While the Knicks push toward their first NBA title since 1973, OG Anunoby is also capturing attention far beyond the arena—courtside fans like Anne Hathaway and Martha Stewart, plus a shoe campaign with Skechers that has already gone viral twice this postseaso
For weeks, the basketball talk around the Knicks has been loud—until it wasn’t. Because every time OG Anunoby steps into his role, something else starts to follow: the sneakers.
In New York, it’s not just the postseason stats that draw attention. It’s the front-row curiosity, the high-profile glances, the way Anunoby’s calm presence seems to pull recognizable names into the same frame. Actor Anne Hathaway, for one, has told a story about being hit by that moment in person.
On The Tonight Show in April, Hathaway recounted a Madison Square Garden game from November 2024 against the Chicago Bulls, when Anunoby dove toward her seats and “time slowed down.” It was the kind of courtside encounter that doesn’t just become a memory—it becomes a reason to keep watching.
Anunoby, 28, has been in New York since a 2023 trade. Since then. his performances have been measurable on the stat sheet. but the growing crowd of high-profile fans paying attention from the front row suggests a different kind of impact is spreading too: a fascination with the player who rarely asks for the spotlight.
U.S. Olympic gymnast Suni Lee helped spark online buzz after a courtside photo with Anunoby, reinforcing that his appeal has reached well beyond basketball fandom.
And then there’s Martha Stewart—steady, unhurried, and already familiar with Madison Square Garden this postseason as a regular and as a Skechers ambassador. “OG has such a calm confidence about him,” Stewart told Andscape. “I think that resonates both on and off the court.”
Stewart’s connection isn’t theoretical. It runs through a Skechers partnership that has made Anunoby’s personality part of the brand’s visibility—not just his defensive impact. “Signing with Skechers was an easy decision for me,” Anunoby told Andscape. “How personal the relationship feels has been very refreshing.”.
Since signing with Skechers last year, Anunoby has helped lead the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance in nearly three decades. In the 2026 playoffs, he has averaged 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
As the Knicks continue their Finals run, that spotlight has only sharpened. For Stewart, it’s the same reason she connects with Anunoby on and off court. “What I find most appealing is that he lets his work speak for itself,” she said. “He doesn’t need to draw attention to himself. There’s something very refreshing about that. He seems comfortable with who he is, and I think people genuinely connect with that.”.
The sneakers have become part of that conversation. Anunoby’s Skechers shoes—often a player-exclusive version of the Nexus model—have turned into a subtle postseason focal point. This playoffs. his cream-colored pairs have gone viral twice. with Stewart playing a visible role by sharing a game photo of the shoes on Instagram.
After Stewart posted that photo, Anunoby sent her an autographed pair. The details matter here: she received a pair in size 15.5 from the 6-foot-7 forward.
The design choices look intentional rather than flashy. Anunoby’s footwear aesthetic is described as intentionally restrained, avoiding loud colorways in favor of a more balanced, wearable look. He has said the colorway was inspired in part by a trip to Europe last summer. including muted tones of taxis he saw in Germany.
“I wanted a shoe that was sleek and somewhat monochromatic, while also adding pops of color,” Anunoby said. He added that Stewart’s support “was really cool and meaningful, especially in the playoffs.”
Stewart’s involvement has also been tied to the way Anunoby talks about the partnership—personal, not performative. “I think Martha understood exactly what went into making the shoe,” Anunoby said. “It was really cool and meaningful to have her give me a shout, especially in the playoffs.”
For the Knicks, the stakes of this moment are clear: they are aiming to win their first NBA title since 1973. For Anunoby, the race is also about a long-anticipated pairing—his potential to become the first NBA Finals MVP to wear Skechers in competition.
And Stewart is already imagining where their collaboration could go next. She said she would want it to feel “elevated and sophisticated while still being wearable and functional. ” adding that she’s “always inspired by natural textures and timeless colors — creams. soft greens. rich neutrals. and perhaps a touch of blue inspired by New York.”.
If everything aligns, Anunoby will be wearing a Martha Stewart-Skechers collaboration in October, and the Knicks will be in the conversation for a championship ring in front of the leading ladies who love him.
Win or lose, Stewart frames it as something bigger than brand visibility—Skechers becoming part of how New York talks about basketball. “Basketball is such an important part of New York culture,” Stewart said. “It’s wonderful to see Skechers become part of that conversation.”
On this run, Anunoby keeps doing his job on the court. But in the stands and on the feeds, the evidence is also clear: people are paying attention to the quiet details—right down to what he’s lacing up.
OG Anunoby Knicks Skechers Martha Stewart Anne Hathaway Suni Lee Madison Square Garden sneakers NBA Finals 2026 playoffs