Ogugua “OG” Anunoby Jr. is an English professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the NBA. He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers and won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
๐ฌ๐ง Early Life and Family
Anunoby was born in Harlesden, London, England on 17 July 1997 to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent. His father taught as a professor at Oxford Brookes University, and his mother was a track and field athlete who died of cancer when Anunoby was one year old.
At age four, he moved with his family to the US and settled in Jefferson City, Missouri. His older brother, Chigbo, played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Minnesota Vikings.
๐ซ High School and College
Anunoby played for Jefferson City High School, averaging 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a senior. He chose to attend Indiana University over Georgia, Iowa, George Mason, and Ole Miss.
As a freshman at Indiana, he appeared in 34 games averaging 6.9 points and 6.6 rebounds. On 18 January 2017, he injured his right knee and underwent season-ending knee surgery, then declared for the 2017 NBA draft.
๐ Toronto Raptors Career
He was selected 23rd overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. In April 2019, he had an emergency appendectomy and missed most of the Raptors’ championship playoff run, but dressed for the NBA Finals as the Raptors won the title.
On 3 September 2020, he hit a game-winning buzzer-beater three-pointer in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. On 21 December 2020, he signed a four-year, $72 million extension.
๐ Career Highlights
During the 2022โ23 season, Anunoby led the league in steals, becoming the first Raptors player and first British player to accomplish the feat. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the first time at the end of that season.
On 30 December 2023, he was traded to the New York Knicks. On 6 July 2024, he re-signed with the Knicks on a five-year, $212.5 million contract. On 25 November 2024, he scored a career-high 40 points against the Denver Nuggets.
On May 22, 2026, Anunoby was named to his second NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
๐ Key Career Statistics and Facts
| Category | Detail | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA Championship | Won with Toronto Raptors | 2019 | Raptors |
| Led League in Steals | First British player to do so | 2022โ23 | Raptors |
| All-Defensive Second Team | First selection | 2023 | Raptors |
| All-Defensive Second Team | Second selection | 2026 | Knicks |