“Action speaks louder than voice.” It is true in OG Anunoby’s case, as his rise to the NBA is rooted in quiet determination and grit. At Indiana University, he wasn’t the flashiest player, but his defense set him apart. This enabled him to make his way to the NBA when he was selected by the Toronto Raptors in 2017; it was the culmination of years of hard work.

But what sets him apart is his unique story, his family, his roots, and the passion that brought him here.

Is OG Anunoby from the United Kingdom? New York Knicks star’s nationality and ethnic background revealed.

Anunoby was born on 17 July 1997 in London, England. Thus making his nationality British. However, his ethnicity is Nigerian-British. Here’s how. He was born to his father, Ogugua Sr., and his late mother (whose name is not known), who are originally from Nigeria and belong to Igbo descent. His father moved to the UK when OG was relatively young. His father was a professor in England but moved to the US when he was offered a teaching role in Jefferson City, Missouri. So he relocated with all his 6 kids and is working at Lincoln University as a business and finance professor. Even after growing up in the US, he always wants to be an inspiration to kids in the UK, “It’s definitely a goal of mine, to inspire kids in Great Britain to want to play basketball and show that they can make it to the NBA from Britain.” But where does OG get his athletic genes from?

His mother competed as a national-level track-and-field athlete in Nigeria. “Their mother was a champion athlete. She was a sprinter, she was a jumper — she was very competitive.” Ogugua Sr. once said. Well, it didn’t only get transferred to OG, but also to his older brother Chigbo, who played in the NFL as a defensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Minnesota Vikings before entering medical school.

However, due to his mother’s loss to cancer when OG was just one year old, it became extremely tough for his father to look after the kids, manage work, and, most importantly, move from the UK to the US. “It was tough not having a mother but my dad did a really good job raising us,” the hooper said.

Being a migrant, his father knew how he wanted to raise his kids. He taught them the value of money and success, “We value hard work, order, and success. You don’t talk unless you have to talk. And if you have to talk, you should say something that doesn’t take away from the conversation, but enriches it.” However, did you know that OG didn’t just play basketball?

The hooper was naturally into sports. He competed in soccer, the 400-m race, high and long jump, baseball, and also basketball in his school. His father taught him baseball, and he wanted him to pursue the sport. But he knew what he wanted, due to his love for hooping, he wanted his father to have a basketball setup in their backyard. Anunoby Sr. never wanted his money to go to waste, so OG had to promise that he would make use of it. Well, OG, being the passionate player he is, made full use of it, playing all day and pushing his siblings to play along with him. “It turns out, it was a very good investment,” Anunoby Sr. joked.

All his hard work and practice made him a standout and a little celebrity in his town from a young age. Well, it is clearly a good investment, as his town got its first NBA player. Looks like we know a lot about his family already, but what we don’t know is his real name.

What is OG Anunoby’s real name?

His full name is Ogugua Anunoby Jr., a unique and meaningful name. The “OG” in his nickname comes from “Ogugua,” which his family often uses. However, the “OG” label took on a different meaning once he entered the NBA. In popular culture, “OG” is shorthand for “Original Gangster,” symbolizing someone respected and authentic.

For Anunoby, the nickname has become more than just a title. It represents his solid reputation and distinctive presence on the basketball court. Today, “OG” is not just a nickname, but a defining part of Anunoby’s identity in the NBA, known for his original style and impressive game. How has Anunoby’s “OG” persona influenced his role in the NBA today?