Just minutes before Game Three of the Western Conference Finals, the NBA announced the All-Defensive teams for the 2025-26 season. The first team was highlighted by obvious choices Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, and Ausar Thompson, and was rounded out by Chet Holmgren and Derrick White. The second team, of which Anunoby was named a member, consists of Bam Adebayo, Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, and Dyson Daniels.
It’s a bittersweet result for Knicks fans, who campaigned hard for their forward to get the recognition he so badly deserves. While making the second team and being joined by the likes of Adebayo, Barnes, Wallace, and Daniels, all of whom are incredible defenders, is still a very high honor, many believe he should’ve gotten the nod over White.
Year after year, Anunoby has proven to be one of the most elite and versatile defenders in the league. On one possession, he disrupts offenses multiple times with his rotations, stunts, and deflections. The next possession, he could be guarding the opposing team’s point guard at the point of attack. And then the very next possession, he could be switched onto the opposing center, holding his ground and then blocking his shot at the rim.
Anunoby averaged 1.6 SPG, which ranked 14th in the league among the 448 players who averaged 20 or more games. He was also just one of three players in the league to do so while also averaging more than 0.6 BPG. Anunoby also ranked sixth in the league among those players in three-point shots contested per game.
While the Knicks have multiple good defenders, he is the ultimate chess piece that allows Mike Brown to mold almost any kind of defense to fit their opponent. Considering how good he was and how long he has been at this level, it’s odd knowing that this is just the second time he’s made an All-Defensive team. That being said, it’s still nice to see him beat out names like Stephon Castle, Amen Thompson, Draymond Green, Evan Mobley, and Lu Dort and add some hardware to his trophy case.
Anunoby, like he has done throughout his entire Knicks tenure, has come up big during the playoffs and has been his usual reliable self on defense as he and the Knicks look to ultimately bring home the most important trophy of them all.
