OG Anunoby Update Raises Fresh Concern for Knicks Fans Ahead of Game 1 of ECF
The mood around the New York Knicks shifted noticeably on Friday morning when OG Anunoby once again was not in uniform during practice, reigniting concerns that one of the team's most important playoff pieces may not be fully ready for the Eastern Conference Finals.
Anunoby has been sidelined since suffering a right hamstring strain late in Game 2 of New York's second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Initial reporting around the injury labeled it "minor," and optimism quickly emerged that the veteran wing would return for the ECF opener after getting more than a week to recover.
ESPN and multiple Knicks insiders recently suggested the expectation was still for Anunoby to be available for Game 1 if no setbacks occurred.
But Friday's practice update immediately shut down confidence among Knicks faithful.
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The concern isn’t just that Anunoby missed portions of practice earlier this week. It’s that the Knicks are now approaching the brink of the conference finals, and he still has not fully ramped up basketball activity.
Earlier reports noted Anunoby participated only in limited portions of practice and did not join live scrimmage sessions.
Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky in the NBA, where one explosive first step or defensive recovery sprint can turn a "day-to-day" issue into a multi-week absence.
Knicks fans remember that reality vividly from previous playoff runs, and social media immediately filled Friday with anxiety over whether the team's defensive engine will truly be ready to go for Game 1 of the ECF.
“He's not playing Game 1,” one user wrote.
“He's not gonna be ready, hamstrings! They take long time to heal,” another commented.
“If he's not a full participant tomorrow and the Cavs win tonight, he will not play G1 on Sunday,” one other fan remarked.
“Need a Detroit win tonight badly…for OGs sake 🥴,” another replied.
“See you Game 3 OG,” another added.
“I will never trust the NYK injury report when it comes to OG Anunoby again. Fortunately, I don't think we need OG to beat Cleveland,” another wrote.
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If the Cleveland Cavaliers eliminate the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 on Friday night, the Eastern Conference Finals could begin as soon as Sunday.
If Detroit forces a Game 7, however, the Knicks would gain several additional recovery days and likely not open the series until Tuesday, May 19.
Mike Brown and the Knicks have openly acknowledged that uncertainty while carefully managing Anunoby's rehab workload, and rushing Anunoby into Game 1 only to aggravate the hamstring could jeopardize the rest of the postseason.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 10:57 AM.