Is OG Anunoby’s game-winner the greatest shot in Knicks history? Ranking 5 best candidates

The New York Knicks have existed for nearly eight decades. That’s a span filled with iconic moments, unforgettable stars, and enough heartbreak to fill several generations. From Willis Reed limping onto the floor to Patrick Ewing carrying the franchise in the 1990s, Knicks history is rich with defining snapshots. Of course, there are big shots, too. A stark (pun intended) example is OG Anunoby’s miraculous game-winning putback in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. The shot instantly joined the short list of the greatest plays ever witnessed by Knicks fans. Head coach Mike Brown said so. The real question is whether it deserves to stand alone at the very top.

Anunoby changed everything

New York’s 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 was breathtaking. The Spurs looked like an absolute juggernaut through the first two periods. They built a staggering 27-point halftime lead before stretching the margin to 81-52 midway through the third quarter. Driven by Jalen Brunson’s relentless 36 points and an extraordinary 33-point effort from Anunoby, New York slowly climbed back into the game. The dramatic finish arrived after Stephon Castle gave San Antonio a one-point lead with two clutch free throws. Brunson’s ensuing contested jumper bounced off the rim with seconds remaining. However, Anunoby flew in from the perimeter and tipped the ball home with 1.2 seconds left. The basket completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. It also pushed the Knicks within one win of their first championship since 1973.

Where does it rank among big time Knicks shots over the years, though?

5. John Starks’ “The Dunk”

(1993 Eastern Conference Finals)

On this day in 1993…

John Starks went baseline for this iconic dunk in Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals!

Knicks look to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 tonight against the Cavs at 8pm/et on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/x7qCwtXuIB

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 25, 2026

John Starks’ thunderous baseline dunk over Michael Jordan and Horace Grant remains one of the most iconic visual moments in New York sports history. The image has become synonymous with 1990s Knicks basketball and symbolizes the fearless attitude of that era.

What keeps it fifth is context. It wasn neither a game-winner, nor did it directly determine a playoff series. Its power comes from symbolism and imagery rather than consequence. Still, few moments generated a louder Madison Square Garden reaction.

4. Patrick Ewing’s putback dunk

(1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7)

Throwback to Game 7 of the 1994 ECF…

Patrick Ewing's putback dunk lifted the Knicks over the Pacers and into the Finals!

Indiana & New York meet again tonight.
8:00pm/et on TNT. pic.twitter.com/0XnYHHRuYb

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 21, 2025

Before Anunoby, Patrick Ewing authored perhaps the most famous putback in franchise history. Late in Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers, Ewing followed a Starks miss with a ferocious dunk that helped send the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals. The play perfectly encapsulated Ewing’s relentless determination. It instantly became one of the defining images of his Hall of Fame career.

The similarities to Anunoby’s putback are impossible to ignore. Both featured a star soaring in to rescue a massive playoff game. The difference is that Anunoby’s basket came on the NBA Finals stage and completed a historic comeback.

3. Allan Houston’s runner

(1999 First Round, Game 5)

"It's the biggest shot ever for me"

– Allan Houston on his game winner in Miami 26 years ago today

Knicks, on their road to the 1999 Finals, become the second #8 seed in history to knock off a #1pic.twitter.com/J2VF4AdW5a

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 16, 2025

No shot better represents improbable Knicks magic than Allan Houston’s floating jumper against the Miami Heat. The ball famously bounced around the rim before finally dropping through. It eliminated the top-seeded Heat and completed one of the biggest first-round upsets in NBA history.

That basket launched the legendary eighth-seeded Knicks on a stunning march to the 1999 NBA Finals. Without Houston’s runner, one of the greatest underdog stories in league history never happens.

2. Larry Johnson’s four-point play

(1999 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3)

TDIH: LARRY JOHNSON'S 4-POINT PLAY

The Knicks would defeat the Pacers in Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals! pic.twitter.com/anDIIhoOB6

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 5, 2026

Down three points with under six seconds remaining against the Indiana Pacers, Larry Johnson buried a fading three-pointer while drawing contact from Antonio Davis (okay, arguably). He calmly knocked down the free throw, sending Madison Square Garden into absolute chaos.

The sequence remains one of the most iconic moments in Knicks playoff history. Everything about it felt cinematic. The pressure. The degree of difficulty. The stakes. For many Knicks fans, it remains the defining play of the franchise’s playoff pantheon.

The only reason it no longer sits at No. 1 is because something even bigger has happened.

1. OG Anunoby’s putback takes the crown

(2026 NBA Finals, Game 4)

OG ANUNOBY WITH THE PUTBACK.

KNICKS COMPLETE THE 29-PT COMEBACK FOR THE WIN.

LARGEST COMEBACK IN NBA FINALS HISTORY pic.twitter.com/ZtWVWY6JsR

— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026

The argument ultimately comes down to stakes. Every great shot requires context. A spectacular basket in January cannot compete with one in June. A conference finals heroics cannot fully rival a Finals-defining moment.

Anunoby’s putback had everything.

The Knicks were staring at a devastating collapse after surrendering a massive lead of their own. Had the shot not gone in, the series would have been tied 2-2 with all momentum shifting back to San Antonio. Instead, the basket delivered a 3-1 series advantage. It also pushed New York within touching distance of a championship that has eluded the franchise for more than half a century.

Then there is the comeback itself. No team in NBA Finals history had ever rallied from a 29-point deficit to win. Anunoby’s shot bookended one of the greatest turnarounds the league has ever witnessed. That combination of stage, consequence, and historical significance is impossible to top.

Honorable mentions

A franchise with as much history as the Knicks inevitably leaves worthy candidates off the main list.

Carmelo Anthony’s unforgettable Easter Sunday explosion against the Chicago Bulls in 2012 deserves recognition, as does Jeremy Lin’s iconic game-winning three-pointer in Toronto during the height of “Linsanity.”

Both moments captured New York’s imagination and became cultural touchstones. Still, neither directly altered the course of a championship pursuit.

That distinction belongs to Anunoby.

Whether the Knicks ultimately finish the job or not, his putback has already secured a permanent place in franchise lore. If New York completes its march to the title, there may never be a serious debate again about the greatest shot in Knicks history.

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