Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Greg Anthony was a defense-first NBA point guard who built a lengthy career with the New York Knicks, Vancouver Grizzlies, Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks. His on-ball defense, steady playmaking, and veteran leadership made him a reliable floor general and complementary backcourt contributor.

Here is the detailed profile of Greg Anthony:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Gregory Carlton Anthony
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on November 15, 1967
  • Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters)
  • Weight: 180 pounds (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 2 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 10 (US)
  • Number: 2, 50, 7, 14, 12
  • Position: Point guard
  • High School: Rancho High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
  • College:
    • University of Portland (1986–1987)
    • University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) (1988–1991)
  • NBA Draft: 1991 NBA Draft, 1st round, 12th overall pick by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1991–1995)
    • Vancouver Grizzlies (1995–1997)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1997–1998)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (1998–2001)
    • Chicago Bulls (2001–2002)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (2002)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Greg Anthony has three children, including Cole Anthony, who currently plays in the NBA for the Orlando Magic.
  • Siblings: Not widely documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Greg Anthony’s player archetype was that of a tough, defense-first floor general, a point guard whose main value came from organizing the offense, pressuring the ball, and bringing control rather than hunting his own shot. Listed around 6-foot-1 and 176 pounds, he was undersized by modern standards but quick, wiry, and aggressive, which helped him play with edge at the point of attack and bother opposing guards. Defensively, he fit best as an on-ball pest who could apply pressure and set the tone, while offensively he operated as a table-setter who pushed tempo, initiated sets, and looked to create for teammates before scoring for himself. His play style was built on toughness, leadership, pace, and functional athleticism, making him the kind of complementary guard who could stabilize a lineup even without being a high-volume scorer. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Greg Anthony played the point guard position with a defensive edge that influenced everything else he did. He wanted to speed opponents up without speeding himself up, picking up handlers early, sliding over ball screens, and steering possessions toward uncomfortable areas of the floor before they ever reached the paint. Offensively, he wasn’t a guard who manipulated defenders with elaborate dribble combinations, but he consistently made the simple read at the right moment. He used pick-and-rolls to collapse the first line of defense, delivered passes early enough for rolling bigs to finish in stride, and kept the ball moving so the offense never became predictable. What stands out is how comfortable he was sacrificing his own scoring to preserve offensive flow. That sometimes meant defenders could cheat under screens or load up elsewhere, particularly when his jumper wasn’t a threat, but it also meant his teammates rarely had to adjust to unnecessary risk. Defensively, Anthony’s anticipation separated him from many guards of his size. He recognized actions before they fully developed, dug down on post-ups without abandoning the perimeter, recovered quickly after helping, and consistently turned possessions into late-clock situations simply by denying easy entries. To me, his ideal role was alongside wings and forwards capable of carrying the scoring burden, allowing him to organize possessions, pressure the point of attack, and maintain defensive structure from the opening tip. His game shared a lot with Avery Johnson’s command of tempo and willingness to prioritize distribution over shot creation, while his physical ball pressure and disruptive mindset also echoed Lindsey Hunter, even if Anthony functioned as the more natural table-setter.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Greg Anthony Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Rocky Mountain News — Greg Anthony: a Rebel with a cause
Las Vegas Sun — Greg Anthony: Men’s Basketball (1988-91)
Forbes — 25 Years Removed, Duke/UNLV Clash Resulted In Careers Unfulfilled