United the ‘perfect spot’ for Anthony to shine

Having announced the signing of 367-game NBA guard Cole Anthony, his former Orlando Magic teammate has given some insight into the sort of player United fans can expect when he touches down in Melbourne.

Speaking to the media following practice yesterday, Ingles broke down what he’s expecting to see from the 26-year-old star in the NBL.

“He can score the ball with the best of them,” Ingles said.

“(He’s) super athletic getting downhill. I think over the course of the season I was there (in Orlando), he learned more and more how to be a point guard and get himself going, but also get the guys around him going as well.

“Obviously, defensively there will be an adjustment here, like it’s a different style, he's not playing against six-foot-six point guards and stuff like that, so defensively he'll be great. 

“I think he'll not just be big for our team, but also for the league it's great. Cole’s a great dude.”

Surrounded by elite, versatile teammates, Anthony will look to initiate offense as part of a lineup capable of maximising his strengths as a lead guard.

Looking at what Anthony’s set to have around him, Ingles believes United is the perfect spot for him as he looks to put together a strong season ahead of a potential NBA return.

“I think it's the perfect spot for him to come and find himself a little bit and get back to who he was and get aggressive. 

“I hope he gets back to the NBA. That's what the goal should be. We want our high-level, top-level players to be competing in the NBA in some way, however that is, so nothing changes with Cole for that. 

“If he wants to stay for as long as he can, great, but hopefully he gets back to where he wants to go eventually.”

With so much talent on the roster, the focus is clear for NBL27 according to Head Coach Jacob Chance: Win.

This is a sentiment that has been echoed by Anthony throughout the recruitment and signing process.

“The motivation when we talk to Cole is to win,” Chance explained. 

“He wants to play in a serious program, win a lot of basketball games, and to have someone at his age, still 26, entering his prime, come in and be really motivated by winning and putting himself in a position that he thinks is going to help him achieve his individual dreams, which is to get back to the NBA and play at a really high level, That's an exciting time for our club.

“I mean, it (the signing) doesn't surprise me. We're a world-class organization in a world-class league and people look at our club as a place they can come and really improve. 

"When you hop on a Zoom with a kid like that and all he wants to do is win and play for a team that values the things that he does, it doesn't surprise me.”

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