Cole Anthony finally in his dream role with the Orlando Magic? Good debut as sixth man

Orlando Magic He’s been a long-shot: he hasn’t won more than one playoff game in the same season in 11 years, and in the last two campaigns he’s finished below 30 percent of the wins.

His arrival Paolo Bansero1 draft pick who had a spectacular pro debut a few days ago, promises to be a generator of genuine hope for the Florida franchise.

Banchero isn’t the only young and bright part Orlando has either: the Jamahl Mosley-led squad has in its ranks 15 players born from 1997 onwards and six that are already from this millennium, including Banchero. A couple of them are Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagnerpicks 5 and 8 from last year’s Draft and another is Cole Anthony, Orlando’s big bet in the 2020 Draft.

Anthony, whom Orlando selected with the choose 15 in what seemed like a “bargain” for a player who in previous months had been included in the top 3 discussion of this Draft (which ended up consisting of Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball), there was little he could do to change Orlando’s fortunes the last two seasons, but was probably part of the losing formula averaging 15 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game but poor shot selection, very low efficiency (39.3% in his career ) and problems in both defense and directing an attack.

subscribe to NBA League Pass to see all matches: United States | The rest of the world

Injuries to Markelle Fultz (he’s only played 26 games over the past two seasons) and Jalen Suggs meant Anthony ended up relegated to Orlando’s playmaker role as the team’s starting point guard, something he doesn’t seem cut out for. Now, with Suggs back and fitter after a year in the NBA and with Paolo Banchero as the Magic’s backbone, Anthony seems to be in his ideal role as a sixth man with frees to score. from the second unit.

At least that’s how Anthony was embarrassed in his season debut Atlanta Hawks with 25 points (8-12 from the field, 4-5 on 3-pointers) as a guest in what ended up being Orlando Magic lost 108-98 but that he came to have Mosley’s men in front during the final quarter.

Will Cole Anthony end up being a standout for the Orlando Magic like this? Or should the franchise, which has plenty of other young options in the middle of the field, start thinking about dumping him? The 2022-2023 season will be key to his story in Orlando, two years after his contract expires.

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the NBA or its organizations.