The mystery prospect who became Knicks’ X-factor: ‘We had to find out his name’

There was no tournament program with his name, no first name even among the starters at the scorer’s table.

More than a decade later, Tom Crean still blends shock and awe at the first impression of OG Anunoby, then an unknown, lightly recruited three-star prospect, per 247Sports, not inside the nation’s top 200 in the 2015 class.

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“We saw him for the first time in Atlanta, at an Under Armour tournament,” Crean told USA TODAY Sports. “We didn’t know his name; wasn’t even in the program.

“We go see the book, it just says ‘Anunoby.’”

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Spike Lee, Ben Stiller among Knicks fans at Game 1 of the NBA Finals

San Antonio hosted Game 1 of the NBA Finals as Knicks fans made their presence felt on the road.

See the familiar faces supporting New York during the opening game of the series.

Above, American actor and comedian Ben Stiller reacts during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

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Spike Lee, Ben Stiller among Knicks fans at Game 1 of the NBA Finals

San Antonio hosted Game 1 of the NBA Finals as Knicks fans made their presence felt on the road.

See the familiar faces supporting New York during the opening game of the series.

Above, American actor and comedian Ben Stiller reacts during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

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Spike Lee, Ben Stiller among Knicks fans at Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Director Spike Lee looks on during the first quarter between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.

(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

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Spike Lee, Ben Stiller among Knicks fans at Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Actor Tracy Morgan in the first half during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.

(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

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Spike Lee, Ben Stiller among Knicks fans at Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Former New York Knicks Patrick Ewing reacts before Game 1 of the 2026…

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Publish date : 2026-06-05 09:09:00

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