Knicks' OG Anunoby makes revealing comments about injury ahead of ECF

Despite missing the last two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby isn't all that worried about his recent hamstring injury.

After returning to practice earlier this week, the nine-year veteran spoke with reporters at practice ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals, against either the Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in Eastern Conference) or the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in Eastern Conference), who play Game 7 of their East semifinal series on Sunday.

The star defender downplayed the effects of his injury, noting it was far less severe than one he suffered late in the third quarter of a Game 2 win in a 2024 second-round series against the Indiana Pacers, which forced Anunoby to miss the next four games and limited him to five minutes in a Game 7 loss.

During the 2025-26 regular season, Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. In eight playoff games, he's second in scoring, averaging 21.7 points per game on 61.9 percent shooting, including 53.8 percent on 39 three-point attempts.

OG Anunoby's return strengthens red-hot Knicks ahead of ECF

Anunoby, acquired in a December 2023 trade sending guards R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors, hasn't played since Game 2 of the East semis against the Philadelphia 76ers. Unlike last season, the Knicks didn't skip a beat with him sidelined, closing out the 4-0 series sweep, outscoring the Sixers by 44 points in Games 3 and 4. 

Anunoby's health is another promising sign for New York, which is off to an historic start to the postseason. It's posted a plus-194 point-differential through 10 games, the largest in NBA postseason history, surpassing the previous mark (plus-170) set by the 2017 NBA champion Golden State Warriors. (h/t Stathead)

The Knicks, having last played on May 10, will also be the much more well-rested team when the ECF tips on Tuesday (May 19), compared to the Cavs or Pistons, who will be on one day of rest after finishing their hard-fought seven-game series. Advantage New York.

Anunoby's return puts the Knicks (53-29, third in Eastern Conference) at full strength as they seek their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999. For a team as hot as they've been, it's going to take more than one hamstring to slow them down.