single night, handles the Knicks‘ defense, and does the fantastic work most fans never notice.
Yet somehow, across eight-plus seasons in this league, he has earned just one NBA All-Defensive Team selection. Mike Brown has his own thoughts on it.
When a reporter asked Knicks’ head coach Mike Brown after their 136-96 win over the Chicago Bulls on April 4, that OG Anunoby has only been on one All-Defense team in his career.
Brown’s reaction was immediate and unfiltered:
“Yeah. It’s bullshit. And I can say that with a straight face because he’s a great defender and he does a lot of different things that people don’t see on that end of the floor — for us and for other teams he’s played for. But more importantly, his versatility is just off the charts, and you can do a lot of things with your defense because of him. In my opinion, he deserves First Team All-Defense this year. And hopefully the powers that be will see it that way too. Sorry about that to all the kids out there, but it is so clear.”
Brown’s reaction is justified. OG’s defensive influence goes beyond just numbers.
OG Agrees, And He’s Not Hiding It
GettyOG Anunoby speaks on his All-Defense selection
Anunoby himself isn’t holding back his opinion about it either. Answering a question about his only selection to the All-Defense team, he replied without hesitation:
“Yeah, I think I should have got it more, for sure. I think I should have got it last year. I should get it this year.”
OG currently is scoring 16.7 points, grabbing 5.2 rebounds, and assisting 2.2 times per game on average this season while being the Knicks’ main defensive player.
His recent games highlight that dual dominance. Versus Chicago, he scored 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three, besides 8 rebounds in only 31 minutes.
Against Memphis, he scored 25 points and 13 rebounds in 40 minutes. These are not just numbers; OG is doing everything.
The DPOG Throne
In the Knicks locker room, the Defensive Player of the Game award (DPOG) speaks volumes. OG tops the whole team with 10 DPOG awards this season, followed by Mitchell Robinson (8), Josh Hart (6), Mikal Bridges (5), and everyone else.
The Knicks’ identity has always been defined by their defense. From Tom Thibodeau’s era to now under Mike Brown, they have consistently prioritized defense, with OG leading that mentality with his performance.
Can OG Anunoby Make One Final Statement Before the Playoffs?
The Knicks have only four games left in the regular season: at Atlanta Hawks (April 6), vs. Boston Celtics (April 9), vs. Toronto Raptors (April 10), and vs. Charlotte Hornets (April 12).
The Celtics game on Thursday is the highlight: a playoff preview at MSG and a big opportunity for OG to make his All-Defense case to the entire voting pool. When looking at the games against Atlanta, Toronto, and Charlotte, it is safe to assume that he will be the one to take the lead in stopping the opponent’s best wing player each time without even thinking twice.
As the playoff seeding is still something to be decided, the Knicks will definitely depend on his flexibility to end the season on a high note.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for PFSN, Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
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