Cole Anthony will certainly be eager to play the Orlando Magic this season after they traded him this past summer. The Milwaukee Bucks, Anthony's new squad after being waived following the trade to the Memphis Grizzlies, won't face Orlando until February 9, 2026. Anthony will certainly have that one circled on his calendar.
Anthony looks to start a new chapter with the Milwaukee Bucks
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel's Jason Beede, Anthony revealed that his reaction to the trade was simply, "Dang, is this real?" The point guard was clearly caught off guard after spending his entire five-year career down in the Sunshine State. That simple statement sure sounds like a player who will have a chip on his shoulder when he sees his old squad next year.
While Anthony made it clear that he's ready to help the Milwaukee Bucks compete for a title, he did still recognize that he will miss the Magic. Given that it's the only team he's ever known, no one can blame him for that. There may be some tears when the two teams meet up, but Anthony's goal will still be to crush them.
At the time of this writing, the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic are officially slated to play three times this season. As mentioned, they kick things off on February 9, 2026. They will see each other soon after on February 11, 2026. Both of those will be on the road for Milwaukee. The lone Bucks home game against Anthony's old squad will be held at Fiserv Forum on March 8, 2026.
The Cole Anthony signing is an overlooked one for this Milwaukee Bucks roster. Although he's not an All-Star player, the young guard absolutely has the chops to be a strong sparkplug for this team when he's in the game. If he brings the scoring, playmaking, and intensity he showed in Orlando to his new team, this minimum signing could become a steal in a hurry. He can absolutely make a difference.
Other notable "revenge" games for Milwaukee Bucks members are littered throughout the schedule. Gary Trent Jr. will look to fend off the Toronto Raptors in the second game of the season. The Bucks will hit the road on November 3 to face the rival Indiana Pacers for the very first time since they stole Myles Turner away from them. Headline-wise, all of these games have some extra meaning.
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