Fresh off a second NBA championship, OG Anunoby has stepped back onto the streets of his native London, eager to share his triumph and inspire the next wave of British basketball talent. Born and raised in Harlesden, the 29‑year‑old guard arrives home not just with a ring, but with a story that differs dramatically from his first title run with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
In that earlier championship, an untimely injury kept him off the court during the playoffs, so his contribution was largely symbolic. This time, Anunoby was at the heart of the action, delivering one of the most unforgettable moments in recent Finals history.
The New York Knicks, trailing by 29 points in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, seemed destined to lose the series. Yet the team mounted a historic comeback, the largest ever seen in a Finals game, and with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock, Anunoby tipped in the decisive basket that secured a one‑point victory. The arena erupted, and the tip‑in instantly entered the highlight reels as a defining play of the championship run.
The Knicks’ fairy‑tale journey to the Finals had already cast them as underdogs, facing a Spurs squad led by the towering rookie Victor Wembanyama. Despite a 53‑year championship drought, the New York club entered the series with confidence. As Anunoby told Sky Sports, "Before the playoffs began, the whole team came together with a single goal in mind. We treated each game as its own battle, taking it day by day, game by game." "We went on an incredible run – I think we won 13 straight games – but every night we focused on the next challenge, trying to improve on the previous performance," he added.
Even in the Finals, his philosophy remained unchanged: "It was still day by day, game by game." After the Spurs halted the Knicks’ momentum in Game 3, the series seemed to tilt back toward San Antonio. Yet New York rallied in Game 4, and Anunoby’s clutch tip‑in became the moment that sealed the comeback. When asked whether he still feels the same rush watching the replay, he answered plainly, "No, I’m over it now." His reaction was characteristically modest; amid the euphoria at Madison Square Garden, he cautioned against premature celebration, noting that another game still needed to be won.
The Knicks clinched the title in Game 5, parading through Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes and receiving the ceremonial keys to the city – an honor that Anunoby described as "really cool" and "a great privilege" that the entire team savored. Anunoby’s homecoming arrives at a pivotal moment for British basketball. Participation rates are climbing despite recent turbulence in domestic leagues, including restructuring and governance issues.
The pathway to the NBA is becoming clearer, highlighted by the recent draft selection of Tobi Lawal, who joins Anunoby and Amari Williams as British‑born players in the league. "Every year more Brits are making it to the NBA. The game is expanding globally, and it’s amazing to watch it get better and better," Anunoby said.
The NBA itself has grown increasingly international, with recent MVP awards going to non‑American players and rosters now featuring talent from every continent. Anunoby believes this momentum will only accelerate. "Teams now have three or four international players, and that number keeps rising. It’s been incredible to witness," he observed.
To translate that growth into tangible opportunities for young athletes, he has returned to London to work with Badu Basketball and Skechers, running summer camps that give kids access to elite coaching and a glimpse of the professional world. During these camps, children line up for photos, autographs, and even a look at the NBA’s Larry O'Brien Trophy. For many, meeting a London‑born champion makes the distant dream of playing in the NBA feel attainable.
"Every summer we host a camp," Anunoby explained. "Kids of all ages come, we run drills, play games, have Q&A sessions, and just hang out talking basketball. It’s a fantastic experience." Although his career now centers on New York, London remains a second home for Anunoby.
A lifelong Arsenal supporter, he continues to follow the Premier League club from across the Atlantic, recalling childhood memories of watching matches and playing FIFA. His favorite Arsenal legend is Thierry Henry, and he admires current stars such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Myles Lewis‑Skelly.
He even shared Arsenal’s title celebrations with Knicks teammate Jeremy Sochan, another Gunners fan, saying, "We talked about it every day and I was thrilled for the club, the coaches, and everyone involved." Looking ahead, Anunoby’s focus mirrors that of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta: continuous improvement and the pursuit of another championship. "Just keep getting better individually and as a team, and hopefully win the title again," he said. The Game 4 tip‑in will replay for years, but Anunoby’s legacy will be measured by more than a single moment.
His ambition now lies on basketball courts throughout Britain, where young players can see a Harlesden native lift an NBA championship and realize that the journey from London streets to the world’s biggest stage is possible.