Knicks' OG Anunoby Gives Injury Update, Talks Status for 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
Ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals, New York Knicks wing OG Anunoby provided a positive update on his hamstring injury Friday.
Speaking to reporters after participating in practice, Anunoby said, "It didn't feel as bad as the past when it happened [in 2024]. So knowing that, just trying to improve it day by day."
Anunoby injured his hamstring in Game 2 of the Knicks' second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, which caused him to miss the final two games of the series.
However, he has been a full participant in practice the past two days, and he is seemingly trending toward being ready for the start of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.
After sweeping the Sixers, the Knicks are still awaiting their opponent in the ECF, as the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers will clash in Game 7 of their series on Sunday.
During the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, Anunoby injured his hamstring in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers. He missed the next four games before returning for Game 7, but he played only five minutes in the decisive contest, which New York went on to lose.
Knicks forward Mikal Bridges told reporters that Anunoby "looks good to me" since returning to practice, and while head coach Mike Brown did not commit to Anunoby playing in Game 1 of the ECF, he suggested that he likes what he has seen with regarding to Anunoby's recovery thus far.
The 28-year-old Anunoby was arguably the Knicks' best player in this year's playoffs before getting injured.
He is second on the team in scoring with 21.4 points per game, placing him behind only Jalen Brunson, plus he is putting up 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 three-pointers made, 1.9 steals and 1.3 assists per contest, while shooting 61.9 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Perhaps no team in the NBA relies more on its starting five than the Knicks, as Anunoby, Brunson, Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart are all averaging at least 28 points per game during the postseason.
Miles McBride is the only other player on the team averaging at least 15 minutes per game during the playoffs, and that is largely due to the fact that he started two games during Anunoby's absence.
Making back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the Knicks appear to be the team to beat in the East, and if Anunoby is healthy and ready to play in Tuesday's Game 1, it will make things even tougher on the Pistons or Cavs.
