Anunoby “O.G.” Anunoby Jr. born 17 July 1997 is a British professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. He won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. In 2023, Anunoby lead the league in steals while being named to his first NBA All-Defensive Team.
O.G. Anunoby Facts
- Born : 17 July 1997 (age 26) London, England
- Listed height : 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
- Listed weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
- Information: High school Jefferson City, (Jefferson City, Missouri)
- Indiana College : (2015–2017)
- Playing career : 2017–present
- Awards: NBA champion (2019), NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2023)
O.G. Anunoby Early life
Ogugua Anunoby was born in the Harlesden area of London on 17 July 1997, to Nigerian parents. His father, Ogugua Sr., taught as a professor in England at the time. Anunoby His mother died of cancer when he was one year old. At the age of four, Anunoby moved with his family to the U.S. and settled in Jefferson City, Missouri, where his father was a professor of finance at Lincoln University.Anunoby His older brother, Chigbo, played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Minnesota Vikings before entering medical school.Anunoby played football when he was young, but stopped around the age of eight to focus on basketball more because of his height.
Anunoby played for Jefferson City High School. During his senior season, he averaged 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and was named a finalist for Mr Basketball in the state of Missouri.In October 2014, Anunoby chose to attend Indiana University over Georgia, Iowa, George Mason, and Ole Miss.
O.G. Anunoby College career
Anunoby As a freshman in 2015–16 at Indiana, Anunoby appeared in 34 games, averaging 6.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
Anunoby was selected as a Pre-season All-American by The Sporting News. Anunoby On 18 January 2017, Anunoby injured his right knee against Penn State, causing him to undergo season-ending knee surgery.On 10 April 2017, Anunoby declared his intention to enter the 2017 NBA draft and hire an agent, ending his tenure with the Hoosiers
O.G. Anunoby Professional career
Anunoby On 22 June 2017, he was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors.On 9 July, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Raptors. On 14 November, Anunoby made his first career start, Anunoby against the Houston Rockets. He finished the game with 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 30 minutes. By 15 December, he led starter rookies in offensive and defensive rating and had the third highest true shooting percentage and best turnover-to-assist ratio for a non-guard.
Anunoby On 29 January 2019, Anunoby was named a member of the World Team representing the United Kingdom for the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge.In April 2019, Anunoby had an emergency appendectomy, which caused him to miss most of the Raptors’ championship playoff run. He dressed for the NBA Finals but did not play as the Raptors went on to win the title,Anunoby becoming the first British player to win an NBA championship.
On 1 March 2020, Anunoby scored 32 points and recorded seven steals, along with seven rebounds and three assists in a 133–118 loss against the Denver Nuggets.He hit a game-winning buzzer-beater three-pointer on 3 September, in a 104–103 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, and finished with 12 points. The buzzer-beater prevented the Raptors from going down to a 0–3 deficit to the Celtics. Anunoby The Raptors would eventually fall in seven games. On 21 December 2020, he signed a four year, $72 million extension, through the 2024–25 season. On 24 January 2021, Anunoby scored a season-high 30 points while getting eight rebounds, one assist, five steals, and a block in a 107–102 win against the Indiana Pacers.he joins former Raptor Kawhi Leonard as the only players with multiple games getting 30 points, five rebounds, and five steals in franchise history.On 1 November, Anunoby scored a career-high 36 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists along with the win against the Knicks.
On 25 February 2022, Anunoby was sidelined due to a right finger fracture suffered against the Charlotte Hornets.On 3 March, he was ruled out for two weeks to rest his fractured finger.
On 16 November 2022, Anunoby scored a season-high 32 points during a 112–104 win against the Miami Heat. During the 2022–23 season, Anunoby led the league in steals, becoming the first Raptors player and first British player to accomplish the feat. At the end of the season, Anunoby was named for the first time to the NBA All-Defensive Second team
O.G. Anunoby Personal life
Anunoby has said, “It’s definitely a goal of mine to inspire kids in Great Britain to want to play basketball and show that they can make it to the NBA from Britain.”
Anunoby is considered one of the best British players to ever play in the NBA.
In 2023, Anunoby became a minority stake owner of the London Lions.