Melbourne United have completed one of the biggest signings of the NBL off-season, securing former NBA guard Cole Anthony for the 2026-27 season.
The 26-year-old arrives in Australia at the peak of his career, giving United one of the league’s strongest rosters heading into the new campaign. Unlike many former NBA players who join the NBL later in their careers, Anthony is entering his prime after six seasons in the world’s top basketball league.
Selected 15th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2020 NBA Draft following an impressive freshman season at North Carolina, Anthony developed into a dynamic scoring guard. His best NBA campaign came in 2021-22, when he averaged 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.
Basketball runs in the family, with his father Greg Anthony playing more than 850 NBA games between 1991 and 2002 for several franchises, including the New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls.
Anthony joins Melbourne after agreeing to an NBA buyout, which will still see him receive the remainder of his NBA contract through the end of the 2027-28 season—worth approximately US$3.7 million (A$5.2 million). Having already earned over US$35 million during his NBA career, the move gives him the opportunity to compete for championships while continuing to develop his game in one of the world’s top domestic leagues.
