Cole Anthony says being a second-generation NBA player has unique challenges originally appeared sporting news. Add sports news Click here to select your preferred source.
For Cole Anthony, basketball never started after school. It was always around him.
Long before he became an Orlando Magic guard, Anthony grew up with a front row seat to the league thanks to his father, a former Orlando Magic player. NBA Guard Greg Anthony. Film sessions, conversations about matchups, and the daily rhythm of a professional career were part of normal life. This access gave him early access to knowledge, but it also came with pressure to live up to the name people already recognized.
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Anthony calls himself and others like him “network babies,” players who have inherited a built-in support system.
“I think this gives us an automatic advantage,” Anthony said. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “Having a guy who’s been through the whole process and played 11 years in the league is a resource. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Still, the experience wasn’t as simple as coasting on the connection.
Though he was born in Portland while his father was with the Trail Blazers, Anthony’s basketball identity was formed in New York. Outdoor courts, loud gyms, and neighborhood runs helped shape his edge. His first time playing at Dickman Park left a strong impression.
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“I remember being so scared,” he said. “I’m thinking, ‘Am I ready for this?’ A point guard from New York is totally different. That’s when I really felt like I was going out there and being a part of that culture.”
He grew up watching and studying city-bred guards like Sebastian Telfair, Kemba Walker, Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson, who he says set the standard for toughness and creativity at the position.
When it came time to choose his own path, Anthony said his parents allowed him to be independent. He ended up attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, building his own resume rather than following a script.
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“He gave me space to figure things out,” Anthony said of his father. “It helped me become myself.”