As the New York Knicks celebrate making their first NBA Finals since 1999, Toronto Raptors fans should have reason to smile too. Former Toronto Raptor OG Anunoby has been a major part of New York’s run, giving fans in Toronto another chance to root for one of the most beloved pieces of the 2019 championship team.
Anunoby’s success with the Knicks also continues an interesting trend. He is now the fourth member of the 2019 Raptors to make it back to the Finals after leaving Toronto. In 2020, Danny Green won another championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2023, Kyle Lowry reached the Finals with the Miami Heat. Last season, Pascal Siakam helped lead the Indiana Pacers to the Finals.
That says a lot about how deep Toronto’s championship team really was. Kawhi Leonard made waves earlier this season when he reflected on that 2019 group and said, “Everybody comes into their own, but you know, the talent wasn't there, but the work ethic was, and that's the reason why we won.”
Many fans felt Leonard undersold the talent on that roster. The success those players have found since leaving Toronto may prove them right. Kawhi Leonard was the best player on that Raptors team, but they would not have won without their immense depth.
Anunoby is a great example of the Raptors' championship depth
Anunoby is a great example of how much talent that Raptors team actually had. He did not even play during Toronto’s 2019 playoff run because of an emergency appendectomy, yet he was still viewed as one of the most important young pieces in the organization.
Today, Anunoby is a polished two-way force. He is asked to guard the opposing team’s best player while still giving New York reliable offense on the other end. He was not a finished product in 2019, but Raptors fans saw the outline of this player long before he reached this stage.
He had the size, strength, defensive instincts and low-maintenance offensive game that every contender needs. The Knicks are now benefiting from the same traits that made him so valuable in Toronto.
Raptors fans should watch OG Anunoby with pride
That is what should make this run so satisfying for Raptors fans. Anunoby’s success does not have to feel like a reminder of what Toronto lost. It can also be a reminder of what the franchise helped build.
Some fans may watch Anunoby and feel a little pain that he is no longer with the Raptors. That is understandable. But it is also part of the natural order of the NBA. Toronto had its time with that core, and it produced one of the most memorable championships in league history. It was only natural for that group to eventually dissolve.
Do not watch Anunoby, or any other former Raptor, and feel regret. Watch them with pride.
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