OG Anunoby
A stoic, long-armed defensive force from London who became the quiet backbone of a championship team and the NBA's steals leader.
Born 1997 (age 29)·British basketball player·Birthday: July 17·Generation Z
Biography
OG Anunoby's rise is a story of quiet determination and physical genius. Hailing from London, England, he was a relative latecomer to basketball, but his wingspan and intuitive defensive instincts quickly set him apart. His college career at Indiana was cut short by injury, but the Toronto Raptors saw his potential, drafting him in 2017. In Toronto, he cultivated a reputation as the player assigned to shackle the opposing team's best scorer, a role he performed with unnerving calm. His contribution was vital to the Raptors' 2019 NBA championship, where his defensive versatility was a hidden key. Later, his game expanded, culminating in a 2023 season where he led the entire league in steals and earned a coveted spot on the NBA All-Defensive Team, proving that defense could be a star-making craft.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
OG was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When OG Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
OG's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
- Led the entire NBA in total steals during the 2022-2023 season.
- Named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2023.
- Started all 69 games he played for the New York Knicks in the 2023-2024 season, solidifying their defense.
Did You Know?
His first name, Ogugua, means "God's glory" in Igbo, a Nigerian language.
He is an avid chess player and has participated in celebrity tournaments.
He studied journalism at Indiana University alongside his basketball career.
He famously did not crack a smile during the Raptors' 2019 championship parade, becoming an instant meme.
“I just try to make it tough. That's the whole goal.”
