Cole Anthony is the most exciting addition the Bucks made this offseason outside of Myles Turner. As a team that needed some backcourt depth, Milwaukee was smart to snatch him up after the Grizzlies waived him. Anthony is a reliable backup ball handler with some aura to his game (as the youth would say), who should be able to make an impact on this team regardless of the size of his role.
In five years with the Magic, Anthony averaged 12.5 PPG and 3.8 APG. His best individual season was his sophomore
campaign in 2021-22, when he posted 16.3 PPG and 5.7 APG. The young guard is an uber-confident scorer from every level and a true microwave, the type of guy who can change the tides of a game when he gets hot. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands and the freedom to be creative. He’s very comfortable knocking down pull-up jumpers from two and from three. Further, Anthony is never afraid of the moment. As a rookie, he sought out and delivered on a game-winning shot, and that’s far from his only clutch highlight. He’s not just a scorer, though. He’s also a generally trustworthy decision maker who keeps turnovers at a minimum. He can run a pick-and-roll effectively and find his teammates in their spots. That’s what separates him from other score-first bench guards, such as Jordan Clarkson.
Defensively, there isn’t much to write home about with Anthony. Respectfully, he’s relatively frail in stature at 6’2”, 185lb, which limits how far his sparky competitive nature can take him. However, he’s proven that he’s not a full-on liability in the right infrastructure, as he managed to keep his head above water for the most part on the defensive-minded Magic. The Bucks have enough size to surround him with in order to make him less of a detriment on that end.
The best part about Anthony, though, is that he is a super cool dude. You can dig up plenty of funny clips of him from on and off the court, such as the one linked above. He plays with the skip and swagger of a guy who simply loves to hoop. It probably won’t be long until he becomes a fan favorite in Milwaukee.
So, what role will Anthony play for the Bucks this year? It’s unlikely he’s named the starting point guard, unless Kevin Porter Jr. struggles mightily. Off the pine, Anthony will be sharing playing time with Ryan Rollins, meaning there could be nights where the new acquisition is limited to just 10-15 minutes. Luckily, Anthony can still contribute with quick buckets in short stints, and he’s also always ready to step up and take on more responsibility in the event of injuries. His hallmark performance last season came on December 21st when he led the severely undermanned Magic to a win by putting up 35 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in 28 minutes.
Overall, picking up Cole Anthony has the potential to be a home-run move for Milwaukee, especially on a minimum contract. How confident are you in his ability to contribute this season?
Leave your thoughts below, and don’t forget to vote on the next polls before 9 a.m. CST tomorrow!
