LeBron James thought OG Anunoby deserved the Finals MVP award over Jalen Brunson

LeBron James thought OG Anunoby deserved the Finals MVP award over Jalen Brunson originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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In the 2026 NBA Finals, the New York Knicks came away with the championship after five competitive games against the San Antonio Spurs. Throughout that series, there were plenty of standouts for the Knicks, including eventual Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.

Of course, he was not the only player who succeeded because he had awesome teammates. One of them is OG Anunoby, who made some of the biggest plays in the series, like the block on De’Aaron Fox or the game-winning tip-in in Game 4. His overall impact was immense, which is why he got calls for Finals MVP as well.

LeBron James thinks OG Anunoby deserved Finals MVP over Jalen Brunson

As one of the greatest players in history, Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James’s opinion is always respected by people. When it comes to the 2026 NBA Finals, he had a unique perspective because he made sure to appreciate all the players who contributed.

This includes Anunoby, who James thinks was the deserving Finals MVP. That is a bold claim to make because Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in the five-game series against the Spurs.

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However, it seems that James is just appreciating what Anunoby did, as he was everywhere on the floor. His numbers were also impressive at 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, an assist, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. That is an all-around standout, but most people would agree that Brunson is the Finals MVP. 

“OG, I think, was the MVP of the team in the Finals. Obviously, Brunson became the MVP. But it’s the small things: the chase-down block on Fox, the tip for the game, continuing to knock down threes. We knew Jalen Brunson was the head of the snake. But I think OG was the most steady person for that team,” James said on his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash.

While most people would tap Brunson as the Finals MVP, James is making a valid point about Anunoby’s impact. He was extremely impactful, and while he did not win the award, people like James are showing love for what he did in the Finals.

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