The New York Knicks have been the most dominant team in the 2026 playoffs through two rounds. But with the Eastern Conference Finals potentially starting as early as May 17, all eyes have been on one question: will OG Anunoby be ready?
Earlier, beat reporter Kristian Winfield posted a video on X showing Anunoby shooting free throws after Knicks practice. He was not in uniform, and the session came after the rest of the team had wrapped up, which had everyone understandably nervous.
Few moments later though, Mike Brown put a lot of those concerns to rest.
Per SNY’s Knicks Videos on X, Brown confirmed that Anunoby fully participated in practice. “Everything he did today, we did,” Brown said.
That is a completely different picture from what the above video shows, and it is about as encouraging an update as Knicks fans could have hoped for at this point in his recovery.
“Everything he did today, we did” – Mike Brown
Still, full practice participation does not guarantee a Game 1 clearance, but it gets Anunoby through the biggest checkpoint on his road back. Movement drills, contact situations, and live scrimmage work are all part of that process, and Brown’s words suggest he got through all of it.
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This is not just a scoring concern. Anunoby has been the Knicks’ best two-way player in these playoffs, putting up 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals across his eight games. He was shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from three when the hamstring went in Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
If Detroit advances, Anunoby would draw the Cade Cunningham assignment. If Cleveland makes it through, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden become his primary defensive responsibility. Either way, no other Knick can replicate what he brings on that end of the floor in a seven-game series.
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The Knicks recorded an 8-2 win-loss record in the first two rounds by defeating the Atlanta Hawks in six games and then sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jalen Brunson is putting up 27.4 points per game. Karl-Anthony Towns has been dominating when he is not sidelined by foul problems. Mikal Bridges looks like his old self again. This team is equipped to keep winning even if things go badly.
But last season they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals, and the Knicks know the difference between winning with Anunoby and winning without him. If today’s practice is any indication, they may not have to find out this time around.
Knicks Gets New OG Anunoby Practice Video Before Eastern Conference Finals