OG Anunoby’s Defensive Decline in the 2025–26 Season
OG Anunoby has seen a defensive drop in his first 35 games of the 2025-26 season. Opponents are shooting 45.9% on 12.8 attempts per game against him. When Anunoby is on the floor, the Knicks allow 113.5 points per 100 possessions, highlighting this decline.
OG’s 2025-26 defensive stats are 3.1% worse than last season. In the first 35 games of 2024-25, opponents shot 42.8% against him on 13.9 attempts per game, helping New York limit teams to 111.4 points per 100 possessions.
OG Anunoby’s statistical decline relates to a shift in his defensive role. Several times this season, he has defended below-average three-point shooters. When his assignment is off-ball, he often leaves them open to serve as a help defender.
Role Change and Defensive Possessions Explained
On December 16, 2025, he started a defensive possession guarding De’Aaron Fox with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs. He remained with Fox for a couple of seconds before De’Aaron Fox reached the elbow.
Once this happened, Josh Hart decided to pick up De’Aaron Fox for the rest of the possession. Consequently, OG Anunoby switches to guarding Stephon Castle. Stephon Castle was initially standing behind the three-point line in the right corner.
After a couple of seconds, he ran over to the left corner for the rest of the possession. As a result, OG Anunoby decided to give him space because he is a below-average shooter. Stephon Castle has a career three-point shooting percentage of 28.4% on 4.1 attempts per game. Because of this, OG Anunoby knew he could be a help defender, since Stephon Castle’s three-pointer was a good outcome for the team.
He stood in the restricted area, analyzing the floor. When he saw De’Aaron Fox attempt a midrange jumper over Hart, he ran to block the shot, but Hart blocked it first.
Unfortunately, the role alteration has negatively impacted OG Anunoby’s defensive statistics. When he is in the role of a help defender, he tends to stand between the restricted area and the free line. Consequently, he is the Roadblock between an opposing player in the basket.
There have been multiple occasions when he rotated a half-second late to stop an opposing player from scoring. However, the opposing player has too much speed and momentum to be stopped from scoring.
January 2026 Example and Comparison to Last Season
On January 24, 2026, OG Anunoby stood near the restricted area with 8:50 left in the first quarter against Philadelphia. He remained there briefly as Tyrese Maxey isolated Karl-Anthony Towns on the left wing. Maxey then blew by Towns, creating an open lane to the basket.
As Tyrese Maxey approached the restricted area, OG Anunoby tried to rotate over to stop him. Unfortunately, OG Anunoby was unable to get his entire body in front of Tyrese Maxey, and Tyrese Maxey scored with a layup. Technically, that basket was given up by OG, but it wasn’t his fault.
OG’s current role differs significantly from last season, when he routinely stayed with his original assignment. On December 9, 2024, he was assigned to guard Raptors wing RJ Barrett with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter, standing in the left corner behind the three-point line.
OG gave him less than a foot of space, which meant Barrett couldn’t get the ball. Consequently, Barrett took a couple of steps inside the arc, trying to get close to the basket. However, I wouldn’t give him space, essentially taking him out of possession.
The altered defensive role has led OG Anunoby to participate in fewer defensive sets that require on-ball defense. Last season, he was defending a pick-and-roll on 41.1% of his defensive possessions, averaging 5.3 per game.
OG Anunoby’s pick-and-roll participation has decreased by 5.8% this season. He has participated in the defensive set on 35.3% of his possessions, averaging 4.4 per game.
Final Takeaway on OG Anunoby’s Defense
In summary, OG’s defensive ability hasn’t declined. A new role is making his numbers look worse than they are.
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