Cole Anthony Film + Notes 🧵🪡
Best thing I saw: Very good at getting into the paint. I think it’s by far the best trait in his game. Can get 2 feet into the paint and give himself a chance to finish from basically anywhere on the floor.
Biggest Concern: Very average to below average 3pt shooter and not a very good C&S 3pt shooter. This alone could put a cap on your ceiling and playability alongside Giannis, especially as a smaller guard. NEEDS a jump here to be a real piece.
Positives
- extremely quick first step
- looks to push the ball at every opportunity
- is going to get to the rim a ton. Has the ability to get 2 feet in the paint whenever he wants
- very crafty finisher at the rim
- has a variety of finishes he’s able to go to in the paint (goes to a cool step through move more than anyone in the league)
- Not afraid of having to step up and take on a bigger role offensively
- Very active on the boards for someone his size
- super high energy player. Doesn’t have all the height to do much defensively but that doesn’t take away from his effort. He’ll always give you everything he has defensively
- tries to make all the hustle plays at all times
Negatives
- will probably be closer to 0 then negative on defense but just not great on ball most of the time
- Not great out of the PnR as a play maker
- not reliable as a 3pt shooter. C&S or pull up.
- Somewhat limited offensively if his shot isn’t falling
- Not going to give you much off ball
- the lack of size defensively just hurts him
Best thing I saw: Very good at getting into the paint. I think it’s by far the best trait in his game. Can get 2 feet into the paint and give himself a chance to finish from basically anywhere on the floor.
Biggest Concern: Very average to below average 3pt shooter and not a very good C&S 3pt shooter. This alone could put a cap on your ceiling and playability alongside Giannis, especially as a smaller guard. NEEDS a jump here to be a real piece.
Positives
- extremely quick first step
- looks to push the ball at every opportunity
- is going to get to the rim a ton. Has the ability to get 2 feet in the paint whenever he wants
- very crafty finisher at the rim
- has a variety of finishes he’s able to go to in the paint (goes to a cool step through move more than anyone in the league)
- Not afraid of having to step up and take on a bigger role offensively
- Very active on the boards for someone his size
- super high energy player. Doesn’t have all the height to do much defensively but that doesn’t take away from his effort. He’ll always give you everything he has defensively
- tries to make all the hustle plays at all times
Negatives
- will probably be closer to 0 then negative on defense but just not great on ball most of the time
- Not great out of the PnR as a play maker
- not reliable as a 3pt shooter. C&S or pull up.
- Somewhat limited offensively if his shot isn’t falling
- Not going to give you much off ball
- the lack of size defensively just hurts him
Attacking downhill
Is just an absolute menace attacking downhill. Pretty quick first step + some moves that allow him to get into the paint whenever he wants. Tough finishes are littered throughout the tape. You’d have to think getting shooters like AJ and Gary with him would help add some playmaking for others to his drives as well. Adding someone who can create for themselves a bit and get 2 feet in the paint and break down defense never hurts.
Last year averaged 7.5 drives per game which would rank 3rd on the Bucks last season right behind KPJ who averaged 7.7 drives per game.
Shot 61% from inside the restricted area last season as well which is pretty solid for a smaller guard on decent volume (For reference, Dame was at 60% in the restricted area). 44.1% in the paint (non-ra) which is right at league average.
His 20% FTr would also be 5th on the Bucks last year.
Below is a look at his heat map from this previous 2 seasons showing where most of his shot came from.
2024-25 2023-24
Is just an absolute menace attacking downhill. Pretty quick first step + some moves that allow him to get into the paint whenever he wants. Tough finishes are littered throughout the tape. You’d have to think getting shooters like AJ and Gary with him would help add some playmaking for others to his drives as well. Adding someone who can create for themselves a bit and get 2 feet in the paint and break down defense never hurts.
Last year averaged 7.5 drives per game which would rank 3rd on the Bucks last season right behind KPJ who averaged 7.7 drives per game.
Shot 61% from inside the restricted area last season as well which is pretty solid for a smaller guard on decent volume (For reference, Dame was at 60% in the restricted area). 44.1% in the paint (non-ra) which is right at league average.
His 20% FTr would also be 5th on the Bucks last year.
Below is a look at his heat map from this previous 2 seasons showing where most of his shot came from.
2024-25 2023-24
Pick and Roll - Ball handler
Just was not very good out of the PnR as a playmaker. Was able to make the basic reads but didn’t see many good passes outside of the most basic ones.
He was at his best when he was aggressively attacking downhill in the PnR and getting a look for himself.
