Tag: cole anthony

J. Cole linked up with Cole Anthony, Magic for workout in Orlando

J. Cole on Wednesday linked up with several Magic players for a pickup game at the team practice facility.

Rapper J. Cole on Wednesday linked up with Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton and several other players on the Orlando Magic for a pickup game at the team practice facility.

Cole, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, was in Orlando ahead of his upcoming concert at the Amway Center with 21 Savage. “The Off-Season Tour” kicks off in Miami on Friday and will be in Orlando the following night.

He has been known to show up in various locations and hoop with players, often playing in pickup games in New York City. In addition to Anthony and Hampton, Magic forward Moe Wagner was also pictured participating in the game.

The Magic also presented Cole with a custom-made No. 15 jersey.

Cole previously participated in the Basketball Africa League over the summer with the Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club. He registered five points, five rebounds and three assists across three games prior to exiting the limited season in Rwanda.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton pulled up to watch UCF defeat Boise State

Anthony and Hampton were among those in attendance to watch the UCF Knights defeat the Boise State Broncos in a thrilling game.

Orlando Magic guards Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton were among those in attendance on Thursday to watch the UCF Knights defeat the Boise State Broncos in a thrilling matchup.

Knights quarterback Dillon Gabriel passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns while Oklahoma transfer Jaylon Robinson hauled in six catches for 140 yards during the 36-31 win. The game was delayed by nearly three hours due to lightning in the area.

Anthony and Hampton were treated to an exciting, back-and-forth game. The lead changed hands multiple times in the fourth quarter with the Knights prevailing with a little over minutes left on an eight-yard touchdown by Isaiah Bowser, who finished with 170 yards on the ground.

The two Magic teammates were pumped up to see UCF win.

Anthony and Hampton look to be staying busy in Orlando with the offseason winding down. The Magic will begin training camp later this month as Anthony and Hampton look to build upon their solid rookie campaigns in the NBA.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Magic guard Cole Anthony reacts to NBA All-Rookie snub

Anthony, after averaging 12.9 points per game, did not make either NBA All-Rookie Team after the final voting.

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On Thursday, the results of the 2020-21 NBA All-Rookie Teams were announced as Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards were unanimous selections for the First Team.

Rounding out the NBA All-Rookie First Team were Detroit Pistons guard Saddiq Bey and Houston Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate, who went undrafted in 2018. Tate narrowly edged out New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley on the First Team.

Quickley headlined the group players on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Joining Quickley were Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro and Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams.

Perhaps the biggest snub from the voting was Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony.

Anthony, who missed nearly two months with a rib injury, averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 47 games this season. He finished fourth in scoring and fourth in assist average among all rookies to go along with two game-winning shots, as well.

He finished off the season on a high note, averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in nine games during the month of May. His run in the final month included a career-high 37 points in the regular-season finale on May 16.

Despite his strong run to end the season, Anthony earned just one first-team vote and 38 second-team votes for 40 total points. He received the 12th most points in the final voting, finishing behind Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo.

Based on his reaction on social media, Anthony didn’t agree with the voting.

The awards voters likely excluded Anthony from the voting after he missed 25 games with his injury. He likely would have been a lock to place among the leaders in voting had he not been hurt as he played like one of the top rookies this season when he was healthy.

While Anthony didn’t place on either team, the 15th overall pick wowed fans, teammates and coaching staff with his play on the court. He was often praised for his hard work and willingness to take over late in games during crunch time and he had a number of clutch moments as a result.

The result certainly wasn’t what Anthony or Magic fans had anticipated, but his exclusion figures to only motivate him, even more, this summer to come back even better next season.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Magic’s Cole Anthony after scoring 37 points: ‘I was terrible tonight’

Fresh off of scoring a career-high 37 points, Anthony wasn’t particularly impressed with his performance on Sunday.

Fresh off of setting a new career-high, Orlando Magic rookie Cole Anthony thought his performance on Sunday to close out the season could have been better in a losing effort versus the Philadelphia 76ers.

Anthony finished with a game-high 37 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal during the 128-117 loss. He converted on 10-of-25 shot attempts from the field, including 14-of-14 from the free-throw line, in 38 minutes of work.

His 37 points were the fifth-most by a Magic rookie in team history.

