Newfound Fame for OG Anunoby
Beyond the Statue of Liberty, a new hero has emerged.
Fans are going all out for OG Anunoby after his game-winning tip-in in Game 4 of the NBA Finals helped the Knicks pull off an incredible upset. Some are even naming their newborns after him, changing their pets’ names, and suggesting a new statue on Liberty Island.
“They probably won’t replace her,” said Makini Gwalo, a fan from Harlem. “But putting her in a Knicks jersey would be amazing.”
Anunoby became a local legend on Wednesday night when he managed to score just as the clock was ticking down, finishing a thrilling 29-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs and securing a one-point lead for his team.
The Knicks now stand at 3-1 in the series, just one game away from their first NBA title since 1973, and Anunoby is at the center of it all.
“He was like an angel on the court,” said longtime Knicks supporter Penelope Clark. “It felt miraculous.”
As Thursday arrived, many New Yorkers were still reveling in the excitement. Merchandise sold out quickly as everyone searched for creative ways to honor their new local star.
“We don’t have any OG jerseys!” an employee at a Manhattan NBA store told one frustrated fan. “He really ignited a spark, but we just can’t keep up.”
Another fan, Manug Agarwal, suggested Anunoby should be given the keys to the city.
“When [guard Jalen] Brunson made that shot with just 3.5 seconds left, it was all about trusting our superstars. But when OG made that final shot, we were stunned. We ended up hugging strangers in our excitement.”
Some fans took the idea of an OG statue on Liberty Island quite seriously, sharing memes and concept images depicting what it might look like. Several pointed out that his reach on that final shot was reminiscent of Lady Liberty’s famous pose.
“Life imitates art,” one poster commented, claiming, “OG Anunoby hit the Statue of Liberty to put the Knicks up 3-1.”
Another fan jokingly shared, “Strangely, the new photos of the Statue of Liberty look a lot like OG Anunoby. GO KNICKS!”
There’s even an Instagram rendering of Anunoby as he takes a shot, decked out in the Statue of Liberty’s traditional attire.
The excitement doesn’t end there. One fan declared, “If it’s a boy, I’ll name him OG Anunoby. If it’s a girl, yep, same deal. Our dog? Definitely OG Anunoby.”
Christopher Cano, lounging in Battery Park, proposed the city should build a float in Anunoby’s honor or perhaps rename a street after him following his remarkable performance.
Amid all this, even the Manhattan Borough President, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, declared Thursday as “OG Anunoby Appreciation Day,” emphasizing the pride and inspiration he has brought to fans throughout the city.
“New Yorkers are proud of OG Anunoby for bringing excitement to basketball and helping elevate the Knicks,” read the official proclamation.
