The Milwaukee Bucks needed a point guard, and they just added one in Cole Anthony. Beyond just what he brings statistically, Orlando Magic Daily senior writer Philip Rossman-Reich said that Bucks fans cannot overlook what Anthony does beyond putting the ball in the basket or throwing the flashy dime. In time, they could very well come to embrace him even more because of it.
"He is the absolute best teammate. No one cheered for his teammates more than him. I am actually a little worried about the Magic losing him in the locker room. Just an absolutely good guy."
The Bucks are getting another energizer who will fit right in
A good locker room/on-court presence can go a long way. Look at how Bobby Portis has become a beloved figure in Milwaukee who gets an entire arena chanting his name nightly. While he didn't play much, Thanasis Antetokounmpo always received warm welcomes because of how well-liked he was as a support system. In fact, it sounds like Thanasis may be returning to the Bucks sometime soon, giving him a chance to reclaim his role.
By the sound of it, Cole Anthony could be the next player in line to cement himself in this vital regard. Teams can never have too many of those. It certainly says something that Rossman-Reich is worried enough to wonder how it might impact the locker room next season. Cole Anthony clearly had an infectious and vibrant personality among that Magic group, and he may now bring that to Milwaukee.
While he may be a good locker room presence, there's no doubt that Milwaukee is bringing him in for more than just that. Even if he's coming off a bit of a down year, averaging just 18.4 minutes per game, the fewest in his five-year career, he's more than capable of scoring, passing, and rebounding the ball as a second-unit sparkplug. That alone will make him a good fit with a basketball team that is going after as many young, energetic players as possible.
Anthony isn't a game-changing signing - and he should not be Milwaukee's final one either - but this could be an under the radar move. He offers the type of presence on and off the court that can give his team a needed shot in the arm any game, any given moment. It wouldn't be surprising if Bucks fans were chanting Anthony's name throughout Fiserv Forum sooner rather than later.
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