The Harlesden-born basketball star has arrived back in his native city fresh from winning an NBA championship with the New York Knicks, but this homecoming carries far greater significance than his first title triumph seven years earlier.
When Anunoby claimed his maiden championship ring with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, a shoulder injury meant he watched from the sidelines as his team claimed glory. This time proved entirely different. Playing a central role throughout the Knicks' remarkable playoff journey, Anunoby delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in Finals history.
Facing the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4, New York found itself in dire straits. The team trailed by 29 points heading into the final quarter, seemingly on the brink of surrendering control of the series. Yet the Knicks orchestrated an extraordinary fightback, ultimately completing the largest comeback ever recorded in NBA Finals play.
With the clock ticking down and Madison Square Garden's crowd holding its breath, Anunoby made his decisive contribution. He tipped in a basket with just 1.2 seconds remaining, securing a one-point victory and keeping the Knicks alive in the series.
The Knicks' path to the Finals had already captured imaginations across the basketball world. Beginning the season with a 53–29 regular-season record and finishing third in the Eastern Conference, few expected the franchise to mount a serious championship challenge. Yet the team that faced Victor Wembanyama's Spurs entered the Finals as underdogs seeking to end a 53-year drought without a title.
Speaking to Sky Sports following the triumph, Anunoby reflected on the team's mindset throughout their playoff run.
Honestly, before the start of the playoffs, our whole team just came together and we knew we had one goal. We took every game day by day, game by game,he explained.
We went on a crazy run. I don't know how many games we won in a row (13) but every game was focused on the next, trying to build and be better than we were the last game. Even in the Finals, it was just day by day, game by game.
The Knicks' remarkable winning streak eventually fell to the Spurs in Game 3, and their momentum appeared to have dissipated entirely as Game 4 progressed. San Antonio seemed poised to level the series before New York's dramatic fourth-quarter resurgence.
Anunoby's performance throughout the playoffs was nothing short of extraordinary. According to NBA.com, his 67.2% effective field-goal percentage in the playoffs represented the highest mark in NBA playoff history among players with at least 150 field-goal attempts.
While the Game 4 tip-in continues to circulate across basketball media, Anunoby has already shifted his focus forward.
It comes up quite a bit so I see it quite a bit,he said when asked about replaying the moment. His response remained characteristically measured, even in the immediate aftermath of the victory at Madison Square Garden.
It wasn't a lot of celebration immediately because we had another game to win. We didn't want to be ahead of ourselves and celebrate prematurely.
The Knicks completed their mission in Game 5, with Jalen Brunson scoring 45 points and claiming Finals MVP honours as New York defeated San Antonio 94–90 to win the series 4–1. The team subsequently celebrated their achievement with a parade through Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes, where the players received the keys to the city in a tradition reserved for NBA champions.
It was really cool. It was a great honour. I'm sure the whole team were all excited and all felt amazing about it,Anunoby reflected on the parade experience.
Yet even as the championship celebrations continue, Anunoby's attention has turned to a different mission entirely: inspiring the next generation of British basketball talent.
His return to London arrives at a pivotal moment for the sport in Britain. Despite navigating a turbulent period marked by league restructuring and governance challenges, participation in basketball continues to climb. The pathway to the NBA is becoming increasingly visible for young British players.
This summer, Tobi Lawal became the latest British player to hear his name called in the NBA Draft, joining Anunoby and Amari Williams as players born in Britain now competing at the sport's highest level. Anunoby sees no reason for this progress to decelerate.
Each year more and more Brits are coming to the NBA. The game is growing each year. It's amazing to see and it's just going to keep getting better and better,he said.
The NBA itself has undergone a significant transformation toward internationalism. Recent MVP awards have been dominated by players from outside the United States, while rosters across the league now routinely feature talent from every corner of the globe.
Teams have three or four international guys now, and each year it's growing more and more. It's been amazing to see.
Anunoby's commitment to developing British basketball extends well beyond public statements about the sport's future. Back in London, he continues his partnership with Badu Basketball and Skechers to deliver elite coaching camps for young players. These sessions combine skill development with direct access to an NBA champion, creating moments that transform how young athletes view their own potential.
Watching children queue for photographs, autographs and a glimpse of the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the impact transcends basketball fundamentals. For many participants, standing face-to-face with a London-born NBA champion makes the dream of professional basketball feel genuinely attainable.
Every summer we do a camp. A bunch of kids come out, boys and girls of different age ranges. We put them through drills, let them play, have a little Q&A and really just hang out with them, talk basketball and play basketball. It's a really great time.
Despite his life centred in New York, London remains deeply significant to Anunoby in ways that extend beyond basketball. An Arsenal devotee since childhood, he maintains close attention to the club's fortunes even from across the Atlantic.
Just watching Arsenal as a kid and then when I moved to the States, watching Arsenal, playing with them on FIFA, just supporting from afar,he explained regarding his long-standing connection to the newly crowned Premier League champions.
Thierry Henry holds the distinction of being his favourite player, while he regularly follows current squad members including Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly. He even shared Arsenal's title pursuit with former Knicks team-mate Jeremy Sochan, another Gunners supporter.
We were always talking about it every day and I was just very excited and happy for all the guys, all the coaches, the whole organisation,Anunoby recalled.
What comes next for Anunoby and the Knicks
Anunoby's immediate focus centres on the next challenge facing his team. According to DirectTV, the Knicks open their title defence against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026, with the team scheduled to raise their championship banner before the game. Later in the season, New York will host the Spurs on Christmas Day, December 25, in a Finals rematch.
His answer to what lies ahead could easily apply to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal as well, given both teams now seek to defend titles they spent decades pursuing.
Just continue to get better individually and as a team - and hopefully win the championship all over again.
The Game 4 tip-in will undoubtedly be replayed for generations to come, but Anunoby's ultimate legacy will transcend championships and iconic moments. His influence will be measured on basketball courts across Britain, where the next generation of players can observe a British NBA champion and recognise that the journey from Harlesden to the pinnacle of professional basketball remains genuinely possible.
