Raptors’ OG Anunoby on role, trade rumours, reading and long walks

Raptors forward OG Anunoby discusses the various trade rumours that circulated around his name, the reported dissatisfaction with his role on Toronto and what he did for a fun during the off-season. Check out all of the Raptors media day availabilities on our YouTube channel.

Video Transcript

- Hey, OG, welcome back. Obviously, there were a lot of rumors around your name this off-season. How happy are you and to be back in Toronto and how happy are you with your position on this team?

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, definitely happy to be back in Toronto, just excited for the season, just ready to start the year.

- Hello, OG How are you?

OG ANUNOBY: Good, How are you, though?

- I'm good, thank you. We've been informed by the staff that you are now O period G period instead of OG all one word, what was the change?

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, just a change, yeah. Nothing serious, yeah. It used to be listed, O dot, G dot, so just going back to that, I just noticed it was just OG.

- We're sorry, so it's our fault for [INAUDIBLE]?

OG ANUNOBY: No, no, no, it's OK. Yeah, it's all good. It's not a-- I'm not mad about it.

- All right, just a small change to know what is going on. OG, just over here, Adam from Daily Hive, I wanted to ask, Scotty said on a recent stream he was doing, he said that you were his favorite player in the NBA and the guy that he wanted on his team. What does it mean for a teammate like Scotty to say that about you?

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, it means a lot, you know? I would say the same about him. I love playing with him, so I'm not surprised he said that. He's a good friend of mine, really close, so I'm not surprised he said that.

OREN WEISFELD: Hey, OG, Oren Weisfeld, Yahoo Sports Canada, can you just tell us a little bit about your summer, both on the court, any specific skills you've been working on, and then also off the court, I think Masai mentioned you might have done a camp, so anything that you've kind of done this summer that you want to tell us about?

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, just on the court, just working out, just trying to sharpen everything, shooting, ball handling, passing, you get better shooting off the dribble and finishing both hands. Just focusing on that for the most part, and then off the court, yeah, just kids camps, just being around helping kids out, teach them fundamentals. It's fun for me, so I like doing that. Pardon?

- [INAUDIBLE].

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, I did-- I helped out one camp in London, and then I helped out with Thad's camp in Memphis.

LINDSAY DUNN: Hey, OG, Lindsay from City NEWS Toronto, two questions for you, what was the most enjoyable thing you did this summer that was not basketball related?

OG ANUNOBY: Most enjoyable thing, I don't know, probably just--

LINDSAY DUNN: So was that good, or--

OG ANUNOBY: Yeah, I had a good summer, but the most enjoyable thing? I don't know. I guess, reading a book.

LINDSAY DUNN: What book?

OG ANUNOBY: I don't know what book I read. I don't know, I'll say, going for a walk, going to a nice walks. Yeah, with good views, watch the sunset, stuff like that.

LINDSAY DUNN: Sounds like a good time.

OG ANUNOBY: It was fun.

LINDSAY DUNN: And then, secondly, how much time did you give yourself after the season, or did you need to reset mentally not to then get ready for a new season?

OG ANUNOBY: Not too long. I'll certainly just watch the playoff games and relax when I get bored, so go back to the gym, start shooting. But I try to take some time off, but it's hard, I get bored. Yeah, that's where the going for walks comes in.

IAN HARRISON: Hey, OG, other side, over here, Ian Harrison, AP. You said you loved playing with Scottie, why is he so much fun to play with?

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, just-- I don't know, he's just fun to play with, like, he's a very joyful person. As you said, he gets excited for not just his success, but other's success, so it's just fun to play with. We have a lot of guys like that, but, yeah, Scottie, he's fun to play with, very unselfish, and just really talented player.

JOSH LEWENBERG: Hey, OG, Josh Lindberg, TSN. How's it going?

OG ANUNOBY: Good, how are you?

JOSH LEWENBERG: Good, thank you. In terms of the speculation and the rumors, one of the things that was said over the offseason is that you may not be entirely happy with your role, you may want a bigger role. And of course, that's not unusual, I would assume most players in the NBA want a bigger role. Have you had conversations with Nick about expanding your role this season? And what do you think an expanded role might look like for you, or where do you think some opportunities are this year for you to expand your role?

OG ANUNOBY: I mean, even when the report came out, I was kind of surprised by it. I just woke up one day, and I saw that. Kind of surprised by it, but even like, the role stuff, I haven't really talked to Nick about role. I just try to get better every summer, and I think everything will fall into place. I don't really worry about that. You can't really worry about that.

- [INAUDIBLE].

RYAN WOLSTAT: Hey, OG, Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun. I'm just curious, they were talking about how you're going to more of a leadership role now you're like-- you're obviously not old, but one of the older heads on the young group. How does things change for you in terms of how you relate to the other players and try to help them along?

OG ANUNOBY: Oh, just, like, we have a lot of young guys, so just try to teach them stuff I was taught when I was younger. I had a lot of good vets, so passing on the stuff I was taught and just teaching them about like how we play, how to fit in, how to help the team win. And then, even off the court, just teaching them stuff about nutrition, taking care of their body, and then just try to be more vocal. Pulled us aside, tell them what they need to do, what they're not doing, just be a leader that way.

SAMSON FOLK: Hey, OG, Samson Folk, Raptors Republic. Last year, you were the Raptors leader in post touches, and assists out of the post, and points out of the post, was that something that you're looking to build on going forward, or other types of initiation, something you want to stretch your legs in?

OG ANUNOBY: Yeah, of course, I mean, I always want to-- if I'm in the post and I see someone open, I'm always going to pass. And even if I have the ball up top, I see sort of-- I'm always going to pass, so just making the right play is the main thing. Trying to be calm and just collect it, and just make the right play, whether it's a shot for me, shot for someone else, pass. Making the right play is the main goal.