OG Anunoby

1.1. Early life and family background

Ogugua Anunoby was born in London, England, on 17 July 1997. His parents were Nigerian immigrants of Igbo descent. His father, Ogugua Sr. (1952-2018), worked as a professor in England. His mother, Grace Ndidi Okereke, was a national-level track and field athlete for Nigeria; she passed away from cancer when Anunoby was one year old. At the age of four, Anunoby's family moved to the U.S. and settled in Jefferson City, Missouri, where his father served as a professor of finance at Lincoln University. Anunoby's older brother, Chigbo, pursued a career in the NFL, playing for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Minnesota Vikings before entering medical school. Growing up, Anunoby initially played football but transitioned to basketball around the age of eight, primarily due to his increasing height.

1.2. High school career

Anunoby attended Jefferson City High School in Missouri. During his senior season, he showcased exceptional talent, averaging 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. His impressive performance earned him a spot as a finalist for the prestigious Mr. Basketball award in the state of Missouri. In October 2014, Anunoby committed to playing college basketball for Indiana University, choosing it over other notable programs such as Georgia, Iowa, George Mason, and Ole Miss. In 2021, Anunoby returned to Jefferson City High School to retire his high school basketball jersey, an event that recognized his significant contributions to the school's basketball program.

1.3. College career

Anunoby began his college basketball career at Indiana University during the 2015-16 season. As a freshman, he participated in 34 games, averaging 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of .569 and a 3-point field goal percentage of .448. Prior to his sophomore season, Anunoby was recognized as a Pre-season All-American by The Sporting News. His sophomore year began strongly, but on 18 January 2017, he sustained a right knee injury during a game against Penn State. This injury necessitated season-ending knee surgery, significantly curtailing his playing time. On 10 April 2017, Anunoby announced his decision to declare for the 2017 NBA draft and to hire an agent, marking the end of his collegiate career with the Indiana Hoosiers.

2.1. Toronto Raptors (2017-2023)

On 22 June 2017, Anunoby was selected by the Toronto Raptors as the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He officially signed his rookie contract with the Raptors on 9 July. His professional debut was marked by his first career start on 14 November against the Houston Rockets, where he contributed 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 30 minutes of play. By mid-December, he distinguished himself among rookie starters by leading in offensive and defensive rating, possessing the third-highest true shooting percentage, and achieving the best turnover-to-assist ratio for a non-guard.

On 29 January 2019, Anunoby was named a member of the World Team for the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge, representing the United Kingdom. However, in April 2019, he underwent an emergency appendectomy, which caused him to miss the majority of the Raptors' playoff run. Despite his absence from play, he was present with the team during the NBA Finals, where the Raptors secured their first-ever championship. This victory made Anunoby the first British player to win an NBA championship.

On 1 March 2020, Anunoby recorded a career-high 32 points and seven steals, along with seven rebounds and three assists, in a 133-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Later that year, on 3 September, he made a memorable game-winning buzzer-beater three-pointer in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, securing a 104-103 win and preventing the Raptors from falling into a 0-3 series deficit. He finished that game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Raptors eventually lost the series in seven games. On 21 December 2020, Anunoby signed a four-year, 72.00 M USD contract extension with the Raptors, extending through the 2024-25 season.

On 24 January 2021, Anunoby scored a season-high 30 points, coupled with eight rebounds, one assist, five steals, and one block, in a 107-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers. This performance placed him alongside former Raptor Kawhi Leonard as the only players in franchise history to have multiple games with at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five steals. On 1 November 2021, he achieved a new career-high of 36 points, along with six rebounds and two assists, in a 113-104 win against the New York Knicks.

In February 2022, Anunoby suffered a right finger fracture during a game against the Charlotte Hornets, which sidelined him for several weeks. He was ruled out for two weeks on 3 March to allow the fractured finger to rest.

On 16 November 2022, Anunoby scored a season-high 32 points in a 112-104 win against the Miami Heat. During the 2022-23 season, Anunoby distinguished himself by leading the entire league in steals, averaging 1.9 per game. This achievement made him the first Raptors player and the first British player in NBA history to lead the league in steals. At the conclusion of the season, Anunoby received his first career NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, recognizing his exceptional defensive performance.

2.2. New York Knicks (2023-present)

On 30 December 2023, Anunoby was part of a significant trade that sent him, along with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, to the New York Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round draft pick. Anunoby made his debut for the Knicks on 1 January 2024, contributing 17 points and six rebounds in a 112-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. His immediate impact with the Knicks was remarkable; during his first 10 games with the team, he set an NBA record for the highest plus-minus for a newly acquired player, accumulating an impressive +170.

On 8 February 2024, Anunoby underwent surgery on his right elbow to remove a loose bone fragment, an injury that kept him out of play for approximately a month. He returned to action on 12 March, playing against the Philadelphia 76ers. On 24 June 2024, Anunoby declined his $19.9 million player option, becoming a free agent. However, on 6 July 2024, he re-signed with the Knicks on a five-year, 210.00 M USD contract. On 25 November 2024, Anunoby set a new career-high in points, scoring 40 in a 145-118 victory against the Denver Nuggets.

4.1. NBA

4.2. College