Knicks fans marvel at new Finals hero tribute — including hilarious Statue of Liberty offshoot
Move over Lady Liberty, OG enters.
OG Anunoby’s important tip for the Knicks’ miracle win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals has fans who have paid tribute – everything from naming newborns OG, renaming the family dog, dedicating a city street in his honor or creating a new statue on Liberty Island.
“Maybe we don’t replace him, but maybe we put him in a Knicks jersey – a jumbo Knicks jersey,” said Harlem resident and hoops fan Makini Gwaro. “That would be great.”
Anunoby was anointed the hero of the Big Apple on Wednesday night by tapping in Jalen Brunson’s missed three-pointer from the hoop to give the home team a one-point lead with 1.2 seconds left on the clock — capping a historic comeback from a 29-point deficit against the hated San Antonio Spurs.
The basket put the Knicks up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, moved them one game away from their first NBA title since 1973 — and made Anunoby an instant legend.
“It was angels on the court,” said lifelong Knicks fan Penelope Clarke. “It was just a miracle.”
New Yorkers across the Big Apple were still going wild Thursday — and falling over themselves to find creative ways to reward their hometown hero while his jersey flew off the shelves.
“We don’t have OG jerseys!” an employee at Manhattan’s NBA Store told disappointed shoppers. “I know you uploaded it right now but we don’t have it.”
Knicks fan Manug Agarwal said Anunoby should at least get the key to the city.
“When [guard Jalen] Brunson took that shot with 3.5 seconds left,” he said. “You live and die by your star, but when OG put that in, we couldn’t believe it. We walked like crazy, we hugged strangers.”
Some diehards took the idea of Liberty Island to heart, even posting jokes and memes about what the OG Statue of Liberty would actually look like. Most of them pointed out that his reach over the Spurs without mistakes in that last shot is similar to the famous Lady Liberty situation.
“Life imitates art,” added X poster Eddy Pinero enjoyer wrote. “OG Anunoby hits the Statue of Liberty to put the Knicks up 3-1.”
“New statue of liberty photo this morning,” fan Jackson Gaffney wrote on X. “Surprisingly, we’re a lot like OG Anunoby. GO KNICKS!”
A fan’s Instagram rendering shows the hoopster doing a tip-in shot wearing the Statue of Liberty’s signature crown, robe and torch.
But the OG-mania didn’t stop there.
“If it’s a boy, we call him OG Anunoby,” Knicks Memes wrote on X. “If it’s a girl, we name her OG Anunoby. The dog’s new name is OG Anunoby.”
Christopher Cano, who was sunbathing in Battery Park on Thursday, said the city should make OG, or rename the street in his honor MSG heroes.
A Star Wars-themed meme is also making the rounds, showing Princess Leia sporting an Anunoby jersey with a new version of a classic line from the hit franchise — “Help me OG Anunoby. You’re my only hope.”
The tributes ranged from the funny to the real — including a proclamation from Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal declaring Thursday “OG Anunoby Appreciation Day.”
“The citizens of New York City proudly thank OG Anunoby for the excitement, pride, and inspiration he brings to basketball fans across the city and his contribution to the continued success of the New York Knicks franchise,” the announcement read.
