Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Cole Anthony plays with the confidence and flair of a natural shot creator, bringing instant offense, explosive athleticism, and fearless shot-making whenever he steps onto the floor. Capable of igniting a game with timely scoring bursts or energizing his teammates with his competitive spirit, he has grown into a dynamic backcourt contributor with an exciting all-around skill set.

Here is the information on Cole Anthony:

  • Full Name: Cole Hinton Anthony
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born May 15, 2000
  • Hometown: Portland, Oregon, USA (raised in New York City, New York)
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters)
  • Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Adidas D.O.N. Issue #6, Adidas Dame Certified 2.0, Adidas Exhibit A, Nike KD 13, Jordan Why Not Zer0.1
  • Jersey Number:
    • #2 — North Carolina Tar Heels
    • #50 — Orlando Magic
  • Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
  • High School:
    • Archbishop Molloy High School (Queens, New York)
    • Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
  • College: University of North Carolina (North Carolina Tar Heels) (2019–2020)
  • NBA Draft: 2020 NBA Draft, 1st Round, 15th overall by the Orlando Magic
  • Player Archetype: Scoring Combo Guard / Microwave Scorer
  • Primary Offensive Role: Secondary Ball Handler / Instant-Offense Creator (bench or staggered units)
  • Defensive Role: Undersized Guard Defender (point-of-attack with effort, limited switchability)
  • Play Style:
    Shot-creation-heavy guard who thrives in pull-up jumpers, hesitation dribbles, and change-of-pace drives. Comfortable operating in isolation or pick-and-roll, often looking to score first but capable of making basic reads. Plays with visible confidence and rhythm-dependent scoring bursts.
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right
  • Athletic Profile:
    Quick-twitch guard with strong first step, good vertical pop for his size, and excellent body control in traffic. Not elite size or length, but compensates with burst and balance.
  • Recruiting Status:
    5-star recruit (Consensus Top 5 nationally in 2019 class)
  • Draft Status Detail:
    Entered draft as a former top prospect whose stock dipped slightly due to an inconsistent freshman season and injury interruptions at UNC, but retained lottery appeal due to scoring upside and pedigree.
  • Injury Status Category:
    Moderate Risk — Has dealt with intermittent injuries (including knee and shoulder issues dating back to college and early NBA years), but not considered chronically injury-prone.
  • Career Stage:
    Prime-building phase (established rotation guard with defined role, still refining efficiency and decision-making)
  • Comparison Style:
    Lou Williams-lite / Jordan Clarkson-type scoring guard (bench spark with on-ball creation)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Orlando Magic (2020–present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Parents:
    • Father: Greg Anthony
    • Mother: Crystal McCrary
  • Children: None publicly known
  • Siblings: Has two siblings, including a sister named Ella Anthony
  • Athlete Relatives:
    • Greg Anthony (father, NBA player and broadcaster)

Cole Anthony’s player archetype is that of a scoring combo guard built to generate instant offense, functioning primarily as a secondary ball handler who can take over stretches with aggressive shot creation. Defensively, he operates as an undersized point-of-attack guard who competes but is limited by size against larger matchups. Offensively, his role centers on self-created scoring—particularly off the dribble in pick-and-rolls and isolation—while providing supplementary playmaking. Physically, he combines a compact, strong frame with quick burst and vertical pop, allowing him to finish creatively despite average length. His overall play style is rhythm-driven and assertive, leaning heavily on pull-up shooting, change-of-pace drives, and confidence-fueled scoring runs that can swing momentum.

Scouting Report

What stands out with Cole Anthony is how often he plays at his own tempo even when the game speeds up around him. He isn’t the type of lead guard who methodically organizes an offense possession after possession; instead, he thrives by turning slight defensive mistakes into immediate scoring chances. A defender goes under a screen, he’ll pull. The big shows too high, he’ll split the gap or snake the pick-and-roll until he can get into a floater. Help rotates late, and he has enough touch to finish before the shot blocker fully arrives. His handle is compact rather than flashy, but it lets him change directions without losing momentum, which is where most of his separation comes from. The trade-off is that his confidence can push him toward difficult pull-ups early in the clock or drives into crowded paint where a simpler read was available. Defensively, he competes harder than people often acknowledge, fighting over screens and staying attached to ball handlers, though bigger guards can dislodge him and force switches that aren’t always favorable. I’ve always thought his best basketball comes when he’s the second creator instead of carrying every decision himself, because he can attack tilted defenses rather than spending possessions trying to create the advantage from scratch. Surround him with wings who cut decisively and a center who creates real vertical pressure as a roll man, and his downhill game becomes much more efficient. There are flashes of Terry Rozier in the way he mixes scoring aggression with streaky shot-making, while parts of his game also resemble Jordan Clarkson, particularly his willingness to hunt offense from broken possessions instead of waiting for the perfect action to develop.

Sources:
NBA.com — Cole Anthony Player Profile
ESPN — Cole Anthony Stats, News, Bio
Sports Reference — Cole Anthony College Stats