The Knicks are celebrating their historic championship victory. Just days after the team won their first NBA championship title in 53 years on Saturday, teammates Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges made appearances on the June 15 broadcast of the “TODAY” show.
The cat is out of the bag: OG Anunoby is a cat lover.
The New York Knicks star and NBA champion has become a feline advocate this offseason, going from hero on the court for fans to hero off the court for cats.
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WATCH HERE“I love cats,” Anunoby told NBC Sports on Wednesday. “I love dogs. I love all animals — but especially cats.”
So much so that, two months after helping New York City shelter cats get adopted, he again has partnered with Royal Canin and VCA Animal Hospitals to encourage cat owners to bring their pets for annual veterinarian visits to receive routine wellness exams.
“Just wanting to help cats in need and spread awareness about cat health and cat safety and getting cats to the vet,” he said.
He compared regular vet check-ups to the preventative medical care received by professional athletes, saying cats shouldn’t have to wait until something is wrong to see an expert.
“I rely on my trainers for recovery and just staying on top of my game. So, I don't wait until something's off to go and get help,” he said. “All of that stuff is preventative in sports. So, I think that's what people need to do with their cats. Preventative care is very important.”
At the vet and on the court. In June, Anunoby helped the Knicks capture their first championship in 53 years following his miraculous, last-second Game 4 tip-in that completed a 29-point comeback victory. The Knicks went on to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 to capture the title, and days later, Anunoby began his first feline initiative with Royal Canin, a nutritional pet food brand.
He named five cats that were available for adoption at Animal Care Centers of NYC to be part of “OG’s Starting Five.” Three of the five Anunoby selected were adopted within days, including Damu, an 11-year-old with some medical issues. The remaining two cats found their forever home shortly after.
“And who knows how many people came in thinking they were going to meet one of those five and then they ended up adopting another cat," Katy Hansen, director of communications for the Animal Care Centers of NYC, said at the time.
Now Anunoby wants to make sure cats get the medical care they deserve — with data from Mars Veterinary Health showing that, of the more than three million pets seen at its U.S. general veterinary practices in 2025, cats accounted for only about 20% of visits.
“Together with OG, we want to remind cat owners everywhere to take a simple but meaningful step for their pets: schedule that vet visit today,” Jennifer Cullen of Royal Canin said in a statement.
Anunoby said he has also spent part of the offseason trying to sharpen all aspects of his game.
“Just trying to be the ultimate player all around,” he said.
Even after averaging 21.2 points and 4.8 rebounds over five games in the NBA Finals, winning a long-awaited championship and becoming the cat’s meow in New York.
“We won and it’s over now, so of course we’ll always celebrate it and always be proud of it and always cherish everything that led up to it, but as we prepare for the new season we’re just looking forward and looking ahead,” he said. “The goal is doing is all over again.”
All while learning how to be a responsible pet owner — although Anunoby admits he does not have a cat of his own just yet.
“Because of the season and the scheduling and all the travel I have to do, it's hard to have one,” he said. “So, I don't have one right now, but I do want to get one in the future.”
