It’s not uncommon for NBA players to have connections with fans and celebrities who come to attend their games.
However, Suni Lee and OG Anunoby took on a different meaning of that this past season.
The six-time Olympic medalist, a self-proclaimed fan of basketball, was seen sitting courtside often under the Madison Square Garden lights to watch the Knicks go on their run to the Eastern Conference Finals — their first in 25 years.
Following several of those games, Lee would be seen talking to Anunoby, which led fans to spread relationship speculations like wild fire on social media.
Lee, 22, put all the perceived notions to bed recently.
“Honestly, it just started off as a joke, and I feel like social media kind of just, like, took it further than that,” the the Team USA star told Mirror U.S. Sports. “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 [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.”
“There’s nothing there,” she added. “We’re just friends. I fully support all of them, and I support the Knicks.”
The Saint Paul, Minnesota native went to explain that she has been able to frequent Knicks games ever since she moved to New York around the same time as Towns’ blockbuster trade to the Knicks last season headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
She knew Towns while he spent nine years with the Timberwolves, who drafted him first overall in 2015.
“I met Jordyn and KAT when I was in Minnesota, and when they were in Minnesota as well,” Lee said. “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.”
On Wednesday, Lee was recognized for her efforts within the last year and won Best Comeback Athlete at the ESPYs.
She won three medals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris — gold in the women’s team all-around, and bronze in both the individual all-around and the uneven bars.