Through late December, the New York Knicks were struggling to remain slightly over .500, but then they made a significant trade by getting OG Anunoby for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.
They immediately went on a five-game winning streak and won seven of nine games following Anunoby’s debut with them.
The NBA on ESPN’s Twitter account pointed out the big key to New York’s success since that trade: their defense, which has simply been outstanding.
The Knicks’ defense since trading for OG 👀🔒 pic.twitter.com/oyTeyod6VL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 19, 2024
The Knicks have been a team that has won with defense over the last few seasons, but they struggled mightily on that end of the floor in December, as they gave up 124.8 points a game that month.
Anunoby has given them a legitimate 3-and-D wing that can contain an opponent’s star player on one end of the floor while stretching the floor and providing supplemental scoring on the other end.
Coming into Thursday’s game against the Washington Wizards, he was averaging 14.6 points a game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point range since coming to New York.
Thanks largely to him, the team has improved to a 24-17 record, which has allowed them to climb into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks are still an incomplete team, as they could use some added offensive firepower and may love to unload Julius Randle’s contract for some real value, but they’re a team that many teams in the East may not want to face in the playoffs.
After years of ineptitude, perhaps they’re starting to claw their way back to respectability.
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Insider Details What Knicks Are Offering In Potential Trades
