OG Anunoby’s father, Ogugua Anunoby Sr., who passed away in 2018, became the emotional support of the family after the tragic death of OG’s mother from cancer.
OG Anunoby is a British NBA player currently with the New York Knicks.
Recently, he scored 25 points in a dominant New York Knicks win over the Minnesota Timberwolves (137–114).
In the November 5, 2025, matchup at Madison Square Garden, Anunoby delivered a sharp 10-for-17 shooting night, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Additionally, he added eight rebounds while posting a +14 plus-minus in 32 minutes.
His scoring surge in the fourth quarter helped the Knicks pull away after trailing by four at halftime.
Og Anunoby Rises With Strength, Despite Family Tragedy!
OG Anunoby was born on July 17, 1997, to Nigerian parents, Ogugua Sr. (Dr. Ogugua Chigbogu Damian Anunoby) and Grace Ndidi Okereke.
His father was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, an executive at the African Central Bank in Lagos, and a lecturer at Oxford Brooks University.
He taught at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, from 2001 to 2018, after the family moved from London to the United States.
OG has five siblings, including two brothers, Chigbo, a former NFL player, and Olisa, and a sister named Ifeoma.
When Anunoby was small, his mother passed away from cancer on May 12, 1998.
The early loss of his mother deeply affected OG, but his father raised him alongside his siblings, being both mother and father.
When OG was young, his family moved from London to Missouri.
Once, OG spoke about how his mother’s death made him more reserved and focused on basketball.
Tragically, in 2018, OG Anunoby’s father, Ogugua Anunoby Sr., passed away on September 27, 2018, at the age of 66 in his sleep, nearly two decades after OG lost his mother.
Despite the early loss, his close-knit family has remained a source of strength throughout his career
In Case You Didn’t Know
- OG Anunoby attended Jefferson City High School in Missouri and played college basketball at Indiana University from 2015 to 2017.
- He won an NBA Championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.
- He earned the NBA steals title and a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team in 2023.
