Knicks' OG Anunoby out again; when will he be ready?
OG Anunoby drives past Paolo Banchero of the Magic at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 15. Credit: Jim McIsaac
OG Anunoby again was out Sunday as he continues to work his way back into form after undergoing a surgical procedure last month to remove loose fragments from his right elbow. But he could be back in uniform soon.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been vague in describing what is keeping Anunoby from playing. He has been cleared to practice in full and already was keeping his conditioning level high while sidelined during his recovery.
Asked if there is something he needs to see for Anunoby to get in a game, Thibodeau simply said, “Nope.”
The Knicks will face Philadelphia again Tuesday and then head out on a four-game West Coast trip.
Thibodeau indicated that Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson could join the team on the trip and that Anunoby — who has been practicing with the team since at least Thursday — might see action. “Yeah. They can travel,” Thibodeau said. “Hopefully OG is cleared and should be able to play.”
All three traveled with the team to Cleveland last week.
Both Anunoby and Randle have missed the last 18 games.
Hello again
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse had Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa on his team during his time with the Raptors and isn’t surprised by the way they have performed for the Knicks.
“First of all, both are really good guys,” he said. “Got to know them both a little bit, super-personable, bright, fun to talk to, interested in a lot of stuff and interested in their games getting better. So it was fun to try to motivate them to continue to get better.
“And I’m impressed watching them play here, as well as they’ve played. It shows their growth and shows they’re capable. They’re both very athletic and big and talented and they’re putting that to use right now.”
Rotation rating
Thibodeau was asked if Deuce McBride has passed Alec Burks in the rotation. That seems obvious now, considering the way McBride is contributing at both guard spots and Burks is struggling, playing only five minutes Friday in the Knicks’ win over Orlando.
“The game tells you what to do,” Thibodeau said. “It’s what we need. So the way the game is going, the way he’s playing, just everyone stay ready.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
