Inside the mind of Knicks' OG Anunoby, one of the NBA's best defenders

Karl-Anthony Towns, a 10-year NBA veteran who has played with great defenders and been defended by even better ones, was one of them Awe When OG Anunoby answered a question about his new teammate after the New York Knicks' 128-98 win over the Detroit Pistons before he even knew what he was being asked.

“What makes OG a really good defender is his anticipation, and some people might look at him as a player, but it always feels like he knows what's going to happen. “Can you…” asked I.

“I've never seen a man hit the ball with two hands,” Towns interrupted, referring to a play that took place in Indiana on Oct. 25. “I’ve never seen that before.”

Anunoby is one of the best defenders in the NBA, regardless of position. His extensive injury history is likely the reason he is a single member of the NBA All-Defensive Team rather than a four or five time selection. Within 10 seconds, the 27-year-old can protect his man, the man on his right and the man on his left. He's built like an oak dresser but has the reflexes of a cat. In today's NBA, where nearly every roster features players ranging from 6-foot to 6-foot, Anunoby is everything you want in a defender.

“The size, speed, anticipation, forward thinking, the versatility, where the league has gone, the ability to play size… Because of his strength, combined with his speed and athleticism, he is very disruptive on the backside,” says Knicks- Coach Tom Thibodeau said when describing what makes Anunoby a special defender. “It is important for every player to understand his strengths and that is how he came into the league. The experience also taught him a lot. Long wings… that is very important in our league.”

The list is also long when it comes to what makes Anunoby such a special defender. His work tells the whole story, but hearing him talk about his approach increases your appreciation for how he runs his business. For example, one of Anunoby's greatest attributes as a defender, especially given his size, is his screen navigation.

His ability to spread thin, anticipate where a screener like Rudy Gobert is going to hit, and still recover quickly enough to break off a drive is something not many players in this league can do with that much regularity. Anunoby’s posture sets him up for success. He tends to always be within arm's reach of his man when there's a screen on and that's because he gets his work done early.

“It really comes down to getting the ball before the screen comes,” Anunoby said. “When (my teammates) communicate before the screen is set, I know where it’s coming from. It's easier to get through. When you’re separated (from the ballhandler), it’s a lot harder.”

Anunoby has some of the most active hands in the NBA. He also pounces. It's a deadly combination. This activity is very present when he is the closest defender and a ball handler is trying to hit a lane that appears much wider until each dribble brings him closer to Anunoby. Because of Anunoby's crushing length, quick hands and reaction time, these offensive players are often forced to take a different route or get the ball sooner than they would like.

His style is aggressive yet technical. He tends to throw the first shot without fouling. What some see as gambling, Anunoby sees it a little differently.

“For me it's about being aggressive and getting the offense to respond and not just letting them do whatever they want,” Anunoby said.

If you see Anunoby running around, much like a free safety, it's not built into the defense. He takes the initiative. It can be risky at times, but the reason he decides to wander is because of the homework he does.

“Knowing the staff, knowing the plays they’re going to play and then just everyone’s communication,” Anunboy said. “If I don’t know something, I hope someone will say something and then I can make a difference.”

Playing alongside Towns is different than playing with the other centers New York has had since Anunoby joined the franchise earlier this year. With Towns, the Knicks have used deeper drop coverage in most cases when the big man is in the pick-and-roll. Anunoby said his approach in those coverages differs when playing alongside players like Mitchell Robinson or Isaiah Hartenstein, both of whom were closer to the ball-handling level at times last season.

“I have to make sure I chase the screens and stay connected,” Anunoby said of defending in deeper drop coverage. “I always have to get a look-back contest when (KAT) is in a deep downswing and always be ready to move on to the big man when he commits.”

Thibodeau has coached many great defenders and many great defenses in his long tenure as an NBA coach. This Knicks team has the potential to be one of the better, with a wing rotation of Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, all of whom are considered good to great defenders by almost everyone you ask in the NBA, and Anunoby has all tools to become the best individual defender Thibodeau ever had. The teams corner the man Anunoby is guarding just to keep him out of the action. His defense is on schedule. It's both textbook and spontaneous. It is both physically imposing and elegant. The game plan doesn't always work.

A scientist would be hard-pressed to create a more perfect defender in a laboratory.

“He’s a standalone defense,” Knicks guard Josh Hart said. “He is unique. He can guard anyone and when he's not on the ball it's crazy. He pounces, so to speak. When he's in a gap, he'll pounce on you. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

(Photo by Anunoby: Brian Sevald / NBAE via Getty Images)