Does OG Anunoby’s latest injury update suggest his return timeline is longer than fans think? originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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OG Anunoby suffered a Grade 1 right hamstring strain late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, forcing him to miss the final two games of the series.
Before getting injured, he was the New York Knicks’ most productive postseason player, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Those stats reflect an elite two-way impact rarely seen in recent playoff history.
And New York swept Philadelphia 4-0 without him, proving the roster has enough depth to go with the 28-year-old. Still, his availability for the Eastern Conference Finals remains the team’s main priority. Everyone was in limbo regarding his injury status until now.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown recently shared an intriguing update, telling reporters that Anunoby participated in parts of Wednesday’s practice session.
“He practiced today in some aspects of it. Some parts of practice he did,” Brown said. “He did, when we went live, he didn’t go live.”
OG Anunoby participated in “some parts” of practice today for the Knicks
He did not participate in the live scrimmage session pic.twitter.com/e7Y08NNZAj
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 13, 2026
The first-year coach had previously made clear that his return timeline rests entirely with the medical staff. “It’s all medical related and it starts with the training staff, the doctors, and OG,” Brown said. “All I want them to do is tell me when he can play.”
However, the playoff schedule favors New York’s timeline. Because the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers series remains undecided, the Eastern Conference Finals will not begin until Sunday. This window guarantees Anunoby 10 to 12 days of rest for the injury.
The medical community has already weighed in positively. Sports doctor Jesse Morse wrote on social media that “there’s a good chance” Anunoby can safely return for Game 1. SNY Knicks insider Ian Begley also projected his return as a near certainty for Game 1.
His return creates a rotation puzzle for coach Brown. With Anunoby out, backup guard Miles “Deuce” McBride stepped into the starting lineup and literally thrived. He dropped a 25-point performance during Game 4. The 56-year-old coach must now figure out how to scale back McBride’s minutes without disrupting the team’s momentum.
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