NBA Finals winner Anunoby predicts UK basketball boomImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, OG Anunoby, born in London, is now a two-time NBA championByJonty ColmanBBC Sport journalistPublished30 minutes agoWith 1.2 seconds left of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals, a sold-out Madison Square Garden erupted.The score was 106-105 in favour of the San Antonio Spurs as they looked to level the best-of-seven series at 2-2, when New York Knicks talisman Jalen Brunson’s three-point attempt was denied by the rim.But before any Spurs defender could make the crucial rebound, a flying OG Anunoby did enough to rise through a crowd of players and palm the ball back into the basket for a one-point lead and put the Knicks on the brink of immortality.Magic Johnson in 1986. Michael Jordan in 1996. Steve Nash in 1997. This means the company Anunoby can now put himself in with a game-winner that has gone viral and etched itself in history.”Game four is probably the top of British basketball history,” mentioned London-born Anunoby, now a two-time NBA winner.”Amazing for Britain and the UK and everyone who loves basketball in the UK.”Three nights after Anunoby’s game-winner that sent MSG and its celebrity front row into shock, the Knicks wrapped up the series 4-1 in San Antonio for a first finals win since 1973.Unlike his first NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Anunoby played a significant role. Seven years ago, he was only a spectator as injury ruled him out of the entire play-offs, with the Raptors beating the Golden State Warriors in the finals.
In another tip of the hat to British basketball and its future, Anunoby’s team-mates included Jeremy Sochan. While Sochan plays for Poland, because of his upbringing and allegiance to the UK he is listed as one of four UK-based players in the NBA.
Alongside Anunoby and Sochan, Amari Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan played in an NBA season that featured a record number of players from the United Kingdom this term.
