Cole Anthony's path in the NBA reached a standstill, but that doesn't mean that there's not plenty of basketball left in the tank for the former Tar Heel.
After six seasons competing in the NBA, five of which came with the Orlando Magic, Anthony found himself looking for a new home this offseason. He found one, but it's not in the NBA or even in the United States for that matter.
The former Tar Heel is heading down under.
Cole Anthony signs with Melbourne United in the NBL
The 26-year-old point guard has agreed to a contract with the Melbourne United in the NBL. Anthony signed a one-year deal with the Australia-based organization.
BREAKING: Cole Anthony is signing with Melbourne United in the #NBL.
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 5, 2026
Anthony previously played 6 seasons in the #NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic.
ESPN's @OlgunUluc has MORE 📝 : https://t.co/KJBXk3uJou pic.twitter.com/nJkZRK6h0i
In 355 games played in the NBA, Anthony mostly served as a reserve guard. His best season came during the 2021-2022 campaign, one in which he averaged career highs in points (16.3), assists (5.7), and rebounds (5.4). After being selected by the Magic with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony spent his first five seasons in Orlando before his career started to take a massive turn.
Anthony was traded to Memphis Grizzlies in June of 2025 but was released shortly after the deal was finalized. This led him to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent, a pit stop that lasted just 35 games. The Bucks included him in a three-team trade, sending him to the Phoenix Suns. Anthony didn't appear in a single game for the Suns franchise, being waived just 22 days after the trade was made.
Based off how highly-regarded he was as a high school prospect, it's very surprising that Anthony's career in the NBA hasn't taken off the way many expected it to. However, he is still very young in basketball age and has plenty of time to find his way back into the pros, but this pit stop overseas will allow him to continue improving his game while competing against top-tier competition in the NBL.
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Anthony seems very excited for this opportunity, providing the below statement about his new deal.
"I'm super excited to begin this journey with Melbourne United," Anthony said. "This is a great opportunity to continue growing as a player and compete for a championship. I'm ready to get to work and can't wait to represent the club and meet the fans."
The good news is, Anthony will see some familiar faces when he arrives in Australia. Joe Ingles, his former teammate, is currently playing for Melbourne United, and probably had some say when it came to the organization showing interest in Anthony this offseason.
In the clip below, you'll see Ingles share some very high praise for the former Tar Heel:
Joe Ingles knows exactly what we can expect from Cole Anthony 👀
— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) August 5, 2026
Having played alongside our newest signing, Joe spoke to the media about reuniting with Cole, what he’ll bring to the team & the opening week of pre-season under our new-look leadership.
➡️ https://t.co/qiOYCCihMB pic.twitter.com/3JqBohULsf
It's great to see Anthony find a new home for the upcoming season, giving Tar Heel fans another former player to keep an eye on overseas. The hope is that his stint in Australia will be a successful one, ultimately leading him back to the NBA to continue his pro career in the states.
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