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Anunoby is ready for unique Wemby challenge: “He’s different”

Anunoby is ready for unique Wemby challenge: “He’s different”

03/Jun/26 06:07

og-anunoby-new-york-knicks — Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE / Getty Images / Ideal Image

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Having a healthy OG Anunoby to counter San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is a crucial part of the New York Knicks’ strategy for the NBA Finals 206

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

The New York Knicks hope versatile forward OG Anunoby can help both their offense and defense as they prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals 2026 on Wednesday.

Known as one of the premier 3-and-D wings, the 28-year-old British starter is an integral piece of the championship pursuit in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. Cleared to play in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday night, successfully overcoming a recent right hamstring strain, this marks his first active on-court Finals run. Although he won a ring with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, an emergency appendectomy forced him to miss that entire postseason.

Addressing his previous championship series appearance during a press conference on Tuesday, Anunoby went into how he has grown as a player and how the experience is hitting him now that he has seen this stage before. “I was a young player last time I was back. So growing a lot on and off the court and as a player, but it’s really cool. The first time, it was really cool, but it wasn’t the way I would have wanted it. So this time, just happy to be here, happy to be healthy. Just excited for the game to start,” he mentioned.

The London native also talked about the daunting task of facing French superstar Victor Wembanyama, detailing the intense physical and mental focus required to secure possessions. “Just seeing where the ball’s going off the rim, as well as who’s guarding me, and going under or over, and then also doing it but managing to try to get back as well. So cutting under and maybe going through the middle, just seeing where the ball’s going from the rim and where the shot is coming from,” he said on navigating the length of the Spurs frontcourt.

The defensive game plan will naturally center around Wembanyama, an assignment Anunoby has drawn frequently in past matchups. “He’s pretty unique. I mean, there are little things like maybe guarding a Jokic or like a Porzingis or like a Joel. But he’s different,” he shared. “Just being aware of where he’s at all over the floor. He can do everything, super talented. Just being aware of him at all times, just trying to make it as difficult as possible.”

Entering Game 1 of a best-of-seven series and carrying an 11-game winning streak into the hostile environment of San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center, teammate Mitchell Robinson has been officially listed as questionable for Game 1 due to a fractured right fifth metacarpal. Still, he is expected to be available to play, similar to the remaining players across both teams.