Anthony was the first known player to commit to the event while the news of Green participating first surfaced on Tuesday. They will be joined by New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin and Golden State Warriors guard Juan Toscano-Anderson on Feb. 19 in Cleveland, Ohio.
All-Star Weekend will return to its usual three-night format after it was altered last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Slam Dunk Contest will headline Saturday night and will follow the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest.
The coverage of the three events will begin at 8 p.m. EST on TNT.
Anthony spoke it into existence on Wednesday and will now only refer to Wagner as the Rookie of the Year.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner on Tuesday was named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month to become just the eighth player in franchise history to win the award.
Magic guard Cole Anthony was happy to see Wagner earn some recognition after a sensational month. Wagner averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists, posting the second-highest December scoring average in team history since Shaquille O’Neal (20.6 points).
Wagner leads all rookie players in offense and has scored in double figures in 21 consecutive games, the longest streak by a first-year player this season. He produced a rookie season-high of 38 points on Dec. 28 and leads the class with 10 20-point performances.
The recent surge by Wagner now has him in the early-season conversation for Rookie of the Year. The race had been dominated by the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Scottie Barnes, but Wagner has now seemingly entered the discussion.
Anthony spoke it into existence on Wednesday night.
Franz, that’s my little man right there. He works his tail off. He loves the game. He understands the game. He thinks the game at a high level. I’m really, really a fan of that kid. He is a good kid. He wants to see others succeed.
I’m just super, super happy he finally got a little bit of credit. I told him I’m going to start calling him ROY — Rookie of the Year. Because that is what he is going to be. I’m speaking it into existence. I just want to keep seeing him get better and I think he has a chance to be a heck of a player.
Wagner has emerged as perhaps the top two-way first-year player this season. With his vast offensive repertoire, and ability to defend nearly every position on the court, Wagner brings quite a bit of versatility to the floor and that is on display each game.
The early display by Wagner has certainly been one bright spot for the Magic (7-32) through the first half of the season. The team is rebuilding and the season will be mostly a developmental period, but Wagner has looked to have exceeded expectations early.
With Anthony and the Magic advocating on behalf of Wagner, and the eighth pick emerging as a potential star in Orlando, the Rookie of the Year talk should only continue as the season progresses.
As part of an ongoing series at HoopsHype, we’re breaking down three interesting topics we have seen around the NBA throughout the season.
As part of an ongoing series at HoopsHype, we’re breaking down three interesting topics we have seen around the NBA throughout the season.
Of course, the name of this column is derived from basketball’s three-second violation rule. With that in mind, the goal of this exercise is to observe three subjects about the game. We want to explain the key to why it is happening while also providing context on what makes it interesting.
Here are three more of our highlights from the NBA’s 2021-22 season:
As part of an ongoing series at HoopsHype, we’re breaking down three interesting topics we have seen around the NBA throughout the season.
Of course, the name of this column is derived from basketball’s three-second violation rule. With that in mind, the goal of this exercise is to observe three subjects about the game. We want to explain the key to why it is happening while also providing context on what makes it interesting.
Here are three more of our highlights from the NBA’s 2021-22 season:
Eric Gordon scored 24 points on 70%+ shooting and hit the game-winning shot as the Rockets won a fifth straight game by holding off Cole Anthony and the Magic.
Veteran guard Eric Gordon scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting (71.4%), including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%), leading the young Houston Rockets to an improbable five-game winning streak with Friday’s 118-116 home victory (box score) over Orlando.
Fittingly, Gordon hit the game-winning shot on a runner with only 1.6 seconds left. That lifted the Rockets (6-16) to a feel-good win at Toyota Center over the Magic (5-19), despite losing prized young point guard Kevin Porter Jr. to another re-aggravation of his left thigh contusion.
Cole Anthony led Orlando with 26 points (10-of-20 shooting) and 7 assists, but his attempt at a winning 3-pointer at the buzzer was just short as Houston escaped with the win. Other Houston players to score in double-figures included Christian Wood (20 points, 14 rebounds), Jae’Sean Tate (15 points, 7 rebounds), Garrison Matthews (16 points), and rookie big man Alperen Sengun (13 points, 5 assists).
See below for highlights and analysis of individual player performances by the Rockets from Friday’s game. Houston will look to extend its unlikely winning streak to six games when New Orleans (7-18) visits Toyota Center on Sunday night, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central.
All you need to know ahead of Wednesday’s Nets-Magic game.
After their five-game winning streak was snapped by the Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets will try to get back in the winning column on Wednesday. Cole Anthony and the Orlando Magic stand in the way though. Anthony has averaged 20 PPG to start the campaign and it is only his second year in the league.
For the Nets, Kevin Durant has been on a mission. He’s leading the league in scoring with 29.5 PPG and is putting together a case for MVP. On Monday against the Chicago Bulls, he erupted for 38 points. Will Durant be able to top that this time around though? He won’t have to in order to pick up the win, but you never know. The 33-year-old has put up at least 20 points in 11 consecutive games.
Kyrie Irving (personal) and Nic Claxton (illness) will be out for Brooklyn. On the other side, Michael Carter-Williams (ankle), Markell Fultz (knee), E’Twuan Moore and Jonathan Isaac (knee) will be out for Orlando.
