OG Anunoby could make Raptors history with gaudy steals numbers

The Toronto Raptors are still in the middle of quite an unusual dance with OG Anunoby. While they looked at potentially trading him due to some concerns about his offensive ceiling, no one can dispute the fact that he remains one of the best defensive players in the game today.

Anunoby’s versatility and on-ball genius have often been overlooked by the more prominent media. The three-headed hydra of playing in Toronto, a low-key personality not prone to loud boasts about his skill, and a lack of “counting stats” like steals and blocks that voters typically prize have all worked against him.

The fact that Anunoby is leading the NBA in steals per game with 2.0 (slightly ahead of Jimmy Butler’s 1.9 per game) could help the Raptors end up with some wider acclaim in a season that has been very challenging for just about everyone involved with this franchise.

If Anunoby ends up leading the league in SPG, he will become only the second player in Raptors history to lead the NBA in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, or steals per game. Only Marcus Camby, who recorded 3.7 blocks per game in 1997-98 in his first of four block titles, can claim to have accomplished that as a Raptor.

Will Raptors star OG Anunoby lead NBA in steals per game?

Anunoby’s defense is still beyond reproach, even if his offense can come and go. While he is a longshot for Defensive Player of the Year due to Toronto’s record, the impact he brings to the table, thanks to his versatility and tremendous tenacity, is unparalleled.

It is not hyperbolic to say that Anunoby can defend lead guards and high-end centers with equal levels of aplomb. How often can you see a player defend Nikola Jokic, Bradley Beal, and DeMar DeRozan on consecutive nights, looking great in all three of those roles while they’re at it?

Nick Nurse thinks so highly of Anunoby that he has pounded the table for him to be named an All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career. The fact that Matisse Thybulle has more recognition in this area is a crime against basketball that needs to be rectified.

The Raptors have gone all-in on a style of basketball that prioritizes players like Anunoby. The returns when OG is operating at maximum efficiency can make for some extremely entertaining basketball on the defensive end.