OG Anunoby injury update, Jalen Brunson injury update, New York Knicks
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The latest OG Anunoby injury update on his recent hamstring strain doesn't bode well for the immediate future of the New York Knicks.
Injuries are now becoming a bigger concern for the New York Knicks after the first few weeks of the NBA season.Jalen Brunson was recently ruled out and set to miss time with an ankle sprain and OG Anunoby is the most recent star to hit the injury report.
Anunoby left theKnicks’ recent win over the Miami Heat with a left hamstring strain, and though there was initially uncertainty on when he would return, the latest injury update from the wing playerdoesn’t bode well for NewYork’s immediate future.
“New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby willbe re-evaluated in two weeks due to a left hamstring strain, sources tell ESPN,”insider Shams Charania wrote in a post on X.
Shams Charania
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby will be re-evaluated in two weeks due to a left hamstring strain, sources tell ESPN.
The 28-year-olddidn’t return to the game against Miami after leaving early with a hamstring strain. After an uncertain status in the first 36 hours after thegame, the forward has nowbeen ruled out for at least two weeks.He will also not travelon theteam’s upcoming five-game road trip.
In his previous 12 appearances for the Knicks this season, Anunoby was averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 47.6% shooting.
What The OG Anunoby Injury Update Means For New York
A hamstring strain usually implies some missed time, but beforeCharania’s update, it was uncertain how long Anunoby would be out.
“The Knicks said they would see how Anunoby feels Saturday, thoughit’s expected he will get an MRI to reveal the extent of the injury,”Tim Bontemps wrote for ESPN after Anunoby suffered his hamstring strain on Friday.
But now, he joins Brunson on theteam’sinjury report, as bothare expected to be out for a decent stretch of the early part of the season.
“Considering NewYork’s lack of depth, losing Anunoby would be a problem under normal circumstances. Butthat’s compounded by the loss of Brunson,”Bontemps added.
Anunobyhadn’t missed a game for New York this season and is coming off playing in 70 games last year in what was his first full season in a Knicks jersey.While his scoring and minutes played are a bit down from last year, hisrebounds,assists, andsteals averages are all upinhead coach MikeBrown’s new style.
The6’8”forward remains one of theteam’s key pieces on defense, along with Mikal Bridges, but his absence will definitelybe felt by a team that lacks top-tier depth. While his injury might not yet spell disaster for the team, it does mean some changes are coming for a Knicks squad that expects to compete for its first NBA championship in more than 50 years.
Who Steps Up For The Knicks?
The injuriesof the two key players meanKarl-Anthony Towns, Bridges, and others will be forced to take on abigger rolein the future.
“Anunoby went back to the locker room in the first quarter andwas quickly ruled out with a strained hamstring,”CBS Sports Rotowire staff wrote on Friday, beforethe extent ofAnunoby’s injury was revealed. “With the Knicks already without Jalen Brunson (ankle), Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns are likely to shoulder most of the offensive load, whileAnunoby’s absence could mean more opportunities for Landry Shamet, Josh Hart and Jordan Clarkson.”
Though Towns was dealing with a lingering injury to begin the year, the center has now gotten back to peak performance, dropping 39 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in the game against Miami without Brunson and Anunoby. After a shaky start,he’s now averaging 21.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while playing in all 12Knicks’ games.
Shamet also had his best performance of the year against Miami, putting up 36 points on 63.2% shooting. With Brunson out, he will likely take on a bigger scoring and playmaking role for the time being.
But while Shamet, Hard, Clarkson, and Miles McBride will take on the replacement roles for Brunson, Bridges will also have an elevated role on the wing with Anunoby now sidelined. He is once again putting upstrong, consistent numbers for the Knicks and will now have an even bigger role onthe defensive side.
Record andteamstatistics-wise, things have been going well in NewYork’s first season with Brown leading the way. However, with Brunson and now Anunoby out, the next few weeks will be a test for the Knicks.