NBA Finals hero Ozzy Anunoby ‘top of British basketball history’ and on the brink of glory with New York Knicks

In the small hours of Sunday morning, a boy from Harlesden could be an NBA champion. Not only that, but he can do it after giving the iconic moment of the entire series.

This year’s NBA Finals delivered the biggest TV audience since the Michael Jordan era, and after hitting what coach Mike Brown called “the most iconic shot in New York basketball history” with the tip-in to win Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, OG Anunoby triggered the single greatest moment in Expos British basketball history.

Anunoby’s performance in Game 4 was Herculean. He scored 33 points, hit seven three-pointers and made the biggest comeback in Finals history with the final basket of the game as the Knicks won 107-106.

Oh, and he was an absolute beast defensively as well, as he always is, picking up a steal and a block but making more of an impact than the stat sheet showed.

But the moment he flew through the air Jalen Brunson’s shot attempt to send MSG ballistic with 1.2 seconds left would reverberate through time in New York and across the Atlantic — but what about the impact here?

“Game four was probably the pinnacle of British basketball history,” Anunoby said Sky Sports. “It was amazing for Britain and the UK and for everyone in the UK who loves basketball.”

“Right hand from God,” as Karl-Anthony Towns said, probably represents the pinnacle of sports in this country. It was a clip that went viral around the world.

Momentum is also building, with basketball the UK’s fastest-growing sport and the second-most popular team sport after football, according to Sport England. Engagement is also increasing exponentially across all platforms.

Add to that the fact that a record four UK players were on NBA rosters earlier this season – Anunoby, Tosan Ivbumwan, Jeremy Sochan and Amari Williams – and you can see that growth is starting to have a clear impact at the top level of the game.

Anunoby wants to build on that and hope the momentum can continue – but what does? he Believe it could make a difference?

“More youth courts for kids to start early and start playing basketball and just loving the game,” he said.

“Then, as it becomes the academy, more kids, more excitement, more camps, and more awareness for basketball overall.”

Right now, though, attention turns to business. The Knicks lead 3-1 and have won both games in San Antonio to open the series. They can wrap up the series and lift the Larry O’Brien trophy overnight if they can beat Victor Wembanyama and Spurs’ very strong supporting cast on their home court again.

According to number-crunching statisticians, the Spurs — who have held double-digit leads in four games — had about a 99.7 percent chance of winning Game 4, tying the series and coming home with all the momentum. They are rather on the brink of extinction.

“We still have that belief that we have a chance to win,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said. “But we’re taking it one game at a time. We’re not looking at it because we’ve got to win three games. We’ve got to win tomorrow and then we’ll give ourselves another game.”

It won’t be easy. While the Knicks have had chances for a closeout this season, they’ve left zero doubt.

New York is 3-0 in closeout games in these playoffs, winning by an almost ridiculous average of 39.3 points per game. The Knicks led by 61 points before shutting out Atlanta in Round 1 with a 140–89 win, 44 points in a 144–114 win over Philadelphia in Round 2, then 45 points before a 130–93 win over Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals.

All that happened on the street, too. And thousands of Knicks fans are expected in San Antonio Saturday night, all ready to see New York’s long title drought end.

“One possession at a time, one game at a time, one quarter at a time,” said Brunson, the Knicks guard and potential-Finals MVP if they win.

“You’re thinking now, how can you be better on the next possession, how can you turn the page, positive or negative.

“No matter what happens, we have to have the same mindset and approach. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that. It’s something that’s grown over the season. It’s really important, especially now obviously.”