Cole Anthony Stuns NBA: Orlando Magic Guard Drops Career-High Triple-Double in Thrilling OT Win

Cole Anthony’s short-lived offseason odyssey has landed him in one of the NBA’s most watched situations: backing up Damian Lillard on a Milwaukee Bucks team that expects nothing less than a championship run. After being rerouted to the Memphis Grizzlies in a summer multi-team swap, the 25-year-old guard negotiated a buyout—returning $2 million of guaranteed money—to clear waivers and sign a three-year, $11.1 million deal with Milwaukee, a move sources close to the talks called “title-chasing with purpose.” Early fit with Giannis and Dame Coach Doc Rivers has immediately tapped Anthony as the engine of the second unit and a “change-of-pace finisher” alongside Lillard in smaller, shooting-heavy lineups. Anthony’s downhill burst, 37 percent catch-and-shoot clip last year and willingness to attack the rim address two weaknesses that cost Milwaukee key possessions in last spring’s playoffs. Preseason flashes—and a brief scare Anthony averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds in four preseason games, highlighted by a 22-point outburst against Chicago that drew praise from Giannis Antetokounmpo (“he plays fearless; that’s contagious”). The only bump came when a late-October illness listed him as questionable for the home opener against Cleveland, though he was ultimately cleared and logged 18 solid minutes off the bench. Why the Bucks wanted him Milwaukee finished 24th in bench scoring last season and struggled to create paint touches once Lillard sat. Anthony’s 10.7 drives per game with Orlando ranked second among reserves, and his floater arsenal forces bigs to commit, opening lobs for Brook Lopez or kick-outs to Khris Middleton. Add in his career-best 82 percent shooting at the foul line and the Bucks suddenly have a reliable late-game free-throw option when defenses sell out on Lillard. Ripple effect on Orlando and Memphis Orlando’s gamble—flipping Anthony and picks for Desmond Bane—hasn’t aged well in the first week; the Magic have sputtered to a 1-3 start, averaging just 103 points without their former spark-plug guard. Memphis, meanwhile, pocketed a trade exception but lost Anthony for nothing after the buyout. League insiders already view the move as a stealth win for Milwaukee’s front office, which added a low-risk, high-upside scorer without surrendering assets. Fantasy basketball takeaway Anthony profiles as a top-120 roto option with upside if Lillard rests for load management. His per-36 numbers—18.4 points, 6.3 assists, 1.2 steals—suggest immediate streaming value, especially in weeks with three games in four nights. What’s next Milwaukee embarks on a four-game West Coast swing next week, and scouts are eager to see how Anthony handles extended minutes against De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If he maintains his current efficiency, the Bucks may have quietly solved their bench woes—and Cole Anthony could find himself back in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation sooner than expected.