‘We got some dogs!’: Cole Anthony calls out criticism of weak draft class

Cody Taylor
·2 min read
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Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony on Friday pushed back on the notion the current group of rookie players is weaker than previous seasons after facing LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets.

Entering the season, the 2020 rookie class was projected by some to be weak due to the lack of high-profile names and overall talent. With one week remaining in the regular season, that thought has been dispelled with several first-year players turning in spectacular performances this year.

Of course, the group faced extreme challenges transitioning into the NBA this season.

They were unable to have a full offseason with their new teams and did not have the luxury of playing in the Summer League. In addition, teams had a condensed training camp schedule, and players were forced to prepare on the fly.

The rookie class started a bit slowly this season, but started to emerge once its members found their footing on the court. Now, players up and down the draft board have given strong performances and have played key roles for their respective teams.

Anthony didn’t want to hear that his class is weak.

“I have been seeing a few times people talk about how weak our class is,” Anthony said on Friday. “This isn’t no weak class right here. We got some dogs in this class! A big shout out to (LaMelo) and everyone else that has been eating and doing their thing.”

Anthony produced 20 points, five rebounds and one assist in a 122-112 loss to the Hornets. On the other side, Ball tallied 27 points, six rebounds and six assists in his fifth game back from a wrist injury that cost him 21 games of the season.

The two rookies were often linked together in the years leading up to the draft, and it is a matchup Anthony looks forward to. They never met on the court prior to this season, but, with the two teams in the same division, they will see plenty of each other in the future.

“I really like this matchup,” Anthony said. “He won this one. Next one I gotta go win, but I can’t wait to see him develop, myself develop and I’m really excited to see what the future holds.”

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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