New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has revealed a surprising detail about the biggest play of his professional career. Fresh off capturing the 2026 NBA championship, he admitted that his defining postseason moment actually started as a failed offensive plan.

Anunoby appeared live on Good Morning America alongside the Knicks' starting five. When the hosts pressed him about his iconic, late-game putback that rescued New York in Game 4, Anunoby’s blunt honesty caught the media room by surprise.

“I was trying to dunk it, but I couldn’t dunk it. So, I just try to, you know, just touch it. Like, trying to make the shot.”

The final sequence started with a three-point attempt by Jalen Brunson. The ball hit the rim and rebounded towards Anunoby.

Anunoby leapt toward the rim with the initial intention of throwing down a dunk. However, the angle of the miss and the timing of his jump forced a change of plans. 

He decided to change his body position mid-air and tipped the ball with his fingertips. The ball went straight through the net. That quick tip-in gave New York a 107-106 lead with 1.2 seconds remaining. 

New York staged a comeback from falling behind by 29 points in the third quarter to make it a one-point game in the final seconds. 

The team then closed out the series in Game 5 behind an impressive performance from Brunson. That specific Game 4 tip-in became an iconic highlight. However, that iconic play by Anunoby was just a glimpse of the impact he had during the title run. 

OG Anunoby’s Brilliant Performance Behind the Knicks’ Championship 

The franchise had not won a title since 1973. They needed a versatile forward to complete their team. And Anunoby, who had already won the 2019 Championship with the Toronto Raptors, provided exactly that.

Anunoby scored a playoff-high 33 points in Game 4. He hit seven three-pointers to carry the team during the comeback.

During the Finals, he averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks across the five games.

He also shot an efficient 52.5% from the field and 50% from three-point range. 

Moreover, he had the difficult task of guarding Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. He used his physical strength and long reach to defend the star forward.

Ultimately, the moment fans will remember forever as an elegant Finals classic started simply as a forward trying to throw down a dunk.

Have you ever seen a missed play or failed instinct turn into a legendary basketball highlight?  

Read more at Air Jordan Chronicles! 

Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Koushik Biswas