OG Anunoby helped the New York Knicks finish a 53-year wait for an NBA championship, then accidentally gave fans a locker-room view of the celebration.
The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday, June 13, sealing the series 4-1 and winning the franchise’s first title since 1973. People reported that Anunoby went live on Instagram from the locker room after the game without appearing to realize he had started a broadcast.
The short stream showed Knicks players spraying champagne and celebrating around the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Anunoby looked confused once he realized what was happening and asked how to end the live video while the room kept celebrating around him.
Karl-Anthony Towns leaned into the accidental moment. “We live, baby, we live!” he said, according to People.
Anunoby Tried to End the Accidental Livestream
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The New York Post reported that the accidental Instagram Live lasted about 25 seconds. The clip showed champagne flying in the locker room and Towns celebrating with the trophy before Anunoby tried to shut the stream down.
The outlet reported that Anunoby asked, “How do you end this?” before the broadcast cut off. The clip spread quickly because it showed the Knicks’ title celebration before the official team videos and postgame interviews turned the night into polished championship footage.
The Knicks Clinched the Title in San Antonio
Reuters reported that New York beat San Antonio 94-90 in Game 5 to win its first NBA title since 1973. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points, earned Finals MVP honors, and led another comeback after the Knicks trailed during the game.
The Knicks overcame double-digit deficits in all four of their Finals wins, according to Reuters. Game 5 followed the same pattern, with New York rallying late before finishing the series in San Antonio.
Anunoby Had a Real Finals Moment Before the Phone Mishap
Anunoby’s livestream became the funny locker-room clip, but his Finals role was not limited to that moment. The New York Post reported that he made the Game 4 tip-in that helped put the Knicks in position to close the series.
In Game 5, Anunoby finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds, according to People. The New York Post reported that he also secured the final rebound as the buzzer sounded, giving him the last on-court touch before the locker-room celebration began.
The Locker Room Celebration Went From Trophy Moment to Phone Panic
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The NBA shared official championship celebration footage after the win, but Anunoby’s accidental stream showed a looser version of the same night. Players were still soaked in champagne, the trophy was moving through the room, and Anunoby was trying to figure out his phone while teammates celebrated beside him.
People reported that the Knicks’ title night also drew celebrities including Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, and Christopher Meloni to Frost Bank Center. In New York, fans poured into the streets after the final buzzer, and Reuters reported that the city announced a ticker-tape parade and City Hall celebration for the team.