1 hour ago
2
Move over Lady Liberty, OG’s moving in.
OG Anunoby’s crucial tip-in to clinch the Knicks’ miracle comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals has fans pitching worthy tributes — everything from naming newborns OG, renaming the family dog, dedicating a city street in his honor or building a new statue on Liberty Island.
“Maybe not replacing her, but maybe putting her in a Knicks jersey — a jumbo Knicks jersey,” said Harlem resident and hoops fan Makini Gwaro. “That’d be awesome.”
Anunoby was anointed a Big Apple hero Wednesday night by tapping a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer into the hoop to give the hometown team a one-point lead with 1.2 seconds left on the clock — capping a historic comeback from a 29-point deficit against the hated San Antonio Spurs.
The basket put the Knicks up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, moving them one game away from their first NBA title since 1973 — and making made Anunoby an instant legend.
“It was angels on the court,” gushed lifelong Knicks fan Penelope Clarke. “It was only a miracle.”
New Yorkers throughout the Big Apple were still basking in the glory Thursday — and falling over themselves to find creative ways to reward their new hometown hero while his jersey flew off the shelves.
“We do not have any OG jerseys!” an employee at Manhattan’s NBA Store told disappointed shoppers. “I know he lit right now but we do not have any.”
Knicks fan Manug Agarwal said Anunoby should at least get the key to the city.
“When [guard Jalen] Brunson took that shot when we have 3.5 seconds left,” he said. “You live and die by your superstar, but when OG tapped that in, we were in disbelief. We were going nuts, hugging strangers.”
Some diehards took the Liberty Island idea to heart, even posting mock-ups and memes of what the OG Statue of Liberty would actually look like. A number of them pointed out that his reach over the hapless Spurs for that final shot resembled Lady Liberty’s famous pose.
“Life imitates art,” added X poster Eddy Pinero enjoyer wrote. “OG Anunoby hits the Statue of Liberty to put the Knicks up 3-1.”
“New photo of the statue of liberty this morning,” fan Jackson Gaffney posted on X. “Strange it has a close resemblance to OG Anunoby. GO KNICKS!”
One fan’s Instagram rendering showed the hoopster making the tip-in shot wearing the Statue of Liberty’s signature crown, robe and torch.
But the OG-mania didn’t stop there.
“If it’s a boy, we name him OG Anunoby,” Knicks Memes posted on X. “If it’s a girl, we name her OG Anunoby. The dog’s new name is OG Anunoby.”
Christopher Cano, who was soaking up the sun at Battery Park on Thursday, said the the city should make a float for OG, or rename a street in his honor after the MSG heroics.
A Stars Wars-themed meme also made the rounds, showing Princess Leia sporting an Anunoby jersey with a new version of a classic line from the hit franchise — “Help me OG Anunoby. You’re my only hope.”
The accolades ranged from the ridiculous to the real — including a proclamation from Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal declaring Thursday “OG Anunoby Appreciation Day.”
“The residents of New York City proudly recognize OG Anunoby for the excitement, pride, and inspiration he brigns to basketball fans throughout the city and for his contributions to the continued success of the New York Knicks franchise,” the proclamation reads.
English (US)