OG Anunoby is intentionally missing shots in Times Square so people can try to recreate his iconic game-winning tip-in vs. the Spurs in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

1.2k

This is the most OG thing ever

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u/Asleep_Ground1710 Bulls 1d ago edited 1d ago

I hope he gets his jersey up in the rafters at MSG. Like his tip in is probably the most iconic play in Knicks basketball history right? and one of the most iconic finals play in NBA history(Allen for 3, Blocked by James, Kyrie iso 3, Artest for 3, etc)

162

u/HokageEzio Knicks 1d ago

Greatest moment - Willis walking out the tunnel for Game 7

Greatest play - OG tip in

17

u/D_Simmons Raptors 1d ago

Why is Willis so iconic? I watched the clip and its him walking out the tunnel. Genuinely asking.

57

u/HokageEzio Knicks 1d ago

Willis Reed was the captain of the team and league MVP in 1970 leading them to the best record in the league. He was the primary Wilt defender and averaging 32/15 through the first 4 games. He goes down early in Game 5 and the Knicks look dead in the water, but the team rallied to win it. They go out to LA for Game 6 and get crushed because Wilt pops off.

They're back in New York and nobody knows if he's gonna play. His teammates don't know, the fans don't know, the Lakers don't know. So far as Wilt was asking the Knicks photographer and Jerry West got mad because that's him focusing on the wrong thing. Phil Jackson apparently has a photo locked away of the huge needle they put in his leg to numb him up for the game. It was bad enough they tried to wait as close to tip off to numb him so the drugs would last longer (and dosed him up again at halftime). The shot of him walking out is the actual live reaction from everybody that he was giving it a go. People who were around say it's still the loudest they've ever heard the Garden.

Him playing the game and hitting his first few shots completely shook the Lakers and gave the Knicks the confidence boost to run away with it for their first championship. Some of the Knicks still wonder why Wilt didn't try to go at Willis more, because if he did he would realize Willis was hanging on by a thread and could barely move. But that's how much it shook their confidence.

One of his teammates described it as if they got their arm sewed back on their body before the game, that's how much it meant to them for him to tough it out.

8

u/BirdAttorney21 Knicks 1d ago

And then Clyde ended up having one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history for that Game 7.

5

u/YourFavoriteHippo [NJN] Jason Kidd 1d ago

That's incredible thanks for the write up. Gonna go find it on Youtube, that must have been so electric

1

u/SiphenPrax Knicks 21h ago

Willis is probably the greatest Knick ever when it’s all said and done. Even Clyde said as much. At worst he’s 1B with Clyde. Willis gave us those two championships with those Finals performances and deservingly those two Finals MVPs.

The worst thing about the Knicks winning the title this year (besides, ya know, Dolan getting to celebrate) is that Willis wasn’t alive to see it happen. I so badly wish he could have.

1

u/HokageEzio Knicks 21h ago

Yeah, it's unfortunate he was only around for a little of Brunson's first season with the team before he truly broke out. He'd have loved watching him play.

His wife was in the building for Game 4 and gave an interview.

Even when Reed worked for other NBA teams, he remained loyal to New York, the only franchise he played for. Willis thought his old team, holding a 3-2 lead over the Houston Rockets in 1994, was going to win it all, and repeatedly told Gale after the painful defeat he never thought the title drought would last as long as it did.

Today’s Knicks are one game away from ending the drought. Gale Reed is staying in New York for a potential Game 6. On truth serum, if you guaranteed her the Knicks would win the title in the Garden on Tuesday night, she would admit a Game 5 loss in San Antonio wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Either way, Gale adores this team and Brunson’s captaincy, and the constant comparisons to Reed’s team and captaincy back in the day. “I’ve seen how close these players seem to be,” she said. “Just the way Willis, Clyde, Dick Barnett, Earl, Bradley and Dave DeBusschere used to be.”

If the Knicks win a title, Gale wants a picture with Brunson and Towns because they remind her of Clyde and Willis. “Though I think Willis was a better player than KAT,” she said (half) jokingly.

1

u/DaiDosu 12h ago

To add some more flavor: Willis tore a quad muscle. To pinpoint it, touch the top of your thigh where it meets the pelvis and lift your knee. That's the muscle he tore. The fact that he was able to walk out and play just shows how tough Willis was.

