Knicks’ OG Anunoby reflects on long journey back to NBA Finals

The New York Knicks are now just three games away from an NBA title after stealing Game 1 of the NBA Finals on the road against the San Antonio Spurs 105-95.

The Knicks didn’t play their best in Game 1, even while well-rested after a long layoff between the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. However, despite falling into a 14-point hole in the second half of Game 1, the Knicks battled back to get the win.

OG Anunoby didn’t play a massive role in the box score of the Game 1 win, at least in the scoring column, but he did come up with a couple of big buckets early in the fourth quarter for the Knicks. Anunoby is someone that knows what the NBA Finals are all about, as he was a part of the Toronto Raptors team that won the title in 2019 without him in the lineup.

After Game 1, the standout wing talked about finally getting to take the court on the biggest stage in basketball after being sidelined for that 2019 series.

OG Anunoby was asked about getting to play in the NBA Finals after missing the 2019 NBA Finals when he was on the Raptors:

"Just thankful to be out there. Thankful to be playing with my teammates, the coaches. Just enjoying the moment." pic.twitter.com/tm6YRQ0LP5

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

“Thankful to be out there,” Anunoby said. “Thankful to be playing with my teammates, the coaches. Just enjoying the moment.”

Anunoby has been dealing with a hamstring injury throughout these playoffs, but he looked healthy after a long layoff in Game 1. In addition to his usual contributions on the defensive end of the floor, the Indiana product finished with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including a huge 3-pointer from the corner in the fourth quarter.

The Knicks will likely need more out of Anunoby on the offensive end at some point in this series, and he is more than capable of giving them just that. He has five games with 20 or more points in these playoffs, so the ability is obviously there even if it wasn’t always felt in Game 1.

Anunoby’s biggest responsibility in this series is still going to be on the defensive end of the floor, where he will be tasked with guarding the likes of Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and even Victor Wembanyama at times. If he continues to do that effectively, the Knicks have every chance to win their first NBA title since 1973 this season.

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