Milwaukee Bucks Guard Cole Anthony Scores 23, Says He Feels 'Magnificent' As Team Begins 2-0

Cole Anthony Provides Massive Lift for Milwaukee Bucks, Who Improve to 2-0

Cole Anthony is an exciting talent who, after departing the Orlando Magic in the summer, is set to be a big factor in the guard rotation for the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first game with his new squad, Anthony came off the bench as Kevin Porter Jr. made the start as the point guard. He had 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists in 12 minutes as a substitute, marking an encouraging start to his Bucks career despite the limited action.

Friday against the Toronto Raptors, with Porter Jr. unavailable due to injury, Doc Rivers replaced him in the starting lineup. Although Ryan Rollins joined the starting five and Anthony remained on the bench, he saw a big increase in minutes.

In 27 minutes of action, Anthony scored 23 points and added 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. He shot an efficient 9-14 from the field. He was the team’s second-leading scorer, behind (you guessed it) Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 31 points, 20 boards, and 7 dimes.

Cole Anthony Speaks on the Next Chapter of His Career in Milwaukee

Anthony was visibly excited postgame, calling it “a gritty win in a harsh environment” and praised the team for their overall performance. The team shot 52% as a group and also won the rebounding battle after being outrebounded by Washington earlier in the week.

Anthony was asked to describe himself as a player and said that he was a do-it-all player, pointing out his passing, scoring, and rebounding ability. He finished by expressing his gratitude for a fresh start in Milwaukee.

Entering the fourth quarter, the two teams were tied at 86. Anthony made a big contribution down the stretch, adding 9 points, 3 assist, an offensive rebound, and 1 steal in the final period of the game. As he spoke on postgame, his impact plays ranged from timely assists, aggressive downhill scoring, and scrappy contributions on the glass. It was a strong overall showing from the new guard.

As Rivers continues to tweak the team’s guard rotation, Anthony has already made a strong case for a starting role. He has thrived as a bench player throughout his career, but with enough impressive performances, Rivers may run out of reasons to keep him out of the starting lineup. Between Anthony, Rollins (who played quite well in his own right with 13 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Porter Jr., the Bucks have the makings of a solid backcourt.