Greg Anthony on Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs

[Knightro]

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Interesting remarks.

I know a lot of people, myself included, pretty much considered Cole Anthony an afterthought once Jalen Suggs was drafted. He's proving (thus far) to be much more than an afterthought.

It's at the very least something to monitor this moving forward. Especially when you throw Fultz into the mix at some point within the next month as well.

[MagicStarwipe]

He's entitled to feel this way, I just wonder if it does any good to air it in public.

[JF5]

I mean he's not wrong that Cole would've probably ended up top 5 in last year's class without the injuries. The thing is with Cole is outside of his scoring ability he doesn't have the ability to make his teammates better or effect the game like a Suggs can.

Also, Greg shouldn't publicly make comments directly at the organization as this could fracture a locker room that seems to have good chemistry so far.

Suggs was the 5th pick in a loaded class where he is seen as the savior at the moment. He's currently the face of the franchise that the team has to market right now.

[basketballRob]

Who else were the Magic supposed to pick at 5?

Plus the comments by Greg Anthony are like Kanye saying Beyonce is better than Taylor Swift. What about 20-year-old Suggs feelings?

https://youtu.be/1z8gCZ7zpsQ

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[SOUL]

Also, Greg shouldn't publicly make comments directly at the organization as this could fracture a locker room that seems to have good chemistry so far.

I really doubt that.

And it seems to be directed at the podcast where they were pitting Fultz/Suggs/Cole against each other, not as a general statement sort of thing.

[AaronB]

I imagine that there is a reason Cole calls Greg Anthony "Greg" as opposed to "Dad" or something like that.

[Knightro]

I don't think Greg was criticizing the Magic's decision to pick Suggs. Greg's been around the NBA for a long time as a player and analyst and certainly understands that the NBA is a business. He knows as well as anyone that teams are going to what they think is best for the organization above all else.

I think he was more pushing back on this idea that Suggs is the most exciting guard prospect the Magic have had in 15 years and Anthony was (and still is to some) being kind of written off as an afterthought.

Like why (in Greg's mind/opinion) is everyone assuming that Suggs is going to be the long-term starter for the Magic at point guard? Anthony is just a year older than Suggs and has been way better. That's how I took it anyway.

[Bensational]

I took it as “people are still sleeping on my kid”. Fair call. Cole has been the standout so far.

[Xatticus]

It's just a dad being a dad. I don't see any issue with it.

This is going to be a thing regardless of whether or not Greg Anthony talks about it. Cole Anthony has been born and bred to be a star and that's what he has been at every stop along the way. He staked his claim to this franchise a long time ago just as he did at his stops in high school and college. Excuses have been made about those teams and that's going to continue to happen in Orlando. Weltman talked about having unselfish players on the team when he was hired, but that just isn't what Cole Anthony is. He is wired like Westbrook.

I'm just going to wait this out. It's human nature for people to believe what they would prefer to be true.

[tooler]

Now THIS is cringe. Sports dad, just chill. We've got this under control.

[CPBalla2003 n da 863]

Greg is just defending his son, and many of us thought that Cole was destined to be this sixth man/microwave player, so it's true what he's saying. Opportunity knocks, Cole ran though the door just like Franz did.

I know I pegged Okeke/Fultz/Suggs to be starting if the team was healthy and both Franz and Cole coming off the bench, credit to Cole shining and looking forward to all of our young players growth going forward.

[SOUL]

It's just a dad being a dad. I don't see any issue with it.

This is going to be a thing regardless of whether or not Greg Anthony talks about it. Cole Anthony has been born and bred to be a star and that's what he has been at every stop along the way. He staked his claim to this franchise a long time ago just as he did at his stops in high school and college. Excuses have been made about those teams and that's going to continue to happen in Orlando. Weltman talked about having unselfish players on the team when he was hired, but that just isn't what Cole Anthony is. He is wired like Westbrook.

I'm just going to wait this out. It's human nature for people to believe what they would prefer to be true.

We can't be picky about who is our star though. If it's at the expense of others, that's one thing, but Franz I think will settle into a very important role in the future. Cole takes a lot of shots in clutch time but he's making a good percentage of them.

This is all on a losing team so once we have a winning team I think things will be a bit different, but it's not like I really trust many on this team in the clutch anyway.

[KillMonger]

yeah this was kinda cringeworthy but he's a dad so i get it, at the same time you're in the business where professionalism has to be at the forefront so it's kinda hard to walk that line without crossing it one way or the other....Cole has the qualities of a star but he didn't show it right away, he's definitely cooking now but the body of work isn't there yet....i feel it's sustainable but it's up to cole to continue his high level of play. Suggs was THE pick to make at that spot, hands down so it's just one of those good problems to have to finally have guards with some talent. It gets even more interesting when fultz gets back

[pepe1991]

Cole isn't star ... He is just person who on 5-18 team takes most shots and hogs ball the most with green light to shoot 20 times a game regardless of outcome.
Sitting on hardly 55% TS ( below league average) while being top 10 player in usage + time with ball +seconds per possession with ball we fabricated him into "star".

