The New York Knicks have been around for nearly 80 years. That’s eight decades of buzzer-beaters, broken hearts, and moments so iconic they get carved into the city’s concrete. But one shot — OG Anunoby’s jaw-dropping putback in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals — has reportedly sparked a fierce debate inside Madison Square Garden and among longtime fans. Sources close to the organization tell us that some within the Knicks’ front office are quietly buzzing about whether this single play could change the franchise’s entire legacy.
Anunoby’s Miracle Didn’t Just Win a Game — It Might Have Saved a Season
According to multiple reports, the Knicks were on the verge of a catastrophic collapse. Down 27 at halftime and trailing by 29 in the third quarter, the team was allegedly staring at a series-tying loss that would have shifted all momentum to the San Antonio Spurs. Then Jalen Brunson dropped 36 points, Anunoby erupted for 33, and with 1.2 seconds left, Anunoby flew in from the perimeter to tip home a miss. The basket completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history — a feat insiders say has the entire league taking notice. One unnamed source described the locker room scene as ‘pure, unfiltered madness.’
Where Does This Shot Rank Among the All-Time Greats?
5. John Starks’ ‘The Dunk’ (1993 Eastern Conference Finals)
Let’s be real: Starks’ baseline jam over Michael Jordan and Horace Grant is the stuff of legend. It’s been plastered on posters and replayed for three decades. But insiders point out that it wasn’t a game-winner, nor did it decide a series. Its power is symbolic — a visual that screams ’90s Knicks defiance. Still, the Garden reportedly shook harder that night than any time before.
4. Patrick Ewing’s Putback Dunk (1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7)
Before Anunoby, Ewing owned the putback in Knicks lore. His ferocious follow of a Starks miss sent New York to the 1994 NBA Finals. The similarities to Anunoby’s play are reportedly uncanny — both involved a star soaring in to rescue a massive game. But according to sources, the difference is simple: Anunoby did it on the Finals stage during a historic comeback. That’s hard to beat.
3. Allan Houston’s Runner (1999 First Round, Game 5)
That floating jumper against the Miami Heat that bounced around the rim like it had a mind of its own? It eliminated the No. 1 seed and launched the eighth-seeded Knicks on a miracle run to the Finals. Team insiders allegedly still call it the luckiest — and most magical — shot in franchise history. Without it, the entire ’99 underdog story never happens.
2. Larry Johnson’s Four-Point Play (1999 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3)
Down three with under six seconds left, Johnson buried a fading three while drawing contact — and then knocked down the free throw. The Garden reportedly erupted so loud that witnesses claim the building shook. For years, this was the gold standard. But sources now admit that Anunoby’s shot, given the Finals stakes, has reportedly nudged LJ’s moment down a notch.
1. OG Anunoby’s Putback (2026 NBA Finals, Game 4)
Here’s the bottom line, according to insiders: this shot had everything. The stage (NBA Finals), the stakes (3-1 series lead vs. a devastating 2-2 tie), and the history (largest Finals comeback ever). One Knicks staffer told us anonymously that ‘if they finish the job and win the title, there won’t even be a conversation anymore — this shot becomes the moment everything changed.’ Sources close to the team suggest that the front office views it as the defining play of a new era. Whether or not New York hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy, Anunoby’s putback has reportedly already secured its place in the pantheon.
Honorable Mentions That Could Have Made the List
Carmelo Anthony’s Easter Sunday explosion against the Bulls in 2012 and Jeremy Lin’s game-winning three in Toronto during ‘Linsanity’ both captured the city’s imagination. But according to reports, neither carried the championship weight that Anunoby’s shot now carries. As one longtime observer put it: ‘Melo and Lin gave us thrills. Anunoby might have given us a title.’ The debate, it appears, is already over.
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