Future Watch: OG Anunoby Rookie Basketball Cards, Raptors – For the past few seasons, the Toronto Raptors have been a regular season force in the Eastern Conference. When it comes to the playoffs, they have been bested by Lebron James and the Cavaliers in each of the past two postseasons. Beating a player who has played in the last seven NBA Finals is a tall order. Fans in Toronto might have to wait for Lebron to cross over to the Western Conference for a shot at the Finals. In the meantime, how does a team like the Raptors build for now and the future? One way is to acquire talent that fits the mold of modern NBA rosters. At the 2017 NBA Draft, Toronto did just that by selecting 6’8” forward OG Anunoby with the 23rd pick.
OG Anunoby was born in London, England, but raised in Jefferson City, Missouri where his father is a professor at Lincoln University. His brother, Chigbo Anunoby has played football for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings. OG played high school basketball for Jefferson City High School. In his senior season he averaged 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Anunoby was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in the state of Missouri, and earned a consensus three star recruiting ranking. He committed to play college basketball for Indiana University, turning down offers from Georgia, Iowa, George Mason and Ole Miss.
In his first year for the Hosiers, Anunoby appeared in 34 games, averaging 13.7 minutes. His numbers as a freshman, 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.5 assists along with the athletic ability he showed on the court earned OG preseason All-American honors by The Sporting News heading into his sophomore season. Scouts were especially impressed with his ability to shut down future top-10 pick Jamal Murray of Kentucky in an NCAA Tournament game.
In 16 games as a sophomore, he played 25.1 minutes and averaged 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. This included wins against eventual number one NCAA Tournament seeds Kansas and North Carolina. Unfortunately, Anunoby would suffer a knee injury after 16 games that would require season-ending surgery. On April 10th, 2017, Anunoby declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft.
Anunoby has an elite body for an NBA combo forward. He stands 6’8” in shoes with a 7’2” wingspan. His length gives him the ability to guard smaller power forwards, and if he adds some muscle, even some centers. On the court, he moves like a wing with the ability to play above the rim. Anunoby will have to develop a consistent jump shot from distance, a highly sought trait for modern NBA combo forwards. Like all rookies, he needs muscle and minutes in order to hold his own defensively on the court.
Through 25 games this season, Anunoby is averaging 20.3 minutes per game, perfect for a developing rookie. He seems to have found his three-point stroke early, shooting 43.3% from behind the arc on 2.7 attempts. In a 126-113 win over the Suns on December 5th, Anunoby made 6-of-9 shots including four shots from deep. He ended the game with 16 points, two rebounds and a steal. The Raptors have to love what they’ve seen so far from their rookie. As the season rolls on, look for Anunoby to earn more minutes and shots. Collectors and fans take notice!
OG Anunoby already has some great autographed rookie cards in the market. They can be found in 2017 Panini Contenders Collegiate Draft Picks Basketball. As a top draft pick, collectors can be assured to find NBA licensed rookie cards of Anunoby in the complete portfolio of 2017-18 Panini NBA basketball card products during the 2017-18 NBA season.
Future Watch: OG Anunoby Rookie Basketball Cards, Raptors – Other Resources
Future Watch: OG Anunoby Rookie Basketball Cards, Raptors – Image Gallery
Here’s a look at cards featuring OG Anunoby in his Toronto Raptors uniform.
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