The New York Knicks have been performing exceptionally well this season. With a win-loss record of 41-28, the team has occupied the 5th seed during the final stage of the regular season and may be on track to make it to the playoffs. Knowing how crucial the next few weeks will be, fans have been hoping for the entire Knicks star roster to be healthy for the remaining games and the postseason. For the past few weeks, the biggest hindrance to this hope has been the team’s small forward, OG Anunoby. Despite having recently returned after an 18-game hiatus, the player’s availability in light of his injury has once again been placed under question.
A few hours ago, The New York Post’s ‘Injury Report’ show invited a special guest to discuss OG Anunoby’s condition: Sports surgeon Dr Kirk A. Campbell. The interviewer highlighted how the player had surgery back in February to remove a “loose bone fragment in his elbow”, returned to the court a few days ago, and once again ended up injuring that very same elbow. When discussing the same, Dr Campbell highlighted that the recent MRI conducted fortunately showed no signs of any further damage on the player’s elbow. However, he would still have to engage in a rehab process before returning to the court.
“You’re gonna rest him. Allow the inflammation in the elbow to really calm down,” said Dr Campbell. “He will be able to continue with his conditioning….make sure that when he does get back to the court, from a conditioning standpoint, he will be ready to go”.
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OG Anunoby has been one of the Knicks’ highest and most reliable scorers this season. Knowing the impact that he can have on the outcome of a game, his teammates would want him to devote 100% of his efforts whenever he returns to the court. Unfortunately, that hope may be too good to be true. “He likely will not get to a 100%, but I think he’ll be very, very close to be normal prior to the playoffs” Dr Campbell continued. Even though Anunoby may deal with some discomfort when he returns, the NYU surgeon expressed his confidence that the Knicks staff will take good care of their player and ensure he is “comfortable”.
Why is OG Anunoby’s absence a matter of concern for the New York Knicks?
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The ongoing NBA season marks the first time that OG Anunoby is playing for the New York Knicks. Despite having played for only 17 games, the player has put out an average of 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists. This has placed him as the third-highest average scorer of the franchise this year, right behind Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
With Anunoby by their side, the Knicks have a win-loss record of 15-2, with the overall team scoring below 100 only twice. Considering the fact that Julius Randle himself was absent from 4 of those games, it makes Anunoby’s contribution all the more worthwhile. His offensive capability, combined with his defensive rating of 111.2, makes him a vital ally to have during this crucial stage.
The Knicks are set to face off against the Brooklyn Nets within the next few hours. While OG Anunoby may not be present for the same, it is up to his teammates to maintain their seeding and ensure that the British players get a chance to shine during the playoffs.
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