New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown has criticised the All-Defensive Team selections, claiming that OG Anunoby should have been named to the First Team. Brown made his comments after a game on Saturday night. The NBA announced the All-Defensive Teams on Friday.
Brown’s Strong Words on Anunoby’s Snub
Brown didn’t hold back in his assessment. “Hey, y’all, I got one more thing before I’m taking off,” Brown said. “You guys can all print this. Great players out there. I’m not discounting anybody. But freakin’ OG [Anunoby] got robbed. He should’ve been First Team All-Defense. First Team All-Defense.”
Anunoby was selected for the Second Team. This is the second time he has been named to the Second Team, having also received the honour in 2022-23 when he was a member of the Toronto Raptors.
The All-Defensive First Team Selections
The First Team comprised Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons, Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Derrick White of the Boston Celtics.
Joining Anunoby on the Second Team are Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, Bam Adebayo, and Dyson Daniels.
Anunoby’s Reaction to Second Team Selection
Anunoby said that “it was cool to get the recognition.” He added, “I feel like I’ve been a great defender for years. So anytime you get recognition — recognized by coaches or the media, your peers, whatever — it’s really cool. Second Team is cool.”
However, Anunoby admitted he had hoped for more. “I was hoping I got First Team,” Anunoby said. “I thought I should have got First Team. But Second Team, it’s good. Just as good.”
Award Points and Voting Breakdown
Players receive two award points per First Team vote and one point per Second Team vote. Anunoby received 67 total points – 11 First Team nods and 45 Second Team. He finished ninth overall.
- Anunoby finished the regular season tied for sixth in the NBA in steals per game.
- He was tied for 43rd in deflections per game.
- He recorded 48 blocked shots in 67 games.
Opponents shot 2.7 percentage points worse than their expected field-goal percentage when defended by Anunoby. This placed him tied for 23rd-largest differential among 102 players to defend at least 750 shots.
The Knicks finished the regular season seventh in defensive efficiency. They defended at a top-three level in Anunoby’s minutes.