As the New York Knicks navigate the opening stretches of the season, much of the early conversation has centered on forward OG Anunoby and his long-term potential to break through as an All-Star. While his scoring output has not yet matched the blistering pace of his previous playoff runs, Anunoby has launched into the new campaign with a promising evolution in his overall skill set, most notably expanding his footprint as a passer and playmaker for New York.
The most striking indicator of this development came during the Knicks’ matchup against the Boston Celtics, where Anunoby nearly secured a triple-double and registered his highest passing rate game over the last two seasons. Passing Usage, a proprietary metric tracking potential assists, completed assists, passes leading to shooting fouls, and scoring turnovers, measures a player’s overall playmaking involvement.
Historically, Anunoby has ranked near the bottom of this department when compared to both his teammates and league peers. He has never established himself as an elite passer, and his passing turnover rate sat in the 14th percentile among wings last season. Consequently, the sudden surge in passing volume represents an unexpected tactical shift, though careful examination of specific offensive sets reveals clear structural reasons for the change and a framework for how it can be replicated.
During the contest against Boston, the Knicks repeatedly deployed a specific play design on three separate occasions to get Anunoby operating directly on the ball, resulting in successful scores every time. The sequence begins with Karl-Anthony Towns setting a down screen that allows Anunoby to cut sharply toward the left slot. Operating much like an out-of-bounds play, the action creates an immediate angle for Anunoby to attack using his dominant right hand.
Speed is a critical component of the design. Towns moves quickly to set the ball screen, effectively neutralizing any attempt by Boston’s defense to ice the action or force the ball-handler toward the sideline. Once Anunoby penetrates the initial gap, Jalen Brunson cuts through the lane to clear space, while Mikal Bridges sets a crucial pin-down screen to obstruct potential defensive rotations.
This precise pin-down mechanism was utilized multiple times throughout the game, serving as an effective tool to seal off defenders after the defense has rotated. When Boston defender Paul George forced Anunoby toward his left hand, the forward maintained his composure to deliver an accurate read to Towns, who slipped into open space for an uncontested opportunity. The play functions on multiple tiers, utilizing secondary movement and sealing screens to generate driving lanes and off-ball pop opportunities, provided Anunoby executes the read.
Understanding opposing defensive coverages remains vital for the coaching staff as they look to exploit these ball-screen actions. Against a drop coverage scheme, such as the one typically executed by Mitchell Robinson, the setup generates straightforward driving and popping angles. However, opposing defenses are unlikely to deploy high coverage against Anunoby consistently.
The strategic adjustments arrive at an opportune moment for the Knicks, whose offense has experienced sputtering stretches out of the gate and desperately requires consistent pathways to regain rhythm. While basketball analysts note that Anunoby is unlikely to evolve into a primary elite distributor, his ability to operate effectively within the team framework as a reliable connector brings valuable versatility.
For the coaching staff, keeping Anunoby’s reads as straightforward and streamlined as possible when he handles the ball will remain a foundational objective as the season progresses. The flashes displayed in the opening week suggest that the forward can successfully shoulder expanded responsibilities without compromising his defensive identity or off-ball efficiency.
