New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby underwent surgery

According to ESPN reports, New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby underwent surgery to remove loose bone fragments in his right elbow. He is expected to miss at least three weeks as a result of the procedure. The surgery is considered minor, and it is anticipated that he will resume basketball activities after the three-week recovery period.



Sources indicate that Anunoby had attempted rest initially, but surgery was deemed the best course of action to fully address the injury and allow him to return to key games and postseason play.Anunoby attempted to let his elbow rest as a method of recovery, but surgery was deemed the quickest and most effective way to restore him to 100% health. The team remains optimistic about Anunoby's performance in the latter half of the regular season and the postseason. For a team looking to build on their success from reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, his presence will be felt.

"Just like all players recovering from injury, there's going to be an upward trajectory, and then we're hopeful for [Anunoby's] 100% return by the end of the season. But he's going to miss some time," head coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday before the game against the Dallas Mavericks. "But he's in good shape. I talked about Julius Randle a few days ago: In fact, they're in good shape, which makes it easier for them to return to their previous form. It's not like they're in bad shape, and then their condition gets worse, and then the road back becomes longer. I think for both guys, the road back will be quick."

"Thibodeau expressed uncertainty about the timing of Anunoby's elbow injury, whether it occurred before the trade. 'It's hard to say exactly when it happened because initially it was inflammation, and these things are not uncommon,' he said. 'When you play 50 games, most players are going to have some nicks and bangs at this time of the year. So it was inflammation, and we thought we could overcome it, unfortunately, that didn't happen.

'Then you gather information, you consult with experts and you make decisions. So I think the process we went through was very good, obviously OG was a big part of it, his agent was a big part of it, and then our medical team. So it was the best course of action for us.'

The provided timetable for the injury suggests that Anunoby will miss at least the Knicks' next nine games. With the 2024 NBA All-Star Game falling within his recovery period, it lessens the blow for the Knicks needing their star forward back on the court."