Cole Anthony Says There's Unique Challenges In Being A Second-generation NBA Player

Cole Anthony says there’s unique challenges in being a second-generation NBA player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For Cole Anthony, basketball was never just something he picked up after school. It was always around him.

Long before becoming a guard for the Orlando Magic, Anthony grew up with a front-row seat to the league through his father, former NBA guard Greg Anthony. Film sessions, conversations about matchups, and the daily rhythm of a pro career were normal parts of life. That access gave him knowledge early — but it also came with pressure to live up to a name people already recognized.

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Anthony refers to himself and others like him as “network babies,” players who inherit a built-in support system.

“I think it gives us an automatic leg up,” Anthony said to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “Having someone who’s been through the whole process and played in the league for 11 years — that’s a resource. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Still, the experience hasn’t been as simple as coasting on connections.

Although he was born in Portland while his father was with the Trail Blazers, Anthony’s basketball identity formed in New York. Outdoor courts, loud gyms and neighborhood runs helped shape his edge. His first time playing at Dyckman Park left a lasting impression.

“I remember being so scared,” he said. “I’m thinking, ‘Am I ready for this?’ Point guards out of New York are just different. That’s when I really felt like I was outside and part of that culture.”

He grew up watching and studying city-bred guards such as Sebastian Telfair, Kemba Walker, Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson, players he says set the standard for toughness and creativity at the position.

When it came time to choose his own path, Anthony said his parents allowed him independence. He eventually headed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, carving out his own résumé instead of following a script.

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“He gave me a lot of room to figure things out,” Anthony said of his dad. “That helped me become my own person.”