The NBA Draft is always an exciting event for basketball fans. There is an element of mystery involved since reports cannot predict the future. It does not matter how many scouts analyze a player; there are things you cannot see. These are the so-called “intangibles,” like a prospect’s heart, determination, drive to be the best by working hard every day. So, like all collectors, we are asking: what are the top Cole Anthony rookie cards?
When the lights come on, some kids go hard, and some kids shut down. The Orlando Magic have always been pretty lucky at the NBA Draft. This time, they seem to have found themselves a legitimate stud in Cole Anthony, who they drafted with the 15th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.
Before he emerged this season, Cole Anthony was best known for his father. Greg Anthony is an 11-year NBA veteran and current television analyst on NBA TV. Greg played for the New York Knicks, Vancouver Grizzlies, Seattle Sonics, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks. He would finish his career playing 757 games while averaging 7.3 points, 4.0 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
Meanwhile, his son, Cole Anthony, already looked like a future superstar when he was a freshman in high school at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, New York. He was so talented that he became their first-ever Freshman starting point guard. Soon he was compared to Stephon Marbury.
Cole pursued his short college career at North Carolina (look for his jerseys on eBay)
Cole Anthony’s scoring ability was evident from day one. Look at his high-school per-game averages:
| Year | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Notes |
| Freshman | 16.9 | 6.7 | N/A | All-CHSAA 2nd Team |
| Sophomore | 20.7 | 7.8 | 5.8 | All-CHSAA 1st Team |
| Junior | 23.4 | 7.8 | 4.1 | All-CHSAA 1st Team, USA Today 3rd Team |
| Senior | 18.5 | 10.2 | 10.2 | *Transferred to Oak Hill Academy |
Cole dominated the Catholic High School Athletic Association in New York for three years. Finally, however, he decided to transfer to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. The goal was to prepare better for his upcoming college career.
The move to Oak Hill Academy helped showcase his talents to the rest of the country, and he eventually decided to commit to the University of North Carolina.
In his collegiate debut at the University of North Carolina, he led the Tar Heels against a dangerous Notre Dame team. Not only did Cole Anthony help North Carolina get the big win, but he also had one of the most memorable first games in school history. In that impressive outing, he broke all kinds of Freshman season debut records after finishing with 34 points (including hitting six three-pointers), 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal.
He ended up declaring for the NBA Draft following his freshman season. However, he would finish his career at North Carolina playing just 22 games.
Before his injury in North Carolina, Cole Anthony was widely considered one of the best NBA prospects for the 2020 NBA Draft. However, after the knee issues, he returned but was not the same player. UNC struggled to win games. As a result, he saw his stock drop, and the Orlando Magic picked him 15th overall.
After a slow start during the first month of his rookie season, he would eventually become the Orlando Magic’s starting point guard. Anthony has maintained the position since January of 2020.
Cole was at his best at UNC during his freshman year (look for his autographs on eBay)
Cole Anthony is an extraordinary basketball player. He can make tough, unbalanced shots from anywhere on the court. Not only can Anthony score from outside the perimeter, but the guard can also do it with defenders all over him. He can thank his elite speed and quickness for avoiding the defenders attacking him and getting off his jump shot. Scouts have noted that is his best tool and the most effective in his draft class.
Sadly, however, Cole Anthony’s rookie season occurred during the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Unfortunately, it was a troubled year. Whether or not the COVID-19 pandemic caused him to struggle shooting in 2020, it certainly did not make him stop trying.
Elite scorers keep shooting, even when they are struggling. And Cole Anthony proceeded to try to prove his status throughout the entire season. As a result, he ended up shooting just 39.7% from the floor, a low number for a point guard known for his shooting abilities.
Cole Anthony Regular Season Averages
| Year | Games | Minutes | FGM | FGA | FG% | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals |
| 2020-21 | 47 | 27.1 | 4.7 | 11.7 | 39.7% | 12.9 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 0.6 |
| 2021-22 | 14 | 34.1 | 6.9 | 15.6 | 43.8% | 20.2 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 1.2 |
Anthony was determined that his shooting would not become a long-term liability. Therefore, the guard spent the entire offseason working on his game. He has done remarkably well in that regard. As a result, Anthony has emerged as one of the best overall point guards in the NBA this season.
In just one season, the Orlando Magic’s starting point guard, 21-year-old Cole Anthony, went from mediocre to elite. That is one of the reasons the Magic are feeling good about their future. The only issue is health.
