Anunoby resumes on-court activities
NEW YORK — The Knicks are one step closer to reaching fully healthy status.
After undergoing a minor procedure on his right elbow, startingforwardoganunoby has been cleared to resume on-court activities, head coach Tom Thibodeau said on Thursday.
“He can shoot, dribble, pass,”thibodeausaidaheadof tipoffagainstthegoldenstate Warriors. “No contact yet. But [he’s on to] the next step and we’ll start that tomorrow.
Anunoby last played in the Knicks’jan.27victoryoverthe
Miami Heat. He was initially listed as out the following game due to elbow inflammation, but over the course of several days, his injury was upgraded to right elbow bone spur irritation.
Theknickslaterannounced he underwent a minor procedure to remove a loose bone fragment from his elbow.
Thibodeau declined to get into specifics about reports suggesting Anunoby has a middle of March target date to return to the floor.
“It’s premature,” he said. “He just cleared this next step. So all basketball activity aside from the contact will be the nextthing.andthenoncethat happens, he’ll be back.”
Thibodeau said Anunoby did some work Thursday morning. Josh Hart, who has replacedtheinjuredanunoby in the starting lineup, was not a spectator for Anunoby’s session.
Hart, however, is averaging just under 40 minutes per game since he was thrust into the starting forward spot.
“He’s taking his sweet-ass time, I’ll tell you that,” Hart joked on Thursday. “I’m playing 40 [minutes]. That’s the difference, so hopefully he’ll hurry his ass up.”
Anunoby, of course, is integral to the Knicks’ odds at a deeper playoff run than last season’s second-round appearance.
Theknickstradedimmanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and a second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors in the deal that landed Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa in New York.
Mitchell Robinson has not yet progressed to running or jumping after his December surgery on his left ankle. Robinson is out of the walking boot and has been cleared for on-court activities, but he isn’t yet sprinting or leaping, the two activities defining his production at the center spot.