OG Anunoby is paying dividends for the Knicks that perhaps they didn’t even see coming.
The Knicks’ newest star continued his exemplary play in Tuesday’s 112-84 blowout win over the Trail Blazers with a team-best 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting with four made 3-pointers at Madison Square Garden.
All of that came as Anunoby became the first player in NBA history to have a plus/minus higher than plus-100 in his first five games with a new team.
Through five games with the Knicks, Anunoby has registered a plus-111 while New York has been a perfect 5-0 since they acquired him in a trade with the Raptors.
“I think it’s getting better and better every game,” Anunoby told MSG Network of how he’s jelling with his new team.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau expounded a little more on Anunoby’s success early on.
“If it continued at that level, I would obviously be very pleased,” Thibodeau said. “When you come in and you’re in the middle of the season, you’re adjusting on the fly. It’s how quickly can you adapt?
“And I told him that I feel like he’s playing great, just because of the impact that he’s having when he’s on the floor.”
Anunoby’s influence has been felt through the Knicks lineup since he arrived.
In the five games that he’s played in, Jalen Brunson has registered a plus-110 and Isaiah Hartenstein has a plus/minus of plus-125.
“The ball’s been moving a lot better,” Hartenstein said about adding Anunoby. “Defensively, he’s been doing a great job playing team defense. He makes my life a lot easier, so just having him has been great.”
Anunoby’s explosive night on Tuesday — in which he scored 16 of his 23 total points in the first quarter — led to loud chants of “O-G” from the fans inside Madison Square Garden.
It was the first time that the newest Knick had received such treatment from the Garden Faithful.
“It was really cool,” he said.
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