How O.G. Anunoby Prepared for the Draft
by Jordan Maly
An interview with long-armed former Hoosier, on his recovery from knee injury and what he’ll buy with his first rookie contract.
For Ogugua (O.G.) Anunoby, tonight is the night when his dream of becoming an NBA player will turn into a reality. He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2015 and was overlooked as an incoming freshman.
He earned recognition when he locked up Jamal Murray in a win over Kentucky to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2016 NCAA tournament. He was known for his posterizing dunks (including an all-timer against Maryland) and improved his long-range shooting. Anunoby was a career 36 percent three-point shooter in his two season at Indiana.
The expectations were high for Anunoby in his sophomore year, but alas, his season was cut short in January when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Anunoby finished the season averaging 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 blocks.
Even with the injury, teams have marveled at Anunoby’s length and athleticism. His ability to guard any position on the floor makes him unique. At 6’8” with a wingspan of 7’1”, he has NBA teams salivating at the possibilities.
The Indiana Hoosiers have been known to produce players who came in overlooked and went on to be NBA players. Victor Oladipo went from a three-star recruit to the second pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Yogi Ferrell went undrafted and made his way to Player of the Month honors in February with the Dallas Mavericks. Troy Williams went undrafted and played with the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets in his rookie season.
For Anunoby, the experience from the moment he announced he would be leaving college leading up until draft night has been a whirlwind. We caught up with Anunoby as he prepared for his big night.
How is the rehabbing coming along? Are you still on track to play this season?
O.G. — Yes, the goal is still November or December. A definitive timetable isn’t set but that is the goal right now.
What has the process been for you since you announced you were entering the draft?
O.G. — It’s been a really great opportunity to be able to live out one of my dreams since I was a little kid. Really cool experience getting close to my dream. I really wish I was able to fully get on the court and work out for teams though.
How are teams responding to you?
O.G — I’m really happy with the way teams have responded to me. I’ve been getting good love from teams. It’s been an exciting time and the entire process has been sort of surreal.
How do you feel about being a potential lottery pick?
O.G. — Being a lottery pick would be nice, but I want to make sure that I go to the right situation for me. I want to be able to help a team win and make an impact right away.
What do you believe is the right situation for you?
O.G. — Not quite sure yet but honestly, whichever team I land with I will be sure to make the best of it. Any situation [in the NBA] will be the right situation. My long term goal is pretty simple in that I want to win and have team success. Like I said, winning is really important to me so that’s definitely going to be apart of my long term plan in the NBA. The mindset is to get healthy first though.
After coming off your injury, do you have any other specific goals this summer?
O.G. — Once I’m able to get back fully on the court I want to be able to work on my ball handling, pick-and-roll read and shooting. The main goal is to get 100 percent healthy and become a contributor on any team I end up with as soon as possible.
What would you say is your biggest strength opposed to some others in this draft?
O.G. — I think defense is my number one strength, having a defensive mindset in today’s NBA is important. I believe I can guard anyone in any position. I want to become one of the league’s best defenders guarding all five positions.
What’s the one thing you want to work on?
O.G — I think the one thing I can work on the most is my ball handling. I think that’s something that I feel like can be developed with hard work.
Did you have the same mindset coming into your sophomore season with Indiana that you were on a path to the Draft? Did anything change after the injury at Penn State?
O.G. — No I didn’t really waiver on that too much. I trusted myself and my body to be able to heal. I trust my confidence even after the injury that I can return to the same form before my [knee] injury and be ready to go professionally.
Did Coach Tom Crean’s firing from Indiana this season have any impact on your decision to enter the draft?
O.G. — No not really, I had the same mindset the entire season and the goal was to be able to get to the NBA even before my injury.
Do you still keep in contact with Coach Crean?
O.G. — Yes, I still talk with Coach Crean quite often. I also keep in close contact with Coach [Archie] Miller. Both have said they would be there for me in any way they can.
Where have you been spending a lot of your time working out and preparing for the NBA draft?
O.G. — I’m currently in the Los Angeles working out and getting prepared.
Are you going to be attending the draft or spending it with the family?
O.G. — I’ll be attending the NBA Draft in person. I’m looking forward to a really special night and hope to walk across that stage to shake commissioner Silver’s hand.
Have you had any mentors throughout the draft process?
O.G. — I’ve talked with Yogi [Ferrell], Troy [Williams] and Vic [Oladipo]. I still keep in close contact with my teammates from Indiana who are going through the draft process. I talk to Thomas [Bryant] almost every day, I just saw him a few days ago too. I still talk with James [Blackmon] pretty regularly.
What sort of advice did Yogi, Troy and Vic give you?
O.G. — Make sure to always work hard and that there are always going to be ups and downs. They told me to never get too high or too low. They told me to keep my head down and put the work in every single day and people will notice.
Do you feel like dealing with adversity such as your season ending injury plays to your advantage mentally and emotionally?
O.G. — I think it plays to my advantage. Some players have yet to deal with adversity and for me it was having to deal with a season ending injury during Big Ten play. I think it’s helped me mentally prepare for some of those ups and downs Troy and Yogi talked about.
Are there any players current or former in the NBA that you tried to develop your game like?
O.G. — Definitely. I feel like I try and play like Trevor Ariza, Jae Crowder and Kawhi Leonard. Ultimately I want to be like Kawhi.
How do you feel about analysts and people around the league comparing your potential to Kawhi?
O.G. — It’s definitely pretty cool to see those comparisons already. First and foremost though I have to put in the work to become that type of player. I feel like [Kawhi] and I have similar skill sets coming into the draft, similar body types, strengths and weakness. Ultimately it comes down to the work you’re willing to put in to get to that level.
Do you feel like having NCAA Tournament experience and playing in the Big Ten Conference has better prepared you for the NBA?
O.G. — Yeah I definitely feel like some of the high stakes games I played in at Indiana helped me to prepare for life in the NBA. I think playing in a competitive conference like the Big Ten definitely helped. Every team in the conference has guys with confidence and players who are going to be pros.
What’s your one favorite thing to do when you’re not on the court?
O.G. — I love listening to music. If I had to pick two of my favorite artists it would probably be Travis Scott and Young Thug. I like playing FIFA too, I like to think I’m pretty good. (laughs)
Who is your go to team in FIFA?
O.G. — Real Madrid. Christiano Ronaldo is too big and too quick.
Biggest motivator in your life?
O.G. — My dad and my older brother Chigbo. I know how hard both of them work and they instilled that in me at an early age. I used their expectations and hard work to fuel me to this point. I saw the hard work my brother put in to make the NFL and believe I can live out the same dream in the NBA with hard work.
When you were playing in high school, did you ever think becoming an NBA player could be a reality?
O.G. — I always felt like this could be a reality for me. I always believed in my skill set and my work ethic could drive me to my ultimate goal which is being able to play in the NBA. When I had the opportunity to play at Indiana it gave me to a shot to prove I was worthy. I tried every day to make the most of my opportunity.
What was the most bizarre question you were asked at the NBA Combine back in May?
O.G. — I didn’t really get anything too crazy. The one that stands out the most to me though was when I was asked “If you were driving and approaching stoplight on yellow, would you stop or go for it?” I told them I would take because I’m not afraid to take risks.
What’s going to be the first thing you buy with your rookie contract?
O.G. — I haven’t really thought about it too much. I guess if I’m heading to a new city I’m definitely going to need a car but I haven’t really thought about anything specific.
Jordan Maly is a site expert at FanSided for the Indiana Hoosiers and Big Ten Conference. He hosts the Debate-A-Bulls podcast on DASH Radio and at Almightyballer.com.
