OG Anunoby was traded to the Knicks in a blockbuster deal on Friday and looked right at home as he made his debut on Monday.
The forward recorded 17 points, six rebounds and a steal in 35 minutes during New York’s 112-106 victory over West-leading Minnesota.
“It was just super cool,” Anunoby said when asked about playing in Madison Square Garden as a Knick for the first time. “It was just an amazing feeling, you know?”
His new teammates were also impressed with his performance.
“He’s a competitor,” Julius Randle said after the game. “He makes timely shots… He has to guard the best player. It’s not an easy job, what he did… To come and step up as big as he did and help us get a win, it’s amazing.”
Before his debut, Anunoby spoke about his eagerness to the wear the jersey, but didn’t want to answer questions about his impending free agency this summer.
“When I found out it was the Knicks, I was definitely excited,” Anunoby said via The Athletic’s Fred Katz. “I’ve always liked the team. I grew up a fan of basketball, so I always watched the Knicks.”
To acquire Anunoby, New York parted ways with RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick via Detroit.
Naturally, Knicks fans are wanting to know if he will be sticking around for longer than half a season.
“I just take it day by day and let me agents handle that,” Anunoby said.
During free agency last summer, Anunoby admitted he would take less money if he went to a larger franchise such as New York, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
“The Knicks didn’t land Anunoby without an understanding of his own financial considerations,” Fischer wrote. “Anunoby held meetings with several agencies this past offseason when he decided to leave Klutch Sports, telling potential representation he was interested in a larger offensive role that would be commensurate with a salary figure in the ballpark of $40 million in average annual value, league sources told Yahoo Sports. However, Anunoby did leave those potential agents with the impression he would be willing to accept a smaller figure if he were to have landed in New York, sources said. And it’s relevant to note the Indiana product did ultimately sign with CAA, which has deep connections to New York leadership,” Fischer wrote.
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