OG Anunoby's Unseen Two Steps: Why the Spurs Had ZERO Chance in the NBA Finals

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk about what OG Anunoby just pulled off in Game 4 of the NBA Finals? If you weren't watching, you missed the kind of clutch play that makes legends. I saw it go down Wednesday night, and the sheer confidence from Anunoby was something else. He was ready for this stage, and the San Antonio Spurs found out the hard way.

The Finals Moment Nobody Saw Coming

Knicks were down one, clock ticking. Anunoby just blocked a shot, a defensive gem. Then, he's inbounding. His college coach, Tom Crean, who knew OG since he was 16, saw it coming. Crean watched the Spurs and knew, "He’s going to be open if he stays on the perimeter." Here's the wild part: Anunoby passes to Jalen Brunson. As Brunson starts his motion, Anunoby bolts. He's gone, sprinting to the rim, before the ball is even in the air! He was already in position for the game-winning putback before anyone knew he’d moved. Crean worked on those "first two steps to the glass" in college, an absolute epitome of rim sprinting. That's pure mentality, folks.

The Grind That Made Him

This wasn't some lucky bounce. This is who OG Anunoby is, to his core. Crean talks about his incredible natural athletic ability, talent, strength. But he has never worked or played like he's "arrived." Not once. From recruitment, he didn't just say, "I want to make the NBA." He asked, "What is it really going to take? How will we get there?" He craved the reality. While Iowa, Ole Miss, and Georgia recruited him, many schools didn't. He was an underrecruited, undervalued guy, but with insane inner drive. He trusted the plan and wanted to be a dominant two-way player, focusing on rebounding. He might have lacked technique or consistency early, but he always had the quickness and the right mentality.

More Than the Box Score

And the work ethic? Indefatigable, man. He’s a two-a-day gym rat, even in the offseason back home in Georgia, hitting a local high school at 6:30 AM and again at night. It's not about just chucking shots, but skill quality, getting better with real intention. OG does so many things that never hit the stat sheet: deflections, swiping, disrupting plays for others to finish. As a freshman off the bench, he averaged almost seven deflections a game! People don't always see his greatness, but what truly separates him is he doesn't see limits. He knows his talent isn't an "illusion." He wants to impact winning at the highest level, be a huge part, not just "another good player on a good team." He wants to be great on a great team, knowing that means impacting everyone.

So, when you see a play like that game-winner, know it’s the payoff for a guy who never settled, always pushed, and focused on the 'how.' OG Anunoby isn't just good, he’s proving he’s exactly what Tom Crean saw: a player who influences everything. Keep watching, 12s, because this is the kind of dedication that defines legacies. What's next for him? More of this, I bet, and we're here for every second.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.