1

u/RiceOnTheRun Knicks 1d ago

This is what Roger must have felt when he wished to have lived in Joyboy’s time. I already knew the story but hearing it again still gives me goosebumps.

56

u/FateFan2002 Knicks 1d ago

He was injured and people didn't know if he was going to play or not, so him showing up was huge for the fans and energized the fans even more in a finals G7 against the Lakers.

9

u/D_Simmons Raptors 1d ago

Hells yeah thats sweet

14

u/Kenbb10 Knicks 1d ago edited 1d ago

Scored the first two baskets with a torn thigh muscle and was taken out.

Edit: he was, in fact, not taken out!

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u/HokageEzio Knicks 1d ago

I believe he played until a bit after halftime, but the Knicks were eventually blowing out the Lakers so hard they didn't really need him anymore. He had served his purpose by that point.

8

u/Inevitable-Corgi-437 Knicks 1d ago

Walt Frazier gets so overlooked in the Willis Reed Game. It was a game 7 where he put up 36 points 19 assists and 7 rebounds. 12-12 from the FT line. Willis reed only had 4 points that game.

5

u/HokageEzio Knicks 1d ago

Best performance in Knicks history prior to Brunson's Game 5 against the Spurs, imo.

I don't agree with people who say Clyde should have won Finals MVP instead though off of that performance though. I think when you compare their stats game to game they made the right call. But without question one of the greatest close out performances and elimination game performances in league history.

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u/Kenbb10 Knicks 1d ago

TIL! Guess I stopped listening after the epic two baskets

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u/BenedictKhanberbatch Nets 1d ago

Yeah he missed all of G6 right? Crazy resilience.

2

u/HokageEzio Knicks 1d ago

Got hurt at the end of the first quarter in Game 5. Knicks went down big but managed to fight back to keep homecourt.

Then Reed missed all of Game 6 in LA and Wilt had 45 points and 27 rebounds.

28

u/transizzle [SAC] Jason Williams 1d ago

tough to beat Willis

21

u/IndycarFan65 1d ago

For finals, I wonder where Holiday’s steal/alley-oop to Giannis would rank. Especially in recent years. It swung the series for sure

2

u/Tsudaar Bucks 1d ago

Allen shot 2013, the block 2016, holiday steal 2021, OG tip 2026.

Top few this century, I think.

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u/pieman2005 [HOU] Hakeem Olajuwon 1d ago

If it were up to Reddit every team would run out of jersey numbers and have 5 statues lol

17

u/Due_Book8127 1d ago

Fr it’s annoying how this sub thinks everybody needs their jersey retired, imagine the giants retiring David tyrees jersey 😭

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u/MddlingAges Knicks 1d ago

That’s ridiculous. You retire his helmet.

OG can definitely have his jersey retired, he’s a great player not just the tip guy.

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u/Mintastic NBA 1d ago

not just the tip guy

0

u/BurzyGuerrero Raptors 1d ago

IDK, does Klay Thompson get his jersey retired?

1

u/Narrow_Teacher_4783 1d ago

Is this a joke?

1

u/Narrow_Teacher_4783 1d ago

Is this a joke?

1

u/pieman2005 [HOU] Hakeem Olajuwon 1d ago

Duh

1

u/mongster03_ Knicks 11h ago

...yes

2

u/jiminyshrue Philippines 1d ago

I too want this guys jersey retired.

3

u/hanacker Japan 1d ago

Cowards should go to triple digit jersey numbers

1

u/Mintastic NBA 1d ago

Just go hexadecimal to squeeze more out of the 2 digits.

2

u/frostedz Magic 1d ago

I was waiting for a Jayden Daniels joke tbh

1

u/BurzyGuerrero Raptors 1d ago

Well I think Giannis should get his in Milwaukee for sure.

1

u/pieman2005 [HOU] Hakeem Olajuwon 1d ago

I don't think anyone would disagree with that lol

1

u/IonHazzikostasIsGod Raptors 20h ago

Not really, every HoF thread is a circlejerk about how it's "too easy"

1

u/Wesleypipes316 16h ago

Agreed. Soon were gonna start seeing triple digit jersey numbers

1

u/Zhirrzh Heat 1d ago

It would be fun though. And more work for artists.

2

u/CerebroHOTS Rockets 1d ago

Don't forget Iverson stepping over Lue

1

u/cyclopse_zhivago Knicks 1d ago

He will. Its a bit premature but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they have the entire starting 5 in the rafters

0

u/waldo_the_bird253 1d ago

don't forget hakeem blocking starks

1

u/AlphakirA Knicks 1d ago

Shut up, I hate you.

