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Projected first-round pick Cole Anthony on Friday denied the apparent notion that he was labeled as a bad teammate during his time at North Carolina last season.
Anthony has been knocked some during the pre-draft process for being a problem in the locker room last season following an inconsistent showing. He was often criticized throughout the season when things were bad and those questions have been front and center prior to the NBA draft.
The 20-year-old said during his pre-draft media availability that nearly every team he has interviewed with has asked him about his reputation. Anthony vehemently denied the accusations and told reporters the rumors are simply not true.
“It’s very much false,” Anthony said. “If you base it off my play and say I made a lot of bad decisions, you might think I’m a bad teammate. I respect your opinion but I’m just going to say it’s wrong; it’s incorrect. I’m a super supportive guy. I want to see all of my teammates succeed as much as I want to see myself succeed, if not more. I don’t know where the narrative comes from but it is what it is.”
Anthony averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, four assists and 1.3 steals in 22 games with the Tar Heels but experienced a disappointing season. He dealt with an injury that derailed his season a bit and likely helped fuel the rumors regarding his locker room presence.
While his reputation took a hit, several of his teammates defended him on social media last month and disagreed with the notion that he was a negative influence on the team. From Jawad Williams to Armando Bacot, they each agreed Anthony was a great person to be around.
As far as his interviews with teams, Anthony said that he has met virtually with several, including the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, and has worked out privately with the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. He will also speak with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA draft is scheduled to begin on Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.
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