Fresh off securing a second NBA championship, OG Anunoby has touched down in his native London, eager to share his triumph with the community that shaped him. The Harlesden native arrives not only as a two‑time titleholder but also as a pivotal figure in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent Finals history.
In 2019, Anunoby earned his first ring with the Toronto Raptors, though an untimely injury kept him out of the playoff stretch. This time, however, he was on the floor for every crucial moment, culminating in a clutch play that will be replayed for years. In Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks trailed by 29 points and seemed destined to lose the series.
With the clock winding down and Madison Square Garden on the edge of its seat, Anunoby tipped in a decisive basket with just 1.2 seconds left, sealing a one‑point victory and sparking the largest comeback ever recorded in an NBA Finals. The Knicks’ fairy‑tale run to the Finals had already cast them as underdogs against a Spurs squad led by the towering Victor Wembanyama. Yet inside the locker room, confidence never wavered. As Anunoby told Sky Sports, “Before the playoffs began, the whole team united around a single goal.
We approached each game one day at a time, one matchup at a time.” "We went on an incredible streak—13 straight wins, I think—yet every night we focused on the next challenge, always trying to improve on the previous performance," he added. Even in the Finals, the mantra remained the same: take it one game at a time.
After a hard‑fought Game 3 loss that gave the Spurs a foothold, the Knicks appeared to be on the brink of collapse in the early stages of Game 4. San Antonio surged ahead, threatening to even the series.
Yet New York rallied, and Anunoby’s final‑second tip‑in became the turning point. While the basketball world continues to dissect that moment, the player himself has already moved forward. When asked whether he still feels the same rush watching the replay, Anunoby replied simply, “No, I’m over it now.” His response was characteristically modest. Even amid the jubilant celebrations at Madison Square Garden after Game 4, he remained measured, noting, “We didn’t throw a massive party right away because we still had another game to win.
We didn’t want to get ahead of ourselves.” The Knicks closed out the series in Game 5 and later paraded through New York’s iconic Canyon of Heroes, where Anunoby and his teammates were handed the keys to the city—a tradition reserved for champions. "It was an incredible honor.
The whole team was ecstatic; it felt amazing," he reflected. Anunoby’s homecoming arrives at a pivotal moment for British basketball. Despite recent turbulence—including league restructuring and governance issues—participation rates continue to climb, and the pathway to the NBA is becoming clearer for UK talent.
This summer, Tobi Lawal joined Anunoby and Amari Williams as another Brit drafted into the league, underscoring the growing pipeline. "Each year more British players reach the NBA. The sport is expanding annually, and it’s thrilling to witness.
It will only get better," Anunoby said. The NBA itself has become a truly global competition, with recent MVPs hailing from outside the United States and rosters featuring a mosaic of international talent. With his recent spotlight, Anunoby hopes to inspire a new wave of British athletes.
He believes the sport’s trajectory is unmistakably upward: "Teams now feature three or four international players, and that number keeps rising. It’s been amazing to watch." Beyond words, Anunoby is taking concrete steps to nurture the next generation. Back in London, he partners with Badu Basketball and Skechers to run summer camps that give youngsters access to elite coaching. The camps draw boys and girls of all ages, offering drills, scrimmages, Q&A sessions, and plenty of time to simply hang out and talk basketball.
For many participants, meeting a London‑born NBA champion and seeing the Larry O’Brien Trophy up close transforms a distant dream into a tangible goal. "Every summer we host a camp. Kids come, we run drills, play games, answer questions, and just enjoy the sport together. It’s a fantastic experience," Anunoby explained.
Although his professional life is based in New York, London remains a second home. A lifelong Arsenal supporter, he follows the club from across the Atlantic, keeping tabs on his favorite players—Thierry Henry remains his all‑time idol, while he watches current stars like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Myles Lewis‑Skelly. He even shared Arsenal’s title celebrations with his Knicks teammate Jeremy Sochan, another Gunners fan. "We talked about it every day.
I was thrilled for the players, coaches, and the whole organization," he said. Looking ahead, Anunoby’s focus mirrors that of Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta: continuous improvement and the pursuit of another championship. "Just keep getting better individually and as a team, and hopefully win another title," he concluded.
The Game 4 tip‑in will undoubtedly be replayed for decades, but Anunoby’s legacy will be measured by more than a single moment. It will live on in the basketball courts of Britain, where young athletes can see a Harlesden‑born player lift the NBA trophy and realize that their own journey from London streets to the world’s biggest stage is within reach.