Fansided · Aug 16, 2023
Orlando Magic 2023 Time to Step Up: Cole Anthony’s Defense
The knock on Cole Anthony in the draft process was a simple one.
Yes, Anthony was a potentially gifted scorer with good instincts and plenty of bounce to match. But he was small. And that would limit him in every way.
Considering he struggled with his shooting percentages at North Carolina, those defensive deficiencies became even more apparent (his knee injury did not help either). Anthony went from the No. 3 prospect in the high school class of 2019 to the No. 16 pick in the NBA Draft.
As the Orlando Magic made him their selection following the 2020 bubble, the questions about his defense remained. It was never that Anthony did not put in the effort defensively. He always gives it his all.