OG Anunoby Could Unlock More for the Knicks

Can the Knicks get more from OG Anunoby on offense? Explore how cuts, spacing and favorable matchups could expand his impact without forcing touches.

Getting more from OG Anunoby does not necessarily mean asking him to take over the Knicks’ offense.

A more productive role could come from improving the opportunities he receives: catching the ball with a defender already moving, cutting when help shifts toward a teammate or attacking a favorable matchup before the defense resets.

The OG Anunoby Knicks offensive role is worth examining through that lens. New York can explore ways to increase his involvement while preserving the balance of an attack built around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

These are potential tactical options, rather than changes Mike Brown has announced.

Better Touches Can Matter More Than Additional Touches

An extra possession has limited value if it asks a player to create a difficult shot against a set defense.

The more useful opportunity may come earlier, when a teammate has already forced an opponent to move. A timely pass can give Anunoby a choice between shooting, attacking a closeout or moving the ball again.

That distinction should guide any discussion about expanding his responsibilities.

The Knicks would benefit from finding him at moments when the defense is vulnerable, allowing him to make a clear decision before the advantage disappears.

Brunson’s Drives Can Create Opportunities Away From the Ball

When Brunson draws a second defender, another Knick may gain space.

Anunoby’s positioning can help determine whether that becomes a useful passing option. Remaining visible to the ballhandler, adjusting along the perimeter and recognizing when a defender has committed to help can all improve the quality of the next action.

The timing matters on both sides. Anunoby needs to offer a target, and the pass needs to arrive before the opponent recovers.

The purpose is to make defensive attention on Brunson more expensive. If help consistently produces a threatening opportunity elsewhere, opponents face a harder choice about how aggressively to commit.

Cutting Offers Another Route Into the Offense

Standing outside the lane preserves space, but there are moments when moving toward the basket can create more danger.

A defender watching the ball may briefly lose contact with his assignment. That can open a cutting lane, particularly when the interior is clear.

The challenge is choosing the right moment. A cut made too early can crowd Brunson’s drive or bring another defender toward Towns. A well-timed movement can instead create a direct target or force an additional adjustment.

For Anunoby, selective cutting could increase involvement without requiring more possessions devoted to individual creation.

Favorable Matchups Should Be Recognized Quickly

Switches and defensive scrambling can occasionally leave a player with a useful matchup.

The Knicks could look for those opportunities without allowing the search to slow the entire offense. The advantage is often greatest immediately after the switch, before help arrives or assignments change again.

If the opening disappears, moving into another action keeps the possession productive.

That approach would give Anunoby opportunities to attack while maintaining the speed and cooperation needed around the team’s primary creators.

Defensive Responsibilities Belong in the Calculation

Any discussion about expanding an offensive role should consider the player’s work at the other end.

More individual creation can demand additional energy and decision-making. The Knicks need to weigh that cost against what the extra possessions might produce.

Anunoby can become more involved through movement and timely receptions without being asked to initiate every action. That provides a way to explore additional offense while keeping his broader responsibilities in view.

Brown’s Opportunity Is to Make the Fit More Precise

The question is how often New York can place Anunoby in situations that suit the possession.

Some lineups may benefit from his spacing. Others may create opportunities for cuts or quick attacks against a recovering defender. The best option will depend on who shares the floor and how the opponent responds.

An expanded contribution does not have to announce itself through a dramatic increase in shot attempts. It can appear in cleaner finishes, quicker decisions and possessions that continue because the right player receives the ball at the right time.

For the Knicks, that is a practical avenue to explore: help Anunoby do more by improving the situations around him.