“I ain’t gonna lie, I was terrible tonight,” Anthony said. “That 37 looks cool, but I have to be better. We lost the game, I had six turnovers. My assist numbers were down. I gotta be better. If I want to have any chance to be a key guy on this team, I gotta be better than that. I’m going to be grinding this whole summer and come back a new man next year.”

Anthony was often his harshest critic throughout the season and took exception with his performance on Sunday, vowing to come back better than ever next season. He held himself accountable for each game and constantly vowed to correct his mistakes.

The work ethic by Anthony, in just his first season in the NBA, hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. His teammates often praised him for the work put in and his ability on the court, something Magic head coach Steve Clifford noted on Sunday.

“I will say this about him: He loves basketball and he loves to be in the gym,” Clifford said. “That is a big deal. I would be very surprised if he is not one of those guys that gets better and better every year. … He is going to play hard. If he plays 2-on-2, it’s natural for him. That’s a skill that you’ve got to have.”

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The players and coaching staff on the Magic will now have some time off before beginning their offseasons. The team secured no worse than the third-worst record in the NBA with the loss as they look ahead to the draft lottery on June 22.

Anthony will rest up, unwind and then hit the gym as he looks to build upon a solid first season with the Magic. Based on what his head coach said, it is reasonable to believe Anthony will come back a different player next season.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Anthony Edwards reigns supreme in final countdown

Rookie Wire takes a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2020-21 season.

With less than a week to go in the regular season, playoff races around the league are heating up as teams look to stamp their tickets into the postseason.

Of course, other teams are already looking ahead to next season and have turned things over to their rookies and other young players. One thing is certain, these rookies haven’t given up on the season as many are playing some of their best basketball.

To make sense of it all, we took a look at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the final edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings this season. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

‘We got some dogs!’: Cole Anthony calls out criticism of weak draft class

Magic rookie Cole Anthony fired back at the criticism of the current draft class and his rookie peers.

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Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony on Friday pushed back on the notion the current group of rookie players is weaker than previous seasons after facing LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets.

Entering the season, the 2020 rookie class was projected by some to be weak due to the lack of high-profile names and overall talent. With one week remaining in the regular season, that thought has been dispelled with several first-year players turning in spectacular performances this year.

Of course, the group faced extreme challenges transitioning into the NBA this season.

They were unable to have a full offseason with their new teams and did not have the luxury of playing in the Summer League. In addition, teams had a condensed training camp schedule, and players were forced to prepare on the fly.

The rookie class started a bit slowly this season, but started to emerge once its members found their footing on the court. Now, players up and down the draft board have given strong performances and have played key roles for their respective teams.

Anthony didn’t want to hear that his class is weak.

“I have been seeing a few times people talk about how weak our class is,” Anthony said on Friday. “This isn’t no weak class right here. We got some dogs in this class! A big shout out to (LaMelo) and everyone else that has been eating and doing their thing.”

Anthony produced 20 points, five rebounds and one assist in a 122-112 loss to the Hornets. On the other side, Ball tallied 27 points, six rebounds and six assists in his fifth game back from a wrist injury that cost him 21 games of the season.

The two rookies were often linked together in the years leading up to the draft, and it is a matchup Anthony looks forward to. They never met on the court prior to this season, but, with the two teams in the same division, they will see plenty of each other in the future.

“I really like this matchup,” Anthony said. “He won this one. Next one I gotta go win, but I canโ€™t wait to see him develop, myself develop and Iโ€™m really excited to see what the future holds.”

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Cole Anthony ‘super happy’ Roy Williams, Hubert Davis saw him play live

Roy Williams and Hubert Davis saw Anthony play in person for the first time on Friday, something he was very excited about.

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Now that Roy Williams has retired from the University of North Carolina, the Hall of Famer has had the opportunity to watch some of his former players live in action.

On Thursday, Williams was on hand at Spectrum Center in Charlotte to watch Coby White and the Chicago Bulls face the Hornets. White helped the Bulls to a 120-99 win over the Hornets with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds.

One night later, Williams saw the Orlando Magic with Cole Anthony arrive to play the Hornets.

Anthony produced 20 points, five rebounds and one assist in 29 minutes of work during the 122-112 loss to the Hornets. The performance marked his third 20-point game of the season, and the second during the month of May.

In addition to Williams, new Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis was also in the building to watch Anthony play. It marked the first time Williams and Davis got to see Anthony in person, something that he will definitely remember for a long time.