The two players have started in each of the Magic’s five games. They are part of a starting group that has posted a plus-26.9 net rating in 55 minutes together on the court. The unit is holding its opposition to 87.9 points while scoring 114.8 points per 100 possessions.
Anthony is leading the Magic in scoring, averaging 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists. Meanwhile, the debut of Suggs has been a work in progress as the fifth overall pick is posting 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 28.6% shooting from the field.
Despite the mixed start, Anthony likes what he has seen so far.
I think it has been pretty solid. Obviously, we’re both still learning out there, especially with it being his first year in the league. He is dealing with stuff I was dealing with last year and even still a little bit to this point right now. I just want him to keep learning. I think he has got a super bright future ahead. I’m excited to see how this backcourt could potentially develop.
The starting lineup, which was been the same in each game, had an average age of 21 years, 213 days on opening night. It is the youngest opening night starting lineup in history since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Orlando will spend much of the season in a development stage. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has stressed the importance of the group growing and learning from mistakes, something that Anthony and Suggs will surely benefit from.
The team will eventually get Markelle Fultz back from injury, which will change the lineup some. However, the early chemistry developed between Anthony and Suggs will surely help them and it could even, potentially, morph into that scary backcourt Anthony predicted.
Anthony hilariously pulled a legendary quote from the popular TV show when giving advice to Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner.
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony recently channeled his inner “Ted Lasso” when offering rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner advice after their first game on Wednesday.
The popular show, which stars Jason Sudeikis as a football coach in England, is often commended for its positive messages and uplifting themes. The series was nominated for 20 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Comedy Series and several others.
In one scene, Sudeikis’ character, Ted Lasso, was seen giving advice to a younger player, named Sam Obisanya. He had struggled in a practice drill and Lasso pulled him aside and relayed a message about having a short-term memory and moving on to the next play.
Lasso: ‘Hey, Sam! Come here a second.’
Obisanya: ‘Coach, I’m sorry.’
Lasso: ‘Do you know what the happiest animal on earth is? A goldfish. You know why?’
Obisanya: ‘No.’
Lasso: ‘They have a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish, Sam.’
The message is the same one Anthony delivered to his rookie teammates.
I just told them to keep their heads up. It’s a long, 82-game season. You can’t let one game get you in a funk for the next six games. (Then) you play seven bad games, you can’t let that happen.
You gotta have a short-term memory. It’s something my dad would tell me and I saw on this show, ‘Ted Lasso’ — You gotta be a goldfish. Be a goldfish, have a 10-second memory and forget about that. Obviously, they’ll learn from it but forget about it. Go have fun.
Suggs experienced a tough debut with the Magic on Wednesday, recording 10 points, one rebound and one assist on 3-of-14 shooting from the field. Wagner had a bit of a better first game after finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
Of course, the team wasn’t necessarily concerned with the performances as they understand it will be a learning experience all season long. They will look to bounce back, correct their mistakes and improve as the season progresses.
Certainly, it helps Suggs and Wagner that they have teammates, like Anthony, that help them out and offer advice through the ups and downs. In the end, Anthony picked perhaps the best quote to give them.
Magic guard Cole Anthony likes the potential backcourt pairing with him and rookie Jalen Suggs.
Magic rookie Jalen Suggs has picked up quite a few fans since arriving in Orlando, and that list includes teammate Cole Anthony as the second-year guard believes the two could be in store for a strong year.
The two players had the opportunity to play with each other during the Las Vegas Summer League and have spent time together recently in preparation for the upcoming season. They are now putting that work to the test as the team opened up training camp on Tuesday.
The Magic have spent the first two days of training camp going through two-a-days, giving Anthony a firsthand look at Suggs’ transition to the team. He is excited about the potential backcourt pairing with Suggs.
“Jalen can play, man,” Anthony said on Wednesday. “He can play. I’m super excited. I think that me and him in the backcourt can be a very, very scary sight. I’m super excited to really get out on the floor and I think it’s going to be a fun year.”
Orlando enters the season with seemingly a logjam in the backcourt.
In addition to Anthony and Suggs, the Magic also have Markelle Fultz, Michael Carter-Williams, R.J. Hampton, E’Twaun Moore and Terrence Ross. Fultz and Carter-Williams are dealing with injuries and will not be ready at the start of the season, which could make rotations clear — for now.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley views his first training camp with the team as an opportunity to assess his roster and determine rotations and starting lineups later. The competition at the position should only ensure each player is bringing their best every day.
“You assess as you go along,” Mosley said. “You don’t want to put anything in a box right away. These guys, we have such versatility. We have such high basketball IQs with these guys that to just say you have to be this, it’s tough to do that. I prefer leave it kind of open and let these guys grow and build and become the best version of themselves.”
Anthony and Suggs project to be the two starting guards for the Magic to open the season but that, of course, could change. The two players will have the opportunity to play extensively together to start and that should help them develop chemistry.
The Magic have an intriguing, young core to build around with Anthony and Suggs a large part of that. With some added development and improvement, the league may soon have to watch out for them.
Here we go again. Yet another NBA team teasing their fans with a J Cole appearance of some sort.
The Detroit Pistons did it with a J Cole jersey earlier this year along with a “tryout” offer that, let’s be honest, just didn’t seem to be real. But this time, we at least got Cole on the court.
The hip-hop superstar was actually running with the Orlando Magic in a team practice. Like, it was really him. Practicing. With the Magic. Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton. All of them.
