Olympic star Suni Lee spoke exclusively to Mirror U.S. Sports on her relationship with New York star OG Anunoby after she was spotted a numerous Knicks games throughout the season
20:53 ET, 16 Jul 2025Updated 20:53 ET, 16 Jul 2025
Olympic star Suni Lee shared the truth on her relationship with New York Knicks star OG Anunoby(Image: Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA players often have a multitude of fans and celebrities watching their games, often sitting courtside as they watched the best players in the world dominate in their respective craft.
That was the case for Sunisa Lee and the New York Knicks this season.
Lee, a self-proclaimed enjoyer of basketball, often was spotted courtside in Madison Square Garden, watching the team on its quest for a title, which ultimately ended in the Eastern Conference Finals. After certain games, cameras caught Lee talking to Knicks star OG Anunoby, leading to speculation by fans on social media that there could be more to their relationship than meets the eye.
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However, the Team USA star shot down any perceived notions about her and Anunoby that fans might have conjured. In particular, the 22-year-old made it clear where the two stand and how social media pushed a relationship further than it actually was.
“Honestly, it just started off as a joke, and I feel like social media kind of just, like, took it further than that,” the Olympic star exclusively told Mirror U.S. Sports on behalf of Raising Cane’s when asked about social media’s perception of her meeting with Anunoby after games.
“But yeah, we’re just friends, and I’m really good friends with a bunch of the guys on the Knicks team, like [Karl-Anthony Towns], and then also I’m really close to [socialite and Towns’ partner Jordyn Woods] as well, so it’s cool to see them doing their thing. Honestly, I just enjoy watching basketball, which is why I went to most of the games.”
Along with sharing why she was in Madison Square Garden, Lee made sure to cement the fact that she and Anunoby are just acquaintances, nothing more. “There’s nothing there. We’re just friends. I fully support all of them, and I support the Knicks,” she continued with a laugh.
Suni Lee spoke to the Mirror U.S. Sports on behalf of Raising Cane’s(Image: Raising Cane’s)
The 22-year-old star also revealed that being able to root for the Knicks was made easier by the fact that she moved to New York roughly around the same time as Towns’ trade to the Knicks. Before the two arrived in New York, they had known of each other from their time in Minnesota.
Lee was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, while Towns was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. The star big man was a mainstay in Minnesota before he was dealt to New York for a package headlined by Knicks All-Star Julius Randle in a trade that saw both teams make the conference finals in their respective conferences.
Because of their roots, it stands to reason that the two were able to link up at some point before Towns was traded to the Knicks. That longstanding relationship aided Lee in settling into life in the Big Apple as she continued to grow as a person and professional.
She added: “I met Jordyn and KAT when I was in Minnesota, and when they were in Minnesota as well. And then when I moved to New York, he got traded, so it was really nice to see some familiar faces in New York and just keep that friendship.”
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Along with Lee being recognized at Knicks games for her interactions with Anunoby, the Olympic star also was recognized by ESPN, being named one of the nominees for the 2025 ESPY Best Comeback Athlete award.
Though she was selected to represent the United States alongside Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, eventually winning gold, Lee admitted that getting to that point was difficult.
“It feels amazing to be getting nominated for the Best Comeback Athlete award. It was a really long journey. And I feel like only I and the people around me really know how hard it was to get there.
“So to go through Paris and to just be where I am right now, with all of the amazing opportunities that I’ve been able to get, it’s been absolutely surreal. But I’m just so excited for tonight. And I’m really, I’m really excited for the other nominees as well,” she concluded.