Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; actor Ben Stiller watches the media interviews after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; actor Ben Stiller watches the media interviews after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
A single basketball play involving OG Anunoby became a symbol of a franchise's title. Actor and New York Knicks supporter Ben Stiller shared his thoughts on this play after the team's 2026 title victory.
Stiller made a guest appearance on the June 17 edition of The Road Trippin’ Show. During his appearance, the actor discussed one Finals sequence that left a mark on the fanbase.
“The OG tip in. My god! Like the most iconic moment in New York Knicks basketball history, probably. It’s up there with Willis Reed coming out, you know?" said Stiller
"And what’s so great about that shot is just kind of embodies everything that is great about OG Anunoby in terms of as a player, right?” he added on The Road Trippin’ Show.
Apr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Apr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
This comparison to Reed stood out. Reed has a symbolic place in Knicks history for his entrance in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals. After dealing with an injury in Game 5, Reed was not expected to play at all.
“His, you know, his physical ability, his incredible timing, his grace, his desire to win. I just love that guy because he’s just not about anything else than just playing as well as he can and winning. And the grace and beauty of that shot, you know? It’s the hand of God, hand of OG.”
The moment happened during Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks were trailing by 29 points before a historic comeback. Late in the 4th quarter, Jalen Brunson missed a three-pointer.
Then, Anunoby executed a right-hand tip-in. This basket gave New York a 107-106 lead with only 1.2 seconds left on the clock. Karl-Anthony Towns called the play the "Right hand from God." Head coach Mike Brown called it the most iconic shot in New York basketball history.
The Impact Behind New York’s Championship
Anunoby played the role of a primary defensive anchor for the team. He offered a two-way versatility that changed how the team played on both ends of the floor.
During the regular season, he played 67 games for the team. He averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per night. In the playoffs, his numbers jumped to 20.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
His impact was undeniable during the Finals. He averaged around 21.2 points across the 5 games. He also recorded a playoff career-high 33 points in Game 4.
Coach Brown issued a specific challenge before Game 4. The coach wanted him to control the offensive glass. The historic tip-in became the payoff for that challenge.
How will this specific sequence be remembered in the next decade of basketball history?
Follow Air Jordan Chronicles for more.
Written by
Utsav Sinha
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi