Tag: cole anthony

LaMelo Ball and Cole Anthony finally met each other on the hardwood

Ball and Anthony have often been linked together over the years and the two players finally met each other on the hardwood on Thursday.

LaMelo Ball and Cole Anthony have often been linked together over the years coming up in the basketball scene and the two players finally met each other on the hardwood.

In fact, it was the first time the two met each other in any setting.

Ball and his Charlotte Hornets took on Anthony and the Orlando Magic on Thursday, with the third overall pick getting the best of his rookie peer. Ball produced 18 points, five assists and two rebounds while he shot 4-of-9 from 3-point range during the 123-115 victory over the Magic.

Anthony, the 15th overall pick, scored 13 points, including 11 in the first half alone, while he added four rebounds and four rebounds. He shot 4-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, in 19 minutes of work off the bench.

The two players will see each other quite a bit over the years playing in the same division but for Anthony, it was fun to finally see Ball on the court for the first time.

“That boy is good, he’s talented,” Anthony said after the game. “People have been talking about us playing for years now, I’m just happy I finally got to match up with him. We weren’t the two headliners coming in but it was still fun to be able to get out there. That’s actually the first time we’ve met, too.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X52AsYhgY5s

Ball and Anthony were initially scheduled to play each other in high school in December 2018, but extenuating circumstances regarding Ball’s eligibility after playing professionally forced some opposing teams to cancel their games against him and the SPIRE Institute.

The game between Ball and Anthony never happened but the two have kept it friendly with each other over the years.

“We have been real cool and it has always been love on social media,” Anthony said. “That’s actually the first time in person so I mean it’s nothing but love for him. He’s super talented.”

The two each showed flashes on the court on Thursday, with Ball seemingly finding his shot from deep while Anthony continued to show progress after a “terrible” preseason debut game.

As two first-round picks in the same draft class, Ball and Anthony figure to have some memorable battles on the court in the years to come. That should make up for not seeing much of each other previously.

The Hornets and Magic meet again to wrap up preseason play on Saturday.

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Markelle Fultz showing rookie Cole Anthony ‘the tricks of the trade’

The former No. 1 overall pick has been offering advice to Anthony in an effort to give him the best chance of being successful this season.

Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz is far from a seasoned veteran but the former No. 1 overall pick has taken rookie Cole Anthony under his wing this season in an effort to give him the best chance of being successful on the court.

Fultz, who is entering his fourth season in the NBA, often speaks with Anthony regarding certain coverages he will see from opposing teams and ways to work around them. He gives Anthony tips and pointers but admitted that the best way for him to learn is by experience.

“I want to give him the best chance to be successful and help our team,” Fultz said on Sunday. “We are going to need him this year. I think he is going to be a big part of it. I have just been talking to him, anything that he needs defensively. I’m just trying to help him make easier reads, things that helped me kind of pick it up quicker. I’m just trying to give him all the tricks of the trade to try to help him out.”

The advice from Fultz, plus some film study on Saturday, allowed Anthony to bounce back from what he deemed a terrible performance in his preseason debut. Anthony scored 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 116-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and looked to be more comfortable on the floor.

Following his debut, Anthony criticized his performance in all aspects of the game. Most notably, he was upset with himself for not finding his teammates better on the court and not choosing his spots better on offense. He rated his overall performance in his debut very poorly but earned a higher grade from himself on Sunday.

“We didn’t win so that’s one thing that’s bringing [my grade] down,” Anthony said. “Other than that, I just had some careless turnovers. I just gotta keep my head up. I think I really can find my teammates, I just gotta get into a rhythm a little bit more. I’m still getting comfortable out there. The game still hasn’t fully slowed down for me yet but I’m getting comfortable that’s for sure.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEGO6w-N_K8

Orlando selected Anthony to inject the offense with another ball-handler that can run the floor and penetrate into the paint. The Magic are better with movement and Anthony gives the team another offensive threat at the guard position behind Fultz.

The combination of Fultz and Anthony projects to give opposing teams problems containing their penetration. Fultz scored a team-high 21 points on Sunday and showed the aggressiveness that will present challenges on a nightly basis. Whether or not they play together, the two could eventually play similar roles once Anthony can pick things up.

“I think we can be really good,” Fultz said. “Our tempo is a big thing that Coach is trying to emphasize this year so being able to have two guards, I can be interchangeable and he can be interchangeable. We have two guys that can put pressure on the rim and also play pick and roll, that’s always a plus. I think it’s going to be very hard to guard down the road as we continue to learn each other’s games.”

After splitting a pair of games with the Atlanta Hawks, the Magic will return to Orlando and host the Charlotte Hornets for two games to close out the preseason.

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Cole Anthony graded his first NBA preseason game as ‘terrible’

Magic rookie Cole Anthony was his harshest critic on Friday after his first preseason game against the Hawks.

Athletes are often their own harshest critics and if there were ever a time that statement rang true, it was listening to Cole Anthony describe his performance after his first preseason game Friday night with the Orlando Magic.

Anthony tallied seven points, three assists and one rebound in 20 minutes of work off the bench during the 116-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. He shot just 3-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, while he committed five fouls and turned the ball over three times.

“I didn’t play well, I’m going to be honest,” Anthony said after the game on a Zoom call with reporters. “I was probably a little nervous out there but once I got into the game, I realized that, at the end of the day, this is basketball and what I love to do. I felt like I got into a little bit of a rhythm, the game started to open up for me but my overall performance was terrible.”

The 15th overall pick took his performance all in stride and vowed to correct his mistakes during film study on Saturday. The opportunity to play did give Anthony a better understanding of where to find his teammates on the floor and how to choose his spots on offense better.

Orlando selected Anthony to inject the offense with another ball-handler that can run the floor and penetrate into the paint. The Magic are better with movement and Anthony gives the team another offensive threat, something he showed brief flashes of on Friday.

Anthony, like all rookies, has been tasked with learning a new system with the Magic in a condensed time frame. Magic head coach Steve Clifford thought Anthony had his best practice of training camp earlier this week and believes the new information is resonating with him.

Clifford said on Friday that Anthony did some good things on the floor in his first contest against an opposing team. The film study on Saturday will help him make adjustments going into his next game on Sunday against the Hawks again.

Anthony said afterward that he would bounce back and be ready to play on Sunday. The benefit of playing in the NBA, he said, is that there is often a quick turnaround in between games so his “terrible” performance will soon be forgotten…

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Steve Clifford: Cole Anthony had ‘by far’ his best practice on Monday

The first-round pick turned in his best performance in practice on Monday with the Magic.

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Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford offered some words of encouragement for first-round pick Cole Anthony on Monday, saying the former North Carolina Tar Heels guard had his best day of practice since training camp began.

Anthony, like all rookies this year, will face an uphill battle with learning the playbook in such a condensed time frame prior to the start of the 2020-21 season. The task has presented its usual challenges for a first-year player but Anthony showed progress in practice on Monday.

“Today was his best day, for sure,” Clifford said. “We played two full quarters and I thought it was by far [his best]. When we got done today, I saw [Nikola Vucevic] go over to him and put his arm around him, I think more to say, ‘See, you’re going to get there.’ Listen, it’s [hard] for these guys to come in and learn this stuff. It’s a lot different.”

Clifford said that he wants to get Anthony comfortable playing at point guard this season before experimenting with him in different lineups. The Magic announced that Terrence Ross suffered a left big toe injury but Clifford said Anthony will not be used to replace Ross at the two if he misses time.

The Magic kick off their two-game preseason schedule on Friday as the team will have additional time to practice and continue preparations ahead of the season. Clifford has previously said Anthony has picked up things quickly, an encouraging sign after only a handful of practices.

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Cole Anthony wants to honor the family name by wearing the No. 50

Anthony said he is excited to have the chance to wear the No. 50 with the Magic, which is the same number his father wore in the NBA.

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Orlando Magic first-round pick Cole Anthony chose to wear the No. 50 as his jersey number this season to honor his father, Greg, who wore that number throughout much of his 11-year NBA career.

Cole wore No. 2 during his lone season at North Carolina after arriving at Chapel Hill as a top-five recruit. He was unable to wear 50 in college because the program retired it to honor former three-time All-American Tyler Hansbrough.

His father also wore No. 2 during his NBA career.

On Friday, Anthony said that he was honored to keep his family name alive with his jersey number but first had a little bit of fun with his father, who retired in 2002.

“I’m just trying to keep that boy Greg’s name alive, he’s kinda fading right now. He’s trending downward,” Anthony jokingly said. “No, but it means a lot just to be able to wear the same number that my father was able to wear. I’m happy about it, happy I was able to wear it at the highest level possible. Hopefully, I can bring a little energy back to the Anthony name.”

Cole had a rather disappointing season with the Tar Heels after battling through an injury that limited him to 22 games played but he is eager to get to work with the Magic. He took part in his first practice on Friday and had the opportunity to play at point guard during stretches.

He previously said he has never been as prepared as he is now with the Magic and he, along with the rest of the NBA, will have a chance to show off his game when the preseason kicks off on Dec. 11 against the Atlanta Hawks.

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Magic sign 15th overall pick Cole Anthony to rookie-scale contract

Cole Anthony, the 15th overall pick in the NBA draft, on Saturday signed his rookie-scale contract with the Magic.

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Cole Anthony, the 15th overall pick in the NBA draft, on Saturday signed his rookie-scale contract with the Orlando Magic, the team announced in a press release.

Anthony will earn $2,737,600 next season as the No. 15 pick.

The 20-year-old arrives in Orlando following a disappointing freshman season with North Carolina. He missed time with an injury that limited him while he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, four assists and 1.3 steals in 22 games with the Tar Heels.

Anthony is said to be fully healthy again and looking to turn things around with the Magic. He provided the basketball world perhaps one of the best reactions to being drafted and said he can’t wait to get to work with the Magic next season.

The Magic clearly believe Anthony can help the team on the court and maybe have gotten a bit of steal in him. He likely would have been drafted higher had it not been for his injury last season and he is ready to prove his doubters wrong.

Anthony will wear the No. 50 with the Magic, the same number his father wore throughout his NBA career.

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Cole Anthony will wear the same jersey number as his father

Magic first-round pick Cole Anthony has chosen to wear the same number that his father, Greg, wore throughout much of his NBA career.

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Orlando Magic first-round pick Cole Anthony has chosen to wear the No. 50 as his jersey number, the same number that his father, Greg, wore throughout much of his 11-year NBA career.

Of course, Greg played four seasons with the New York Knicks and also had stops with five other teams. He kicked off his career by wearing No. 2 with the Knicks but switched to No. 50, which he also wore with the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.

He also donned No. 2 with the Vancouver Grizzlies and Seattle SuperSonics.

Cole wore No. 2 during his lone season at North Carolina after arriving at Chapel Hill as a top-five recruit. He had a rather disappointing season with the Tar Heels after battling through an injury that limited him to 22 games played but still showed flashes when healthy.

The Magic selected Anthony with the 15th overall pick on Wednesday and he arrived in Orlando on Friday. He is said to be 100% healthy now and is ready to begin his career with the Magic following an inconsistent showing at North Carolina.

“I ain’t never been more prepared for a moment in my life,” Anthony said. “I’m ready to step up to the NBA. I’m ready to go. It’s just not a matter of me being cocky. It’s just a matter of I’ve put in a lot of hard work. I’m ready to go.”

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Spike Lee had a priceless reaction to the Magic drafting Cole Anthony

Award-winning film producer Spike Lee was among those in attendance at Cole Anthony’s draft party on Wednesday.

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With the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic on Wednesday selected guard Cole Anthony from the University of North Carolina.

Anthony was widely projected to be selected in the middle of the first round and that proved to be true when NBA commissioner Adam Silver called his name at No. 15. Anthony said last week that the Magic were one of three teams he worked out with prior to the draft.

Following the selection, the camera panned to his draft party, which included his father, Greg, who played for the New York Knicks in the mid-1990s, and the rest of his family. However, one person caught fans a bit off-guard: Award-winning film director Spike Lee.

Of course, Lee has been a noted fan of the Knicks for several decades and often sits courtside at Madison Square Garden. He was in attendance in the mid-90s when Greg played with the Knicks and has known the Anthony family for quite some time.

As for Anthony’s reaction, the 20-year-old was visibly emotional after enduring a disappointing freshman season at North Carolina. He was excited to move onto the next step of his career and that will soon take place in Central Florida.

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Watch Spike Lee’s hilarious photobomb of Cole Anthony after he was picked by the Magic

The Knicks have never made Spike this happy.

Spike Lee is one of the most notable basketball fans out there — specifically when it comes to the New York Knicks.

So it’s absolutely no surprise that he would have lots of connections with players around the league, both former and current. But absolutely nobody expected to see him at Cole Anthony’s house celebrating the biggest moment of the former Tarheel’s life.

Anthony was picked 15th overall by the Orlando Magic and was surrounded by family and friends when he was drafted. Among those people? Spike Lee, apparently.

The legendary director popped up out of nowhere and into the camera when the pick was announced.

Easily the best photobomb of the draft.

When you start to think about it, it makes a little bit more sense. Cole Anthony is the son of former Knicks guard Greg Anthony. Lee is a Knicks superfan, so of course, he’d be cool with some of the players.

But, still, everyone was surprised to see him there.

Even in a virtual draft, Spike just can’t stay away. Hilarous. Shoutout to Anthony, though. Just another amazing touch on a special night for him.

2020 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0: Final update ranking Top 100 prospects

After numerous delays and postponements, front offices and draftniks have had more time to analyze the 2020 NBA draft than any previous year.

After numerous delays and postponements, front offices and draftniks have had more time to analyze the 2020 NBA draft than any previous year.

Originally scheduled for June, the ongoing pandemic pushed the big night back by five months. While this may cause some teams to overthink their decisions, it gave analysts plenty of time to study all of the top prospects eligible in this class.

This year, players had to participate in a mostly virtual pre-draft process. On the bright side, this meant that teams had the opportunity to interview more candidates than ever before.

However, the number of in-person visits were incredibly limited due to the restrictive parameters set by the league. Similarly, the NBA draft combine was conducted without the typical scrimmages where players can separate themselves from the others with impressive on-court performances.

Overall, the players that stood out in this pre-draft process had a different path to recognition than any other year. College basketball players did not have the opportunity to showcase themselves during March Madness. The nation’s top seniors did not get to participate in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

As such, executives will rely mostly on the existing game footage as well as the intel they gathered during their conversations with the prospects. We also depended on similar strategies, getting access to one-on-one interviews with more than three dozen prospects and exchanging our thoughts with various scouts across the league.

This helped us put together our final big board, looking at the Top 100 players ranked on their potential to make a difference for teams in the NBA.

Relevant statistics were pulled from Synergy Sports Tech, Bart-Torvik, KenPom, Open Look Analytics and RealGM. Note that the age listed for each player references how old they will be on the night of the draft.