London-born NBA champion OG Anunoby has thrown his support behind the Mayor of London’s drive to expand basketball across the capital, announcing a personal investment in the
refurbishment of a community court in Camden.
The New York Knicks star returned to his home borough this week to help advance plans for the transformation of the Argyle Square basketball court — a project being delivered in partnership with Camden Council, the Mayor of London and the National Basketball Players Association Foundation.
The intervention comes as City Hall steps up efforts to make basketball more accessible to young Londoners, backed by a £2 million investment announced by the Mayor in January ahead of the NBA London Games 2026.
Of that funding, £500,000 has been earmarked to refurbish up to 10 basketball courts across the capital and introduce weatherproofing at priority sites. City Hall says the programme is intended not only to improve sporting facilities but also to create safer and more attractive spaces for young people and local communities.
Successful applicants are expected to be announced in early September, with the refurbished courts scheduled to be ready by May 2027.
For Anunoby, the initiative has a personal significance. Born in Camden, he developed his basketball career on London’s courts before moving to the United States and establishing himself as one of the NBA’s leading British players.
His return to the capital comes at a particularly significant moment in his career.
Anunoby played a key role in the New York Knicks’ historic NBA championship victory in June, helping the franchise end a 53-year wait for the title. His decisive contribution in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs — a game-winning tip-in with just 1.2 seconds remaining — became one of the defining moments of the Knicks’ championship run at Madison Square Garden.
The achievement made Anunoby the only British player in history to have won an NBA championship. His latest title followed his first NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Now, the 28-year-old is using his success on the world's biggest basketball stage to help strengthen the sport in the city where his journey began.
His contribution to the Argyle Square project is being supplemented by £50,000 from the Mayor and more than $25,000 (£18,500) from the NBPA Foundation.
The Camden court has developed into an important community hub, attracting players from across London and beyond. It is also home to the Argyle Kings, a basketball community organisation that has focused on developing local talent and encouraging wider participation in the sport.
The redevelopment will also provide an opportunity to honour the memory of local player Anthony ‘TJ’ Hibbert, who died in a car accident in 2025 at the age of 24. Camden Council is working with the Argyle Kings on plans to memorialise him as part of the wider improvements.
Basketball England has backed the project, saying the Argyle Square facility has deteriorated and is in need of significant renovation.
Anunoby has been directly involved in discussions over the proposed redevelopment during his visit to London. The court forms part of Camden Council’s wider Green Space Investment programme, which is also looking at improvements to the surrounding park.
The final proposals are expected to follow a period of consultation with local residents, with community engagement currently under way.
The Argyle Square project is part of a broader push by City Hall to position basketball as a major part of London’s sporting landscape.
Basketball is now England’s second-most popular team sport among young people after football, with around 1.15 million people playing each week. Interest in the NBA has also expanded rapidly, with UK adult fandom increasing by 24 per cent over the past three years.
London itself has more than 500,000 active basketball players across schools, clubs and community programmes.
The Mayor’s strategy extends beyond courts. In September 2024, City Hall launched a Basketball Taskforce following talks with NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, with the aim of creating a long-term strategy for the sport in the capital.
The Mayor has subsequently held discussions with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Tatum as City Hall seeks to strengthen cooperation with the league and expand opportunities for Londoners.
A further £1 million is being invested in the expansion of the Mayor’s London Coaches Programme, delivered with the NBA. The scheme is designed to increase the number of qualified coaches working with young people across the capital.
The programme has already reached around 500 community coaches, with the latest expansion expected to support a further 180 trainees.
For London, the ambition is increasingly clear: basketball is no longer being treated simply as a niche alternative to football, but as a growing part of the capital’s youth, community and sporting infrastructure.
And with one of Britain’s most successful NBA exports now putting his own money behind a court in the borough where he grew up, the Mayor’s strategy has gained a high-profile ambassador who knows first-hand what access to London’s courts can mean for an aspiring player.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m determined to ensure that every young Londoner can access high-quality places to play basketball and fulfil their potential. So I’m delighted London’s own NBA superstar OG Anunoby is backing our efforts to improve basketball facilities across London and inspire the next generation of players.
“Through my Basketball Taskforce and our partnership with the NBA, we’re improving opportunities for young Londoners and ensuring basketball can thrive in every part of our city.
“London is the sporting capital of the world, and I look forward to continuing to work with OG and the NBA to grow the game and build a healthier, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
OG Anunoby, said: “I’m very excited to partner with the Mayor of London to refurbish the basketball court in Camden. Access to a court and facilities is key for young, aspiring basketball players. Basketball can lead to a career, education but for so many it can also be a path to community and way to connect with others.”
George Aivazoglou, NBA SVP & Managing Director, Europe & Middle East, said: "Basketball continues to grow rapidly across London, and investing in quality facilities is critical to unlocking the sport's long-term potential. Courts are more than places to play – they are spaces where communities come together, young people build confidence and future talent is developed. We are proud to work alongside the Mayor of London, OG Anunoby and the NBPA to help strengthen the basketball ecosystem across the capital and create more opportunities for the next generation to engage with the game."
Leader of Camden Council Cllr Sagal Abdi-Wali, said: “Argyle Square Basketball Court has the potential to be a renowned basketball hub not just for Camden but also for London, as one of the most central courts in the capital. Our mission is to honour its legacy and build for the future of the court and its players – and with the legend that is OG Anunoby on board, this project is destined to be a slam-dunk.”
Ray Onome Akpofure, a member of the basketball community group Argyle Kings, said: “Argyle Square Gardens is not only the birthplace of the best community I've ever been a part of, but it is also where I've met some of the best friends I could ever ask for. We're all incredibly grateful for the council's willingness to collaborate with us, and we're excited to get started, see the work progress, and witness the final outcome. I hope the court continues to be the heart of the community, providing opportunities for the next generation of basketball players to grow, develop, and thrive—not only as athletes but as people.” Photo by London.gov.uk
