The New York Knicks have a top-10 selection in October’s NBA Draft; they’ll find out where they pick on Aug. 20, when the NBA Draft lottery takes place. One player who could find himself in the orange and blue next season is UNC point guard Cole Anthony.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported in May that the Knicks have “extensively” scouted Anthony. Cole’s father, Greg, was a point guard for the Knicks from 1991-95.
In an interview with Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Anthony said his son would “embrace” playing in New York City, where he grew up.
“I think he would embrace (the Knicks), I think it would be a really good situation for him,†Greg Anthony said. “He’s going to be fine. He had a rough year last year. A lot of stuff that happened, it shook the system a little bit. But he handled it really well, he dealt with his adversity and he got better. And so, he’s going to be fine. He’s going to be a much better pro than the impact he had in college.
“Would it be awesome if he goes to New York? He’s from there, he’s raised there, he lives there. He would embrace it and love it. But if he’s somewhere else, he’d feel the same way. He’s just about basketball. He just wants to play and be a great player.”
Anthony was a potential top-five NBA draft pick in the early stages of the 2019-20 college basketball season, but a midseason knee injury sidelined him for seven weeks.
His father feels that despite the “horrible” year, Anthony “learned a lot” and is “going to be a great player.”
“He had a horrible year. Probably couldn’t have had a worse year, and he still put up 19 (points per game), 6 (rebounds) and 4 (assists). He didn’t shoot it well, but he didn’t have the opportunities he would’ve liked. He learned a lot, had a great experience there, and where he ends up — I know how he’s wired, he’s going to be a great player. So I’m not really worried concerned.”
Anthony played one season at UNC. Across 22 games, 20 of which were starts, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, four assists and 1.3 steals per game. Anthony shot 38.0 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The Knicks have two first-round draft selections and their own second rounder (38) in the 2020 NBA Draft after going 21-45 this season.