The best players and leaders do their part to bring out the best in their teammates. That is exactly what Giannis Antetokounmpo is trying to do with Cole Anthony, giving him a little more motivation as he braces for his fresh start. In an interview with Sport24, the Greek Freak expressed his excitement for Cole Anthony's arrival to Milwaukee via free agency, highlighting his X-factor status.
"We got a good point guard, Cole Anthony, who I think will be an X-Factor and be the surprise of the year."
Cole Anthony could quietly be a key cog for this Bucks squad
It feels like Cole Anthony has been an overlooked signing for the new-look Milwaukee Bucks. It makes some level of sense, given the other shocking moves they've made this summer, but he could end up being a homerun signing for this Bucks squad in no time. Based on a few crucial factors, there is even a chance he could indeed be the biggest X-factor for this team.
First and foremost, Anthony's scoring and passing could go a long way for the Bucks, but there's no telling which version of him they will get.
In 2021-22, his only season with a full-time starting role, he averaged 16.3 points and 5.7 assists per contest. This past year, he logged a career-low 18.7 minutes per game and put up just 9.4 points and 2.9 assists per game. If the Milwaukee Bucks could get a version of Anthony closer to 2021-22 than what he showed last year, it would give this offense a jolt.
With that, though, they also need him to be more efficient scoring-wise. During that career-best year, he shot just 43.2 percent on twos and 33.8 percent from three. Those numbers simply won't cut it on a team contending for a title if he wants a big role. Maintaining a strong 3-point percentage will be key after the Milwaukee Bucks made it clear they will lean heavily on the long ball this year.
Even with the efficiency question mark, the biggest uncertainty with Cole Anthony will be his defense. At 6-foot-2, he is undersized and could get picked on by bigger wings and forwards. He's the shortest player on the entire standard roster, and if he struggles to hold his own, he might find himself off the floor in big moments. Delivering a career-best effort on that end will be vital.
No matter how one spins it, the Anthony signing is a good one for the Bucks. He's an experienced yet young guard who can help this team. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, which is very much up for debate as training camp nears, he can be an impactful piece in this rotation. If he's firing on all cylinders on both sides of things, he could potentially even be a needle-tipper.
Giannis Antetokounmpo clearly has high hopes for his new teammate, and the guard must take it as a badge of honor. It should give him even more motivation in camp.
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