A tense moment broke out late in the Knicks’ 106–100 win over the Magic, with OG Anunoby right in the middle of it. After Mikal Bridges jumped a cross-court pass from Jalen Suggs to spark a fast break, he dished to Anunoby, who was stopped before he could score. A frustrated Desmond Bane then fired the ball at Anunoby, hitting him in the back. After the game, a four-time All-Star weighed in on the scuffle and said Anunoby should have handled the situation differently.
What Did A Four-Time All-Star Say About OG Anunoby
Four-Time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins weighed in on the incident between Anunoby and Bane on the Run It Back podcast and said Anunoby should have been more physical.
Cousins said, “I’m not saying punch him the in the face, but maybe slap the sh*t out of him. That’s crazy.”
“I’m not saying punch him in the face, but maybe slap the sh*t out of him.” 😳
Boogie Cousins was not feeling OG Anunoby’s response to Desmond Bane throwing the ball at him 👀@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/dQnoNPGfgI
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 8, 2025
In the aftermath, a seemingly confused Anunoby pushed Bane, who eventually received a technical foul. The two players shared a laugh after the situation, with Bane pleading his case that he was simply trying to throw the ball off Anunoby so the Magic could regain possession.
Unsurprisingly, Cousins would have done things differently than Anunoby, considering the former franchise center was known for his emotional and volatile actions at times. Cousins had over 100 technical fouls and 17 ejections in his career, earning him multiple suspensions.
By contrast, Anunoby only has nine technical fouls and two ejections in his career so far, and isn’t viewed as a player with a quick temper. Bane has shown the ability to get under the opposing player’s skin at times, notably Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, a few seasons ago.
MORE: NBA Analyst Slams Desmond Bane’s ‘Clown Behavior’ Toward OG Anunoby
The victory improved the Knicks’ record to 16-7 this season, and they are currently second in the Eastern Conference standings. The Magic dropped to 14-10 with the loss and are currently fifth in the East. Anunoby had 21 points in the win, including making five threes.
Anunoby is making a career-high 40.9% of his threes this season, which is significant as new Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown has installed a faster offense with more emphasis on perimeter shooting compared to predecessor Tom Thibodeau. Perhaps Bane’s actions were driven by the fact that the Magic couldn’t stop Anunoby.