“It was pretty cool,” Anthony said. “Coach Hubert Davis was here on the other side so I got a chance to talk to both of them from probably about 20 or 30 feet, but I was still able to see them. I’m super happy about that. I will be going back to Chapel Hill after the season to hang out with my guys. I’m super happy. That’s the first time they got to see me play in person this season.”

While the result certainly wasn’t what Anthony and the Magic wanted, the 15th overall pick finally had the opportunity to play in front of his college coaches. He may have only spent one season in Carolina Blue, but the impact Williams and his staff had on him will certainly stay with him throughout his career.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Magic guard Cole Anthony reacts to apparent Rookie of the Month snub

Anthony wasn’t thrilled with the snub after leading the Eastern Conference in rookie scoring average.

On Tuesday, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for the month of April.

Edwards led all rookies in scoring during the month after averaging 21.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 16 games. On the other hand, Flynn took home the award after posting 12.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 15 games.

While Flynn ultimately won for the Eastern Conference, another player thought that they had a compelling argument to win the award: Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony.

Anthony returned from a 25-game absence on April 7 following a rib injury and put forth a strong campaign during the month. In 13 games, Anthony averaged 14.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds on 43.2% shooting from the field.

Despite not winning, Anthony ranked first in scoring average among Eastern Conference rookies, first in field goals and second in assists. He scored in double figures in 12 of his 13 games played during the month and also hit a game-winning shot on Saturday.

Anthony reacted to his apparent snub on Twitter:

What likely gave Flynn the nod over Anthony is his shooting numbers.

Flynn shot 40.8% from beyond the arc, compared to 30% for Anthony, and posted a higher true shooting percentage, 56.2 versus 51.5. Flynn also put up his numbers on a team that went 8-7 while Anthony and the Magic were 2-11 with him in the lineup.

In any case, Anthony looks to be using the snub as motivation to finish off his rookie campaign on a high note. The Magic have seven games remaining in the season and Anthony will be looking to build on his recent momentum.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Anthony Edwards, Malachi Flynn named NBA Rookies of the Month for April

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Raptors guard Malachi Flynn took home Rookie of the Month honors for April.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn on Tuesday were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Edwards took home the award for the second consecutive month after averaging 21.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 16 games during the month of April. He set the NBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a calendar month with 44.

He led all rookies in scoring and 3-pointers during the month.

Meanwhile, Flynn became the first Raptors rookie to take home the honor since Jonas Valanciunas in 2013 after averaging 12.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 15 games. He was the ninth player in franchise history to win the award.

In addition to Edwards and Flynn, Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thรฉo Maledon, Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, and Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons were also considered for the award.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Magic’s Cole Anthony ‘blessed’ to hit two game-winners as rookie

Cole Anthony finished with a career-high 26 points, including the game-winner, to defeat the Grizzlies at home.

Just two games after hitting some clutch shots to seal a win for the Orlando Magic, rookie Cole Anthony was back at it again on Saturday. This time, Anthony hit his second game-winning shot of the season.

Anthony finished with a career-high 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Magic to a 112-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He converted on 6-of-15 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

The sequence unfolded with seven seconds left and the Magic down two points. Anthony inbounded the ball to Dwayne Bacon, who then passed it back to Anthony. With Kyle Anderson matched up on him, Anthony let it fly and drilled the shot with 0.1 left on the clock.

Prior to the shot, Anthony told the Magic coaching staff that he wanted to win the game in regulation and avoid overtime. The shot proved to be yet another moment in which Anthony stepped up in crunch time, a time he thrives on.

“I said this two games ago, in crunch time I want that ball,” Anthony said. “I’m going to go get it for my team, whether that means making the right play to get someone a bucket or if that means going and taking a big shot. I’m going to get that W for the team.”

The near buzzer-beater gives Anthony now two game-winning shots this season.

Of course, the first one came back on Jan. 20 over the Minnesota Timberwolves. On that play, Anthony drove the floor with just 4.6 seconds left and hit the difficult game-winning 3-pointer on the run to clinch the victory.

“To be blessed enough to hit two game-winners in one season as a rookie, that really doesn’t happen that much so I’m just extremely blessed,” Anthony said. “The one thing I wish I could say was I wish the crowd was at full capacity but, obviously, we can’t.”

While Anthony didn’t hit the game-winner in front of a full arena, the 15th overall pick still sent 3,924 faithful Magic fans home from Amway Center with a smile on their face.

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