O.G. Anunoby took on the Toronto Raptors for the first time since being traded.
The Raptors traded him, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick (via Detroit).
Anunoby had spent his entire seven-year career with the Raptors so this was a fresh new start for him.
Against the Raptors, Anunoby finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and he was a +20 in the Knicks 126-100 win. The Knicks are now 9-2 since acquiring Anunoby:
OG Anunoby first game against the Raptors:
14 PTS
7 REB
3 BLK
+209-2 as a Knick. https://t.co/TVVIrSXxws
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 21, 2024
Following the game Anunoby spoke about playing against his former team:
“It’s still weird not being a Raptor. I’ve been in Toronto, I was in Toronto for seven years. I loved it there. So I never imagined playing for another team.”
OG Anunoby after his Knicks beat the Raptors 126:100 talks about playing against his former team pic.twitter.com/dlqw6kseI0
— Darko Dželetović (@DarDZel) January 21, 2024
The Knicks have been a completely different team since the trade. New York has won 9 games since acquiring Anunoby and 7 of their 9 wins have been by double-digits.
Anunoby has elevated the Knicks on the defensive end. The Knicks are holding opponents to 100.9 points in their last 11 games, per Keerthika Uthayakumar.
While Anunoby is having plenty of success with the Knicks so far, he still remembers his roots.
He told TSN’s Kayla Grey that he misses the city of Toronto and misses his friendship with Scottie Barnes:
OG Anunoby tells @Kayla_Grey about how much he misses the city of Toronto, as well as his good friend Scottie Barnes. pic.twitter.com/CP6kExRU8b
— THE SHIFT (@theshift_sports) January 21, 2024
Anunoby had many memorable moments in Toronto and of course he was on the championship-winning team back in 2019.
Next up for Raptors
The Raptors will return home to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 22.
The Raptors beat the Grizzlies in Memphis 116-111 on Jan 3.
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