OG Anunoby didn’t just make a play during the Knicks’ NBA Cup semifinal win over the Magic - he made Dwyane Wade do a double take.
The Hall of Famer and current Amazon Prime Video analyst was left stunned by Anunoby’s bounce during a second-chance bucket that had everyone asking the same question: How did he get up there so fast?
It happened in the thick of Saturday’s showdown, with New York pushing the pace and Orlando trying to hang on. Anunoby attacked the glass after his own missed shot, elevating over Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. for a putback that looked more like a trampoline drill than a hustle play. Wade, watching from the broadcast booth, couldn’t help but react in real time: “How did he get up so high?”
That’s the kind of moment that doesn’t show up on the highlight reel for long - but it sticks in your memory. And it’s the kind of play that speaks volumes about Anunoby’s value to this Knicks team, even if it barely registers in the box score.
To be clear, he had himself a night. Anunoby dropped 24 points, trailing only Jalen Brunson (40) and Karl-Anthony Towns (29) on the Knicks’ scoring chart. But it was that second-effort sequence - the relentless pursuit of the rebound, the quick bounce, the finish through contact - that gave fans and analysts alike a glimpse of what makes him such a unique presence on the court.
When asked about the moment postgame, Anunoby kept things simple. “I jumped,” he said with a shrug. “I think I’m pretty athletic, and I jump kinda high.”
That’s classic OG - understated, dryly confident, and completely unfazed by outside praise, even when it’s coming from a three-time NBA champion like Wade. He didn’t even know Wade had reacted to the play.
But that’s part of what makes Anunoby such a perfect fit in New York’s locker room. He’s not flashy, he’s not chasing headlines - he just plays hard, defends at a high level, and lets his game do the talking. That quiet intensity has earned him the Knicks’ Defensive Player of the Game award more than once this season, a recognition that comes with a hard hat and Timberland boots - a nod to the gritty, blue-collar identity this team is trying to build.
Anunoby’s size, strength, and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions, crash the boards, and make plays like the one that had Wade shaking his head in disbelief. And while his offensive game continues to evolve, it’s that two-way impact - the ability to swing a possession with sheer effort and explosiveness - that makes him so valuable.
So when a future Hall of Famer takes notice? It’s worth paying attention.
But don’t expect Anunoby to bask in the spotlight. He’s already moved on to the next play - and the Knicks, with their eyes on the Cup, are happy to follow his lead.