‘Driven to be great’
Magic see Anthony as a ‘modern guard’ with a 2-way impact
When Cole Anthony missed 11 games last season at North Carolina because of a knee injury, he said it crushed him. He felt angry, sad and confused. He didn’t know how to process the situation.
Eventually he worked his way back to the court and played out his freshman season. It was a frustrating one not only for Anthony but also for the Tar Heels, who finished a disappointing 14-19.
On Wednesday, the Magic made Anthony the 15th pick of the 2020 NBA draft. Had it not been for the injury, he likely would have gone higher.
But Anthony didn’t care. The bitterness he felt so many months ago is gone. He’s no longer upset about the injury and how it possibly derailed his draft stock, not with the opportunity that is now before him.
The adversity served a purpose. “I think I’m a better player ultimately because of it,” Anthony said.
The Magic are counting on that fighting spirit.
President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and coach Steve Clifford both touted Anthony’s competitiveness in their postdraft media sessions. While the Magic are impressed with Anthony’s skill level, they like his determination even more.
“This game is hard, this league is hard and to have that inner drive, that kind of chip on your shoulder as they say, really means a lot. Cole has that,” Weltman said. “He’s driven to be great. He’s driven to make his team great. There’s really nothing more important in our league than that. I think he feels he has a lot to prove and I know he’s eager to do that.”
Anthony certainly is.
“Look, I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t think there’s 14 people in this draft who are better than me,” he said. “That drives me every day.”
Anthony also knows it takes more than skill to excel in the NBA. He said skill exists everywhere in the league and the little things are what separate role players from good players, and good players from great players.
When asked what he does well in regards to the little things, Anthony said he doesn’t take the game for granted.
“I personally just love basketball,” he said. “When I say I love it, I don’t I mean I just love going out there and loving the game situations. It means I love every aspect of it. I love lifting. I love watching film. I just enjoy the whole process.”
So how does the 6-foot-3 guard fit in with the Magic?
Weltman said Anthony’s combination of strength, IQ, energy and skill will make him a “modern guard” who can strive in both positions and elevate the play of his teammates.
Clifford likes Anthony’s offensive versatility. Anthony is a dynamic scorer who can shoot off the dribble, use a screen for a catch-and-shoot and consistently knock down step-back jumpers. He’s drawn comparisons to Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.
Anthony also can be a defensive force. He can keep opposing guards in front of him with his strong lower body and lateral quickness. Anthony also averaged 5.7 rebounds per game last season.
“We do look at him as a two-way player,” Weltman said.
Clifford envisions playing Anthony alongside point guard Markelle Fultz — similar to the way the Raptors utilized Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet.
“It would give us two pick-androll players on the floor at one time,” Clifford said. “As [Anthony] becomes more comfortable and they’re more comfortable together, look at the great success that Toronto has playing VanVleet and Lowry together. I think that we could definitely do it. They [Anthony and Fultz] are big enough and they are both physical enough to guard bigger players.”
For his part, Anthony said he’s ready to step in contribute.
“I think I can score, pass, rebound, defend. I don’t think there’s anything I can’t do on the floor. It’s just a matter of what the team needs,” Anthony said. “We have Markelle. He’s very skilled and I think that our games will complement each other, and so I personally look forward to playing with him. Besides that, you got someone who is going to come in and just wants to win. (I’m) just going to do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Clifford said Anthony’s background — his father, Greg, played 11 seasons in the NBA — should help him flatten the rookie curve in his transition to the league. It won’t be easy with a compressed offseason that will offer weeks rather than months for players to get acclimated.
“The only thing that we can do is get him in here, get him to work as soon as possible and then put good days together,” Clifford said. “You know, because of his dad, he has an advanced idea of what he’s going to have to do to play well in our league so hopefully his time to learn can be a little bit shorter.”