Cole Anthony Bio
Cole Hilton Anthony, born May 15, 2000, is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the point guard position and stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall, listed at 185 pounds (84 kilograms). Anthony first gained national attention as a consensus five-star recruit before playing one season of college basketball at North Carolina and being selected 15th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.
The son of former NBA guard Greg Anthony, Cole Anthony grew up around the game and developed into one of the most decorated high school players in the country. After spending five seasons with Orlando, he was traded in 2025 and later signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he continues his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Cole Hilton Anthony was born in Portland, Oregon, where his father Greg Anthony was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. As a toddler, his family relocated to Manhattan, New York, where he grew up in a penthouse. Even though the family was wealthy, his parents Greg Anthony and Crystal McCrary stressed hard-working values. Anthony later said that his parents handed him knowledge rather than material advantages.
Anthony first played baseball as a young child, but he chose to focus on basketball in the fifth grade. He trained with private coaches and played pickup games at local parks, often seeking out older opponents. From a young age, he was mentored by Amateur Athletic Union coach Steve Harris, who had previously worked with NBA player Kemba Walker. When he was 11 years old, Anthony appeared in Little Ballers, a 2013 Nickelodeon documentary directed by his mother, Crystal McCrary, that followed his New York-based AAU team, New Heights.
Path to Basketball
Anthony attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, New York, where he became the first freshman to immediately start at point guard for the program. He developed into one of the top guards in the country, and Christ the King Regional High School head coach Joe Arbitello compared him to a young Stephon Marbury. As a sophomore, Anthony led Molloy to the CHSAA Class AA city championship finals, and as a junior he averaged a league-high 23.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game alongside teammate Moses Brown.
In July 2018, Anthony announced that he would transfer to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior year, joining highly regarded prospect Kofi Cockburn. At Oak Hill, he averaged 18.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, becoming the first player in school history to average a triple-double. He earned USA Today All-USA first team honors, was named Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year, and was selected as the most valuable player of the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Nike Hoop Summit, and the Jordan Brand Classic.
Cole Anthony Career
College Career (2019–2020)
On April 23, 2019, Anthony committed to play college basketball at North Carolina. On November 6, 2019, in his regular-season debut for the Tar Heels, he recorded 34 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists to lead North Carolina to a 76–65 victory over Notre Dame. That performance surpassed the program record for most points in a freshman season debut and set the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record for points in a freshman season debut. He was named ACC Player and Freshman of the Week after averaging 27 points, 10.5 rebounds, and four assists in his first two games.
On December 17, 2019, Anthony underwent surgery for a partially torn meniscus in his right knee and missed approximately six weeks. He returned on February 1, 2020, scoring 26 points in a 71–70 loss to Boston College. Anthony finished his freshman season averaging 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and four assists per game across 22 appearances, earning third-team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team honors. On April 17, 2020, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft.
Orlando Magic (2020–2025)
Cole Anthony was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 15th pick of the first round of the 2020 NBA draft and signed his rookie contract on November 21, 2020. He made an immediate impact, hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97–96 on January 20, 2021, and later hitting another game-winning three with 0.1 seconds remaining to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on May 1, 2021. On May 16, 2021, he became the first Magic rookie to score 30 or more points since Victor Oladipo in 2014, finishing his rookie campaign with two game-winning buzzer-beaters.
During the 2021–22 NBA season, Anthony was discussed as a Most Improved Player candidate. On October 23, 2023, he signed a three-year, $39 million contract extension with the Magic. On April 15, 2025, he scored a team-high 26 points with six assists in a 120–95 play-in tournament victory over the Atlanta Hawks, helping Orlando secure the seventh seed in the NBA playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2025–Present)
On June 15, 2025, Anthony was traded, alongside Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and multiple first-round picks, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Desmond Bane. Before appearing in a game for Memphis, he was waived on July 12, 2025, following a contract buyout agreement. On July 16, 2025, Anthony signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, joining the franchise for the 2025–26 NBA season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Anthony is known for his scoring pop off the dribble, deep shooting range, and late-game shotmaking, having authored multiple game-winning buzzer-beaters early in his career. He handles the point guard duties with a scoring-first mentality and has shown the ability to create offense in isolation situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Anthony set the ACC record for points in a freshman season debut with 34 points against Notre Dame in November 2019. He became the first player in Oak Hill Academy history to average a triple-double, and he is a former FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship gold medalist with the United States.
Cole Anthony Career Wins
Cole Anthony has compiled an impressive collection of individual accolades and team accomplishments from his high school, college, and professional career. He earned three high school all-star game MVP awards, a FIBA Under-18 gold medal, and a 2020 NBA draft lottery selection as a one-and-done prospect out of North Carolina.
High School and Amateur Highlights
Anthony was named most valuable player of the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game, the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit, and the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic. He was a consensus five-star recruit and the number one point guard in the 2019 class. In 2018, he led the United States to a gold medal at the FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario, and was named to the all-tournament team.
College and Professional Recognition
During his lone season at North Carolina, Anthony was a third-team All-ACC selection and earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors. In the NBA, he became the first Orlando Magic rookie since Victor Oladipo in 2014 to score 30 or more points in a game and recorded multiple game-winning buzzer-beaters during his rookie season.
Cole Anthony Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Cole Anthony is the son of Greg Anthony, a former NBA guard who played 11 seasons in the league and was a member of the 1989–90 UNLV national championship team. His mother, Crystal McCrary, is an attorney turned author and filmmaker who directed the documentary Little Ballers. His stepfather, Raymond McGuire, is a Wall Street banking executive who ran in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City.
Personal Life
Anthony grew up in Manhattan, New York, in a close-knit family that emphasized education and hard work. He continues to be active off the court, and his social media presence includes verified accounts on X and Instagram. Public information about his marital status and children is not widely available.
2025 Season Performance
Cole Anthony began the 2025 portion of his NBA career finishing the Orlando Magic’s 2024–25 campaign, including a 26-point, six-assist performance in a 120–95 play-in tournament win over the Atlanta Hawks on April 15, 2025, that secured the seventh seed for Orlando in the playoffs. That appearance marked his final stretch with the Magic before he was traded in June 2025.
Following the trade to Memphis and a subsequent contract buyout, Anthony signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 16, 2025, entering a new chapter of his career alongside a veteran core. The 2025–26 season represents an opportunity for Anthony to carve out a role in Milwaukee’s backcourt and showcase his scoring and shotmaking ability on a contending roster.
Heading into the 2025–26 NBA season, Anthony’s outlook centers on providing instant offense, perimeter shot creation, and veteran poise off the bench for the Bucks. With his career trajectory still ascending at age 25, he is positioned to be a meaningful contributor for Milwaukee’s rotation throughout the year.