Melbourne’s Globetrotter Anthony, has seen a world of culture through hoops

In his time as a Tar Heel at the University of North Carolina, to his extended stay in Orlando as a part of the Magic, and now, as a member of Melbourne United, Cole Anthony is no stranger to travel. His profession has taken him to countless cities, and undoubtedly introduced him to just as many diverse cultures. 

Ahead of Melbourne United’s Multicultural Game this Sunday, Anthony spoke on his experience with basketball not just as a player, but as an embodiment of the unity and diversity that only sport can provide.

“It brings everybody together, a sport like basketball… it's so multicultural,” Anthony said. 

“I think it's hard to play a sport and not see a bunch of people who look different to you. You have people who love this game all over the world and  it brings people who you might not ever think you'd interact with together, it builds connections.

“I know for me personally, I've met my best friends playing basketball.”

United’s leading scorer in NBL27 grew up in America’s cultural, and sporting epicenter, New York City. Through all his stops in the NBA and elsewhere, Anthony still insists there’s no better city than NYC. 

“New York is the best city in the world, [there’s] so much to do there, [the] city's always active. It's just an unmatched vibe in New York,” Anthony said. 

Anthony’s father, Greg Anthony, was a New York Knick, so naturally Cole was exposed to hoops in his hometown from a very young age. 

“It's hard not to be involved in sports in New York, especially basketball for me, I knew I wanted to do that early.

“With my dad, who was a former New York Knick, I always kind of had a connection there. But, just growing up playing basketball in New York is unlike any other experience there is out there.”

Whilst growing up in arguably the most famous city on earth has its benefits, living in Melbourne, which he says isn’t too dissimilar to the big apple, comes with its own advantages. 

“[Melbourne] is super diverse. I'd say living in Melbourne is probably more similar to New York than it's not. It's a little nicer being here as the weather's been getting warmer, Melbourne's a beautiful city.”

In Sunday’s Multicultural Game against the Sydney Kings, Anthony, and all of his teammates, will be representing their nations and heritage with their countries’ flags on custom United jerseys. 

Representing the United States himself, Anthony commented on the diversity of United’s roster and the significance of being able to represent your home abroad. 

“It's cool to represent the USA while I'm not there, to come to Australia and Melbourne and show people what we got going on, I'm very proud of where I came from and I'm happy to represent,” he said.

“It's elite to play for the, the most diverse and best programme in the NBL and I’m happy to be a part of it. We’ve got dudes here from New Zealand, we got my boy [Malith Machar] who is [South] Sudanese and shoot, [Fabian Krslovic], I know he’s Croatian. 

"We're very diverse over here, [and] at the end of the day, we all have a common goal and that is to win. It's awesome how that brings us together.”

Anthony and Melbourne United take on the Sydney Kings at 5:00pm inside John Cain Arena for their Multicultural Game this Sunday the 25th of October. 

The best way to celebrate the occasion and watch United’s exciting play is by getting your tickets here via AXS.

If you can’t be there in person, watch the game live on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+

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