OG Anunoby Just Revealed Another Level—Is His First All-Star Selection Coming?
OG Anunoby elevated his scoring during the Knicks’ championship run. Can his elite two-way impact earn him a first All-Star selection?
The New York Knicks entered the 2026 playoffs with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns carrying most of the offensive attention. They finished their championship run with another player looking capable of joining them among the NBA’s most recognizable stars.
OG Anunoby has always been valued for his defensive versatility, physical strength and ability to succeed without controlling the ball. During the Knicks’ historic postseason, however, he became something more. His scoring increased, his efficiency reached an exceptional level and his biggest performance arrived with the championship in danger.
That transformation has created a compelling question ahead of the new season: can the OG Anunoby All-Star 2027campaign become a reality?
The Playoffs Changed Anunoby’s Offensive Ceiling
Anunoby averaged 16.7 points during the regular season while shooting efficiently and defending the opponent’s most dangerous perimeter player. Those numbers reflected his role accurately. He was essential to the Knicks but rarely the first option in an offense built around Brunson and Towns.
The postseason offered a different version. Anunoby increased his production to 20.1 points per game while recording a remarkable 72.1% true shooting percentage. He did not simply receive more opportunities; he converted them at a level few players could match.
The NBA’s offseason analysis specifically identified Anunoby’s development as one of the reasons New York could improve after winning the championship. His playoff scoring rose without requiring the Knicks to redesign their entire offense.
Anunoby punished defenders in several ways. He converted corner 3-pointers, attacked closeouts and used his strength against smaller opponents. When teams sent additional attention toward Brunson, he consistently found open space rather than allowing possessions to become stagnant.
His confidence reached another level during the NBA Finals. Through the first four games against San Antonio, Anunoby averaged 23.8 points and shot 55% from 3-point range. His 33-point performance in Game 4 helped New York complete the largest comeback in Finals history.
He also produced the defining moment of that victory. With the Knicks trailing in the closing seconds, Anunoby followed Brunson’s missed 3-pointer and scored the winning putback with 1.2 seconds remaining. The play completed a comeback from 29 points down and moved New York within one victory of the championship.
That performance briefly placed him at the top of the NBA Finals MVP Ladder, illustrating how dramatically his reputation changed during the series. Brunson ultimately won the award, but Anunoby demonstrated that he could influence a Finals game at both ends of the court.
The All-Star Case Depends on Role and Recognition
Anunoby’s primary obstacle is not ability. It is opportunity.
Brunson will continue to dominate late-game possessions, while Towns remains one of the NBA’s most gifted offensive centers. Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and the rest of New York’s rotation also require involvement. Anunoby may therefore struggle to accumulate the scoring and assist totals usually associated with an All-Star selection.
The Knicks should not force additional shots simply to increase his statistics. His value comes from efficiency, defensive impact and his willingness to attack only when the advantage is available. Turning him into a high-volume isolation scorer would risk removing the qualities that make him so effective.
There are still practical ways to expand his role. Mike Brown can use Anunoby more frequently against smaller defenders, involve him as a screener for Brunson and create transition opportunities through his defense. He could also receive more possessions with the second unit, allowing him to develop as a creator without competing with every starter for touches.
An average of approximately 19 or 20 points, combined with elite defense and another top record in the Eastern Conference, would create a persuasive All-Star case. New York’s status as defending champion should also increase his national visibility, especially with numerous games scheduled for major television windows.
Competition in the East will be intense. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Paolo Banchero are among the prominent forwards competing for recognition. Anunoby may not match their individual production, making team success and defensive reputation especially important.
His candidacy could also suffer from a familiar problem: much of his best work is difficult to represent through traditional statistics. A possession in which Anunoby denies a pass, forces an opponent away from a preferred action or switches across three positions does not always appear in the box score.
Winning has already helped expose that value. During the Finals, millions of viewers watched him defend Victor Wembanyama on selected possessions, produce efficient offense and score one of the most important baskets in franchise history. That stage gave Anunoby something he previously lacked—widespread recognition.
He does not need to become New York’s leading scorer to reach his first All-Star Game. He only needs to sustain the two-way standard displayed during the championship run.
If the playoff version of Anunoby becomes his regular-season identity, the Knicks may enter 2027 with three legitimate stars—and the rest of the Eastern Conference will have an even greater problem.