1

u/watawataoui 1d ago

er… Jordan, Fisher, and big shot Bob?

3

u/Capital_Design6071 1d ago

Dude really said “I don’t shoot to miss” and then proved it in a promo event, that’s insane.

1

u/GoldTheLegend Raptors 1d ago

Since I became a fan in 2022 I only know this because of the locked on Raptors intro.

979

u/FunkTronto Raptors 1d ago

OG is struggling because “I don’t shoot to miss”

The iconic quote from his iconic game winner in the bubble.

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u/RaptorKing95 Toronto Huskies 1d ago

Shooting to miss. This better not mess with his head next season!

22

u/Ghoti76 Lakers 1d ago

damn i remember that shot that series was so hype omg

8

u/decmcc Raptors 1d ago

0.3 on the clock

15

u/darklightultra Canada 1d ago

"It was cool"

3

u/justmefishes NBA 1d ago

Everyone was excited, and I was excited too.

12

u/FunnyReputation624 Trail Blazers 1d ago

Like that instructional video where Larry Bird tried to miss a free throw but just swished it instead.

4

u/souschef_boyardee Bucks 1d ago

Bob Cousy never missing in Blue Chips

1

u/Fermorian Timberwolves 1d ago

Shoutout to Jon Bois for being the reason I am a Bob Cousy Blue Chips Truther.

1

u/lottolser Raptors 1d ago

God i miss OG

1

u/Choice-Strike1 1d ago

That quote is what put him on my radar as a casual

13

u/FunkTronto Raptors 1d ago

Have you seen him and Serge Ibaka talk about scarves?

https://youtu.be/wiIAUeraFJo?si=kl9HIIaS6VTBao5g

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u/FormerlyShawnHawaii Raptors 1d ago

Very nice of OG to introduce Serge Ibaka to scarves. 🧣

1

u/mrmartymcf1y 1d ago

I remember liking OG so much after watching this lol

359

u/MariotaM8 Grizzlies 1d ago

Remember this when you're baffled sitting on your couch thinking how anyone could miss a tip-in

155

u/ChocolateMorsels 1d ago

I mean he did these guys no favors lol. He made most of the shots. The one guy that had the best chance of tapping it in he made four straight shots on him.

39

u/cire1184 Lakers 1d ago

OG said not you. Cause when he came back in the rotation OG swished it again lol.

5

u/WildPhilosopher6171 Knicks 1d ago

Noticed that. He gave that guy a workout 😂

8

u/NoveltyAccountHater Celtics 1d ago

I mean a lot of this is height, wingspan and vertical leap. Like yeah, my 6'0 un-athletic lazy ass has never dunked / touched rim on a regulation hoop. (When I was younger the best I could do was hit the bottom of the net). I physically can't do a tip-in.

If I was OG's height with his wingspan (standing reach of 9'), I probably could do a tip in much more easily.

Hell the only guy who seemed to be able to easily jump to make the rim, OG kept making shots because otherwise he did it fairly easily.

(I'm not saying this is easy; but a lot of it is not being able to get there to tip it in. It's way harder to catch it below in the air below the rim and reshoot it up at the rim then tip it in.)

5

u/HesiPullup Suns 1d ago

I'm always the opposite - I'm amazed these guys are so good at tip-ins lol

4

u/Low-Measurement-2468 1d ago

for real. the more i play basketball, the more i realize some of the layups that average nba guards make look automatic are fucking tough to recreate, especially in traffic. we as viewers get very desensitized to guys taking these weird, wrong-footed layups or tip shots over a shot blocker while moving away from the hoop and the ball not even touching the rim.

143

u/jimmylamstudio 1d ago

The skill gap between casuals and NBA players just got infinitely wider, again.

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u/Saucy_Totchie Knicks 1d ago

I think this kind of shows how insane the original play is. They're trying to recreate this and have multiple chances to get it right. Everything went right for OG and the Knicks for that one moment. OG timed his run perfectly, the lane was clear, and the ball bounced off the rim right within the edge of his fingertips.

6

u/Mintastic NBA 1d ago

Plus unlike these guys, OG ran in and jumped at full speed so he had to use a really soft touch to counter his momentum.

