OG Anunoby
Players who strive for greatness understand they cannot reach that level alone. Knicks premier two-way player OG Anunoby knows that well.
Before the New York Knicks took on the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup Final on Tuesday night, the Amazon Prime pregame crew, featuring legends like Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, dove into the moment. During the discussion, Nowitzki revealed how Anunoby approached him with questions about shooting and technique. The Knicks forward sought insight from the Dallas Mavericks icon and came prepared with specifics.
Dirk Nowitzki Teaches OG How to Shoot Better
Dirk on OG: “He wanted to know more about shooting, so last year he reached out to me. He wanted to know every little detail about feet, positioning of hands, breathing, where eyes go. He asked me all sorts of questions. One main thing I told him about was finger position on the ball.”
Nowitzki then demonstrated a technique he calls “train tracks,” emphasizing that the index and middle fingers should be the final two to touch the ball on release. He explained that this helps keep the shot straight and eliminates misses drifting left or right. “Good shooters should only miss short and long, and not left and right,” Nowitzki said.
The explanation prompted a lighthearted moment from Blake Griffin, also part of the pregame crew along with Taylor Rooks, who jokingly asked why Nowitzki never shared this level of help when he was still playing.
Rooks later added context to the discussion, noting that the advice appears to be working. Anunoby leads the NBA in corner three-point attempts and has connected on 40.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season.
Dirk on OG: “He wanted to know more about shooting so last year he reached out to me…He wanted to know every little detail about feet, positioning of hands, breathing, where eyes go––he asked me all sorts of questions. One main thing I told him about: finger position on ball” pic.twitter.com/pU58BX82s8
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 17, 2025
What the NBA Cup Could Mean to Knicks
Meanwhile, a Knicks superfan had some pointed words about the NBA Cup.
As the buzzer sounded on one of the more important New York Knicks wins in recent memory, renowned filmmaker and longtime Knicks supporter Spike Lee held one finger in the air. The gesture symbolized the final win the Knicks needed to capture the NBA Cup after defeating the Orlando Magic 132–120 in the semifinals on Saturday.
While it does not count as an NBA championship, the Knicks entered Tuesday night with a chance to win their first title of any kind since 1973.
So, would Lee be back courtside for the final?
“Put that recorder closer to me. Ask me again,” Lee said with a grin, per Andscape.
When asked again if he would attend the NBA Cup Final, Lee answered, “Is the Pope Catholic? Did the Pope go to Villanova? Do we have three players from Villanova? Did Pope Leo get a Knicks jersey from me?”
His roundabout response made his answer clear. Lee would be there, rooting on his Knicks.
When asked what making the finals meant to him, Lee said, “Yeah. It’s not over. Tuesday. It’s great. But we got a bigger thing. It’s a path.”
On what makes this team capable of winning an NBA title, Lee kept it simple: “Every piece. Every piece. Every piece.”
Lee’s point rings true. Every piece matters. And if that means Anunoby continues to seek guidance from NBA legends who mastered their craft, then so be it. The Knicks will need every edge they can find to chase a championship.
The Knicks went on to defeat the Spurs 124–113 and secure this year’s NBA Cup. Those shooting tips appeared to pay off. Anunoby finished as the Knicks’ leading scorer with 28 points, shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from three.