Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with a sprained right foot, but head coach Tom Thibodeau said that initial X-rays on the injury were negative for a break, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
According to Begley, Thibodeau wasn’t sure on Saturday night whether or not Anunoby would undergo an MRI to assess the severity of the injury.
Anunoby played just 17 minutes before hurting the ankle during the Knicks’ 128-112 home loss to the Lakers on Saturday. He finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.
On the year, the 6’7″ wing is averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game through 49 appearances. He’s logging shooting splits of .482/.365/.792.
There’s more out of New York:
- If Anunoby’s injury proves to be significant after all, it could dash the Knicks’ postseason aspirations this spring, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link). Anunoby, who signed a five-year, $212.5MM contract last summer, is a crucial component of New York’s attack due to his versatility on both ends of the court. At 32-17, the Knicks have firmly established themselves as the East’s No. 3 seed. They’re four games ahead of the fourth-seeded Pacers. Still, New York has little room for error, as head coach Thibodeau has proven reticent to play his bench significant minutes, Bonds notes. A long-term absence for Anunoby would test the team’s depth.
- Thibodeau told reporters on Saturday that Knicks reserve center Mitchell Robinson is finally nearing a return to a full-contact team practice, reports Peter Botte of The New York Post. The veteran big man has been sidelined for the entirety New York’s 2024/25 season while recuperating from a May ankle surgery. Earlier this week, he began partaking in “light contact” practices for the first time since the injury. Robinson could be a key reserve or an intriguing trade chip for New York, should he be able to prove he’s healthy prior to the February 6 deadline.
- In case you missed it, two-way Knicks forward Jacob Toppin is nearing his limit for active NBA games this season.
Unfortunately, this was always a part of the Anunoby deal, the injury risk. He gets hurt and misses games every year, and is always slow to heal. Hopefully, this will be an exception, but it’s hard to be optimistic after last season.
Part of this is in Thibs. He plays the starters way too much. Thats good in the playoffs but playing starters 35-40 mins a night in January/February just shows he hasn’t learned anything from past
OG has a history of this though. Same thing happened in Toronto. Although Nurse is similar to Thibs in how hard he rides his starters.
LOL. Nothing to do with Thibs. The comical nature of this claim has been pointed out again and again, including, with the NYK, by his own players. Yet, you and your fellow 2k’ers continue to espouse this nonsense. So there is a failure to learn here, but not by Thibs.
This is why you keep their mins under 34. OG has always avg 34 mins a gm. He’s at 36.4 this yr. Need Mitch and another body.
Thankful it’s not serious. Just get healthy OG.
Mitch won’t be gm shape for 6-8 wks. So there is no need to rush him. Knicks still need to add scoring and size to bench. Boucher is a good fit imo.
Don’t think Knicks can move Mitch now. Best to wait till next yr. When his value will be higher.
What makes you say it’s not serious? X-Ray negative isn’t dispositive beyond there being no break.
Boucher would have be bought out before we could sign him, and we can’t sign him (or anyone else) until March.