Karl Anthony Towns wanted the focus to be on his teammate’s latest accomplishment and presumed snub following Saturday’s 121-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“No one wants to ask OG [Anunoby] about Second Team? He’s All-Defense, like, c’mon bro,” Towns told reporters after the game. “He’s one of the best defenders in the world, and he got robbed of First-Team.”
The NBA announced the All-Defensive teams on Friday, and the New York Knicks swingman was on the Second Team alongside Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace.
He was the only member of the Knicks to make one of the two teams, as San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert were on the First Team.
Anunoby has been part of an overall team effort to slow down James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in the Eastern Conference Finals, and it has worked to the tune of a 3-0 lead in the series.
The two Cleveland guards combined for 11 turnovers in Saturday’s contest and were unable to outplay Jalen Brunson, who continued to star with 30 points and six assists on 10-of-19 shooting from the field.
Anunoby’s overall length, versatility and athleticism help him defend multiple positions, and he averaged 1.6 steals per game during the regular season. Opponents also shot 2.7 percent worse than their normal field-goal percentage when he defended them, per NBA.com.
If the Knicks do end up finishing the series against the Cavaliers, they will be facing an even more daunting challenge in the NBA Finals against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs.
Anunoby will be tasked with helping stop some combination of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, which means he will also be asked more about his defensive efforts.
And that is exactly what Towns wanted Saturday.
