Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajaković says he’s been so impressed with OG Anunoby’s defensive preparation that he offered him an assistant coaching job.
Just take a quick look at OG Anunoby’s defensive matchups this season and you’ll quickly realize the Toronto Raptors have something special.
It’s a who’s who of the NBA from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Tyrese Maxey, DeMar DeRozan, Anthony Edwards, and most recently Victor Wembanyama. It’s always tough to read much into the NBA defensive tracking data but the stats say he’s held those stars and soon-to-be stars to just 9-for-31 shooting across the five games.
Now one of the league’s toughest challenges awaits: Luka Doncic.
“I think he’s a great matchup,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković told reporters of Anunoby following Tuesday’s practice. “He matches the size and speed, and OG knows his game, his know-how is there.”
Anunoby’s defensive impact this season has been staggering. The Raptors have been 21.2 points per 100 possessions stingier defensively with Anunoby on the court this season compared to when he sits. That’s impressive on its own, but considering Toronto typically matches his minutes to that of the opposing team’s best players, Anunoby’s impact truly becomes apparent.
“It’s amazing,” Rajaković said of Anunoby’s versatility and defensive skills. “It’s just like his ability to guard players like from Giannis to Luka to when needed to go and guard Maxey or Lillard or whoever, you know, he can guard one through five and he takes a lot a lot of pride on the defensive end.”
Rajaković admitted that he’s grown so impressed with Anunoby’s pre-game defensive preparation that he offered the 26-year-old forward a job on his coaching staff when Anunoby eventually retires.
But the plan for Toronto against Dallas won’t be just Anunoby, Rajaković said. Toronto will throw multiple schemes and looks at the Slovenian superstar, switching between Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes at times. The hope is that versatility in Toronto’s wings can help slow Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dallas’ lethal pick-and-roll game that currently ranks as the third-best in the NBA, per tracking data.
It won’t be easy, as the Raptors have learned repeatedly over the past few years, but if there’s anyone fit to stop or at least slow Doncic these days, it’s a player like Anunoby with the speed, size, and savviness to go toe-to-toe with one of the league’s best.