I mean look, Monta Elise had 20+ poitns +5 apg seasons +54% TS seasons on actually solid Warriors , later Dallas teams, but he was never star nor ceiling-rasing type player.
There are at average 89 shots to be distributed among players. Even worst nba team, like 10-72 76ers, had Jah OKafor at 17,5 ppg,7 rpg or 11-70 Nets had 2 players above 17 ppg ( Devin Harris & young B. Lopez ).

NBA is elite at fabricating stars. That's why guys like Monta Elise, Marbury, Francis, Latrell Sprewell were all "stars".

Kevin Martin is best example how little numbers mean when your team plays for nothing. Kevin averaged 25 ppg on 17 wins Kings. During one season he broke nba record for most 3s and with highest FT percentage. Once he was (finally) shipped to playoff team, on contender actually, OKC, in that epic Harden trade, he was kind a terrible.

Cole still is projected career bench player on teams that are actually good. Orlando isn't that.



Cole brings energy that some fans like. Portion of fanbase will adore him for all high-5s he will give after wins. Young fans will probably like him because he "vibes " or whatever. Will he ever lead you anywhere as serious option on basketball team? i highly doubt it. But hey, it's not like we are in business of winning championships... Until 2030, right Alex?

[Tarheel]

Good - his dad should have his back and big him up. That said, Phil from OMD is one of the least soundbite driven/disrespectful podcasters out there so Greg is fabricating the narrative a bit

Anyway, will it affect Weltman's decisions? Not in the slightest. So who cares?

[LDNMagic90]

It's definitely not a dig at the Magic or Suggs, I think its a little dig at people who continue to doubt his sons ability/trajectory who do it publicly (through social media and forums). He's just doing what most parents/family would do anyway it's not like its toxic or anything like some sports players parents/family members (Rabiot for Juventus in football/soccer).

Generally speaking in sports competition breeds excellence, although there's times where thats not the case due to having too many chefs in the kitchen. Example being Orlando during the Dipo/Harris/Gordon/Vuc years. However i also think character plays into this, Cole is naturally a confident person and seems to have a competitive edge, Suggs seems to have the same drive to want to do well and win likewise Franz even though he doesn't cover their positions.

So having Cole, Suggs and Fultz should bring the best out of all of them to want to do well for themselves and the team. Cole has shown positive signs only thing is for him is can he do it when Orlando enter the next phase of journey? None of us know he's still young at the end of the day and still has his whole career ahead of him.

[Blue_and_Whte]

It’s too early make any declarations about these players especially on a bad team IMO but people DID sleep on Cole, look no further than This board. Greg also knows better than to imply the team slighted Cole by drafting Suggs. This team is void of talent and theyre not going draft to appease a second year guard on a bad team.

[Skybox]

I wasn't a big Cole fan and continued to put an asterisk on him into this season. But, if he continues what he's doing and continues contributing to wins or near wins (on this team built to lose), nobody will be able to deny much longer. I don't think it's fair to continue to label him as "not helping teammates" or "selfish" as much as before...and maybe he'll expand his leadership capabilities even further as the season progresses. It's hard to shed labels but there has to come a time when he gets his due if he earns it...IMO, he's getting there and I don't think he's simply a selfish stat-chaser, he just has a star mindset, where he thinks the best shot available is often his own. He's been that his whole bball life. I don't want to lose that as long as he's correct...generally speaking, he has been so far. As our young core pieces emerge and prove their worth, we'll see if he's a real team player. I don't think he's done anything to hamper Franz' and WCJ's emergence and you can't say Suggs hasn't gotten his shots...he just hasn't made them yet.

I don't think Dad's comments are as bitter as some are taking them. We ALL felt like we won some lottery when Suggs fell to us. He's making the case that Cole's dropping to 15 may have been more of a shocking gift. Time will tell on both counts, but as long as Cole is playing like a leader, he does deserve that level of credit. I've been all about Fultz/Suggs for the next 10 years but Cole's the best player on the team by a wide margin...until he isn't.

[UCF]

Suggs was BPA at the time we picked. Anthony’s dad is pointing out what should be the obvious…. His son is playing great and should be getting the respect he deserves for it.

[IllMagic04]

Im good with everything he said except "his reward was the team drafted another great young man with the 5th pick" . Thats a dig. And its unnecessary. Nobody thought Suggs was even gonna be there at 5. We are not in the position to draft need over talent. If there was a Ja Morant level prospect in this draft available Id draft him too. It is what it is. Are we gonna to have to eventually choose between Suggs ,Cole , and Fultz. Probably so but we don't have to make that choice right now. Probably dont need to make it next year either

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