New York Knicks defensive ace, OG Anunoby, is just waiting for doctor’s clearance to play.
This was Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s last update before they beat the Orlando Magic 98-74 on Friday, March 8 at Madison Square Garden.
“He’s already [trained],” Thibodeau said, per Newsday. “So that’s how he reacts the next day, the doctor clears it and then he can go. When the doctor clears him, he will be ready to leave. This is the final step.”
There is a possibility that Anunoby could return next week. The Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers in back-to-back games on Sunday (March 10) and Tuesday (March 12) before embarking on a four-game road trip to the West Coast.
Thibodeau, however, remains vague, awaiting clearance from doctors.
“I will not speak for the doctor,” Thibodeau said, according to Newsday. “He just has to keep doing [recovering him]. He’s doing everything now, so he’s fine.”
But all signs point to Anunoby’s imminent return for the Knicks who had just won six games since their 14-2 blowout in January.
Anunoby was at the center of the Knicks’ promising performance with his impact on both ends of the court. His plus-252 was the most for any NBA player in his first 14 games with a new team since play-by-play was first tracked in 1996-97, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.