New York Knicks’ Nigerian-born star, Ogugua ‘OG’ Anunoby is still relishing his team’s conquest of USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) championship and believes his impact will motivate hosting the competition in England.
Sports247 reports that Anunoby, who is a British international, pulled off a great feat in The Knicks’ surge to the NBA title at the expense of former champions, San Antonio Spurs, and he’s now hoping other UK stars follow his footsteps.
Anunoby delivered an ultimate viral moment with his tip-in that swung the NBA Finals decisively in The Knicks’ favour with 1.2 seconds to go in Game 4, as his side romped from the verge of losing a second consecutive game.
The 27-year-old forward tipped in the vital basket in Game 4 to complete a record comeback from 29 points down, which was a pivotal turning point, as New York Knicks won their third NBA title and first since 1973.
He’s now excited about the potential for NBA Europe as it targets teams in London and Manchester, which were confirmed by the commissioner, Adam Silver, to be on schedule for next year, thereby providing opportunities for other Brits.
With London and Manchester both being targeted for potential NBA franchises, Anunoby is enthusiastic at the prospect of world-class basketball being available to emerging talents and fans in the United Kingdom.
Anunoby told Sky Sports with a tone of self-satisfaction: “Game four was probably the top of British basketball history. It was just amazing for Britain and the UK, and just everyone that loves basketball in the UK.
“I think London, especially, is an untapped market. There’s so much talent and so many people playing basketball. So, I think it would be amazing to bring a team to Manchester and London, then continue growing in England.”
Sports247 gathered further that Anunoby was born on July 17, 1997 in Harlesden, London, where his father was a professor at Oxford Brookes University, while his mother, Grace Ndidi Okereke was a track and field athlete.
His mum earlier competed at national level for Nigeria, but she died of cancer when Anunoby was a year old and the dad moved his family to the USA when the lad was four, following which they settled in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Anunoby played American football when he was young, but stopped at the age of eight to focus on basketball because of his height, then starred for Indiana Hoosiers and was selected by Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft.
He won an NBA championship in 2019, while at Toronto, though he was injured and did not play in the finals, then led the entire league in steals while earning his first All-Defensive Team selection during the 2022–23 season.
In December 2023, Anunoby was traded to The Knicks and just three years later is enjoying two major honours, having been named to his second NBA All-Defensive Team roster and won the prestigious title with the New York-based franchise.