After the type of season Cole Anthony had during his rookie season, it is easy to see why so many collectors did not rush to get his cards graded. That should change now that he has emerged as a genuinely talented starting point guard. It just needs a few months for all the collectors to get them back and post them online. So, without further ado, there are the top Cole Anthony rookie cards.
A great example of how much Cole Anthony’s cards are on the rise is his 2020-21 Panini Contenders Championship Ticket Rookie Auto. The card is not flashy. Instead, it is just a one-of-one rookie auto. Nevertheless, it recently sold for $3,595 on eBay.
Here is a higher-numbered version of the Contenders ticket (look for 2020-21 Panini Contenders Championship Ticket Auto cards on eBay)
Unlike the Panini Flawless series, which features NBA players in their NBA uniforms, the Panini Flawless Collegiate series has never been able to compete when it comes to value. However, with Cole Anthony’s star on the rise, almost all his one-ones are climbing to insane amounts. For example, this one sold on eBay for $4,999 earlier this year.
Cole Anthony looks like he is headed for an All-Star game appearance. Therefore, rest assured all of his base card parallels, like his Panini Select Black & Gold Courtside Rookie Card, are going to climb. If you wanted to get this card, you would need to beat the $5,000 it sold for on eBay.
This Cole Anthony Rookie Card sold for $5,100 on eBay earlier this month mainly because this is the only PSA 10 in existence so far. But, of course, it also helps that this is one of those super collectible Prizm cards that collectors have been going nuts over for the past few years.
The Cole Anthony 2020-21 Panini Prizm Mojo Prizmn here in a numbered version (look for them on eBay)
There is just something about owning a one-of-one rookie card featuring part of that beautiful Nike logo. Of course, this type of patch will bring in a reasonable amount, even for a lesser player. But because it was a Cole Anthony rookie card, it went for an excellent $5,500 on eBay.
One of the better-looking cards in the Cole Anthony rookie card collection has to be this Panini Prizm Black Gold Prizm. Even a PSA 8 sold for $6,362 on eBay. Knowing it was not a PSA 10 and it still traded far higher than most of his rookie cards shows you how much respect is given to this series.
The 2020-21 Panini Prizm Black Gold Prizm looks set to retain strong value (maybe you can snatch one off eBay)
Few Cole Anthony rookie cards feature him wearing the special City Edition Orlando Magic uniforms. But his Panini National Treasures Gold Rookie Patch Auto Card does. What makes this card extra fun to chase is that the patches are blue and not orange.
As far as we are concerned, the 2020-21 Panini Select Rookie Patch Auto Snake Skin is the best-looking Cole Anthony card on the market today. So do not even waste your time grading this one. It sold to a lucky collector for $8,000 on eBay but should continue to rise as he surpasses all expectations this season.
Panini Prizm is on to something with their Gold Vinyl parallel cards. If you look closely at them, you will notice all the Gold Vinyl records shining across the card. The player seems to be jumping off the card while walking down the halls of RCA records. Cole Anthony’s rookie card ended up selling for $12,500 without being graded. It is, however, a true one of one.
When we think Panini Prizm has thought of all the best parallel versions of their base cards, they unveil this one. The White Sparkle Prizm is so powerful; it almost drowns out Cole Anthony’s picture. That said, this is now the Holy Grail of Cole Anthony rookie cards. A PSA 10 sold for the hefty price tag of $18,000 on eBay.
Here is the non-auto version of the 2020-21 Panini Prizm White Sparkle (look for them on eBay)
Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the more it is going to cost you. As of now, Cole’s card values probably have not peaked. For example, you can find his Donruss Optic base rookie card for less than $20, and even his Panini Prizm is selling for less than $10.
Despite having a loaded starting lineup of young future stars like Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony has become the leader of this Orlando Magic team. Not only is he their leading scorer, averaging more than 20 points per game today, he is also their top passer and is third in rebounding.
Few NBA players in recent memory have taken what they learned from their rookie season and immediately improved into superstar status in their second year. But it did not happen because Cole takes more shots. Instead, Anthony has recalibrated his shot profile and recaptured his stroke.
So, what you are currently seeing from him is not a fluke. On the contrary, he shows all the signs you see in a lofty veteran or perennial All-Star. But he is doing it in just his second season while playing for the worst team in the Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic’s record is not his fault as he is easily the team’s most reliable superstar. However, he cannot do it all yet.
Knowing that he is the real deal and that his cards mostly avoided the financial boom in the sports card industry has turned him into one of the most undervalued players in the NBA. His cards are going to start flying in value once collectors start investing in him.
You should be one of those investors. The time to buy his rookie cards is yesterday, so get moving.
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