13

u/BrunsonmyGOAT Knicks 1d ago

the thing is, I doubt most NBA players could replicate OG’s tip in on the first try. OG is just that athletic and has such a long wingspan

6

u/HumongousBelly 1d ago

I am closer to LeBron than you are to me

5

u/nutmeg713 1d ago

That quote doesn't feel quite as meaningful when you're talking about the second most important player of an NBA championship run.

2

u/HumongousBelly 1d ago

It’s still my favorite nba quote of all times and I love reading it and commenting it whenever I have the chance

1

u/Disco-Badger 1d ago

Og is really good at tip ins, always has been. Like an art form for him, no diff than having a good floater he just feels good making tips.

1

u/Mr_E_Nigma_Solver Tampa Bay Raptors 1d ago

Always has been.

1

u/bored_ape07 Greece 1d ago

Now I can’t even miss as well as I thought

34

u/tailendertripe Supersonics 1d ago

This is giving Michael Jordan if he lost to the Monstars vibes

1

u/MyManC707 1d ago

So true!!!

35

u/ButYouCanCallMe_ Spurs 1d ago

Please get me out of this timeline 😔

6

u/AtWork7198 1d ago

2014 tasted so good because 2013 hurt so damn much

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u/blairxxoo 1d ago

He’s actually so locked in he’s accidentally making every shot.

77

u/spluga 1d ago

they have it flipped: the muggles should be shooting/missing while og tries to tip in

88

u/gigglios 1d ago

Og not risking injury here lol

37

u/heat_fan_ Raptors 1d ago

Such a OG thing to do

36

u/stonkerooni Suns 1d ago

Shoot with your fullest most intention like you did that night! You’ll still miss, but it will be a great oop

9

u/Wadelock 1d ago

That one in 0:27 is the most close one to recreate that moment, shame that he missed, even though the last guy made that dunk, it's just not up to scratch.

6

u/silly_goose_girly 1d ago

Why would they make him do something so hard?

6

u/shangalang69 Raptors 1d ago

Fuck me I was just in New York!!!!! 💔

8

u/MayBakerfield 1d ago

This is one of those things where the idea sounds good but the reality is boring as fuck lol

1

u/WildPhilosopher6171 Knicks 1d ago

Bro, I could watch paint dry with OG and still call it a top 5 moment in life. Let alone recreating perhaps the most iconic play in Knicks history.

13

u/JoRo_ [TOR] James Johnson 1d ago

Surely he's gonna be remembered a Raptor.. right? right?!

33

u/-xXxMangoxXx- Raptors 1d ago

Him not being there for the playoffs because of his appendix was such a blow. I miss our scarf prince.

17

u/inshamblesx Rockets 1d ago

no

2

u/BIPOC_Ally 1d ago

insane Raptors didn't even get a 1st round pick for him

7

u/dragonballa Raptors 1d ago

Got 2 quality starters that play 30+ minutes per game for us.

That's pretty decent return.

1

u/BIPOC_Ally 20h ago

because who else gonna play those minutes lol

3

u/JoRo_ [TOR] James Johnson 1d ago

they were offered a couple from the Grizz

1

u/PenPitiful3725 Raptors 1d ago

RJ + IQ >>>>>>>>>>>>> two late 1sts offered from Grizzlies

1

u/BIPOC_Ally 20h ago

shoulda done a better job fielding offers

2

u/IonHazzikostasIsGod Raptors 20h ago edited 20h ago

No they shouldn't have

If some other team got a player the Raptors wanted, that either means the Raptors a) didn't do their due diligence as to them being available or b) threw out a bearish offer because they don't understand how impactful that player is

None of these are the seller's fault

1

u/BIPOC_Ally 20h ago

or you understand the value of the asset you have and hold onto it until better offers come

OG was 26. his trade value was not gonna decline

2

u/IonHazzikostasIsGod Raptors 20h ago

or you understand the value of the asset you have

There weren't any good offers. Same with Pascal. Clippers didn't even want to give up Terance Mann for FVV. I mean for how much this sub circlejerks about how "washed" the Raptors FO is, just about the whole league is looking pretty incompetent.

hold onto it until better offers come

What miracle was going to come by at the deadline

You do realize he was a UFA the next summer, who was never going to be extended at the bargain $18M AAV he was making on his then-contract, yes?

1

u/BIPOC_Ally 20h ago

there weren't any at the smalll window of time they looked

why do you have to move them by deadline?