In 2024-25 Cole as the PnR Ball handler generated only 0.74 PPP (227 possessions)
If you go back to the previous season that goes up to 0.83 (320 possession)
But the season before that (22-23) it was at 1.03 on 289 possessions.
So maybe there is something there that potentially went away these past few years but you’d have to think his inability to his and his teams inability to knock down open 3s consistently played apart in this. With a few decent shooters around him maybe we see an uptick in the playmaking as far as drive and kicks.
Just was not very good out of the PnR as a playmaker. Was able to make the basic reads but didn’t see many good passes outside of the most basic ones.
He was at his best when he was aggressively attacking downhill in the PnR and getting a look for himself.
In 2024-25 Cole as the PnR Ball handler generated only 0.74 PPP (227 possessions)
If you go back to the previous season that goes up to 0.83 (320 possession)
But the season before that (22-23) it was at 1.03 on 289 possessions.
So maybe there is something there that potentially went away these past few years but you’d have to think his inability to his and his teams inability to knock down open 3s consistently played apart in this. With a few decent shooters around him maybe we see an uptick in the playmaking as far as drive and kicks.
Iso
In that same vein, he’s a pretty solid isolation scorer. He’s someone who can create a shot when nothing is going on offensively and you just need a guy to beat someone off the dribble.
2024-25 - 0.93 PPP
2023-24 - 1.04 PPP
Not the largest sample size and just generally not something you want to rely on but isn’t bad when trying to get a bucket 1 on 1.
In that same vein, he’s a pretty solid isolation scorer. He’s someone who can create a shot when nothing is going on offensively and you just need a guy to beat someone off the dribble.
2024-25 - 0.93 PPP
2023-24 - 1.04 PPP
Not the largest sample size and just generally not something you want to rely on but isn’t bad when trying to get a bucket 1 on 1.
Transition
Cole does some pretty good stuff in transition. Touched on it in the positives but is a willing rebounder. He definitely tries to crash the defensive glass when he can. That leads to some fun stuff in transition.
Just someone who’s extremely willing to push the ball up the floor at every opportunity. Even on makes he will try to get the ball up the floor in a hurry.
Some of his paint looks come from just pushing the ball up the floor and the defense not being set. He will definitely be someone who keeps the pace up with bench units.
1.06 PPP this past season in transition.
Cole does some pretty good stuff in transition. Touched on it in the positives but is a willing rebounder. He definitely tries to crash the defensive glass when he can. That leads to some fun stuff in transition.
Just someone who’s extremely willing to push the ball up the floor at every opportunity. Even on makes he will try to get the ball up the floor in a hurry.
Some of his paint looks come from just pushing the ball up the floor and the defense not being set. He will definitely be someone who keeps the pace up with bench units.
1.06 PPP this past season in transition.
My biggest concern is the 3pt shooting. It’s been ok at very best. Below are some 3pt shooting numbers for Cole through the years;
Year - 3pt% (att pg) / C&S 3pt%
2024-25 - 35.3% (3.3) / 34.6%
2023-24 - 33.8% (3.4) / 36.6%
2022-23 - 36.4% (3.4) / 34.5%
2021-22 - 33.8% (6.0) / 36.3%
Year - 3pt% (att pg) / C&S 3pt%
2024-25 - 35.3% (3.3) / 34.6%
2023-24 - 33.8% (3.4) / 36.6%
2022-23 - 36.4% (3.4) / 34.5%
2021-22 - 33.8% (6.0) / 36.3%
It’ll be very interesting to see how Cole fits into the rotation. I think he’s closer in play style to KPJ than Rollins. Both guys who love to get downhill and haven’t been great 3pt shooters which will making for interesting spacing alongside Giannis. I would definitely say KPJ has the advantage in playmaking though.
Cole kind of really settled into a 6th man spark plug type role for the Magic and I thought he played that role really well for them. He was able to come in and provide instant offense and keep the energy high on both ends.
Cole kind of really settled into a 6th man spark plug type role for the Magic and I thought he played that role really well for them. He was able to come in and provide instant offense and keep the energy high on both ends.
Wrong clip here. Here is the ISO scoring.
That same 6th man spark plug type role is my ideal role for KPJ though. I think that’s where he would be his absolute best. I don’t think KPJ or Cole (or even Rollins for that matter) are guys who can be the starting one on a real contender.
It’ll be interesting to see which way they go. I think there will be an odd man out eventually.
It’ll be interesting to see which way they go. I think there will be an odd man out eventually.
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