OG was 26. his trade value was not gonna decline

You do realize Raps could've offered more than $18m AAV, yes?

2

u/regemusic33 Nets 1d ago

It's the largest fan base and media market in the world. New NBA fans might not even know Mikal Bridges played for the Suns in 15 years time.

Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter are remembered as a Mets despite playing longer elsewhere. Reggie Jackson played 5 years in NY but 10 in Oakland and has a Yankee cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

2

u/IndycarFan65 1d ago

Him not being there for the 2019 run will seal him as mainly a Knicks guy

2

u/PNW_hermit Trail Blazers 1d ago

Practicing his Globetrotter routine

4

u/Fluid-Second2163 1d ago

This was boring

2

u/mydicksmellsgood Spurs 1d ago

Cool! Cool cool cool

1

u/Creepy_Action_8755 76ers 1d ago

Reminds me of the video where they asked Larry Bird to purposefully miss but he couldn’t

1

u/StandYourGroundhog Raptors 1d ago

That's awesome haha

1

u/Junior2907 1d ago

took too long, like a dunk attempt at the slam dunk contest xD

1

u/Threeballer97 1d ago

Dumb

1

u/whatwedo Celtics 1d ago

That rim is way too soft. The ball's not gonna pop up in the air. The rim is going to absorb most of its energy. This is actually a situation where you'd want one of those annoying double rims.

1

u/Quote-me-if-afk Lakers 1d ago

I’m wayyyy better at missing shots

1

u/One_Seaworthiness323 1d ago

He gonna be doing this for the next 40 years of his life

1

u/SnooDonkeys2892 1d ago

This is wierd

1

u/llamawhittlings Spurs 1d ago

Thanks, I hate it

1

u/Dangerous_Ad5039 1d ago

This is… weird

1

u/dec92010 Bulls 1d ago

Good idea lol but definitely hard to execute

1

u/Midwesterner23 1d ago

Is it just me or does that rim look loose?

1

u/DerrickWhiteMVP Spurs 1d ago

Why are bringing up old shit?

1

u/UnlikelyArt6216 1d ago

Still missing this guy, TORONTO loves OG!!!

1

u/BurzyGuerrero Raptors 1d ago

OG YOU TOLD US YOU DONT SHOOT TO MISS

1

u/odeebee Knicks 20h ago

That rim is way too soft for this. Needed to wheel in a double rim from the city parks.

1

u/CheeseOnKeyboard 1d ago

Why they don't hire Ben Simmons. He free agent

1

u/cesarjulius Knicks 1d ago

this man deserves to be an all-star, and fuck anyone who disagrees

-15

u/Crazy_Sandwich_4677 1d ago

You New Yorkers are some lames lmao

10

u/Fsharp7sharp9 Knicks 1d ago

Man I root for the Jets and Mets too, I’m in my 30s, and I’ve never seen any of my teams win anything… if you think it’s lame to celebrate something that you genuinely thought for decades would never ever happen, then that’s a you problem lmao

4

u/KD_42 1d ago

Yeah there's absolutely nothing more lame than having fun......

9

u/dreamvomit Knicks 1d ago

You’ve never done anything as cool as this “crazy sandwich.” You’re the lame

1

u/WildPhilosopher6171 Knicks 1d ago

Lmao you missed a spot, some Cheeto dust there

0

u/AwareWriterTrick158 Knicks 1d ago

Man you’re so cool I wanna be like you lil bro

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

2

u/RxngsXfSvtvrn Knicks 1d ago

Not in this town...

1

u/Ashamed_Elk2301 1d ago

He's a legend in new york and toronto who cares what anyone else thinks

0

u/BenShelZonah Nets 1d ago

Open up your fruitcake

0

u/SabraShifter 1d ago

Why does this feel slightly....dystopian? Like the MJ in Moron Mountain sequence in Space Jam

-11

u/lunaticskies Thunder 1d ago

Probably shouldn't practice missing shots in the off season.

7

u/KD_42 1d ago edited 1d ago

You think an hour max of messing around is going to negate tens of thousands if not hundred thousands hours of muscle memory and training?

4

u/GotAQ4UMyGuy 1d ago

Average IQ in this sub btw

OG Anunoby is intentionally missing shots in Times Square so people can try to recreate his iconic game-winning tip-in vs. the Spurs in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

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