“James Harden is really averaging fewer points than Cole Anthony?”: Magic sophomore’s hot start to NBA season highlights his MIP chances alongside Jarrett Allen and co

Now in his sophomore season within the NBA, Cole Anthony is averaging a formidable 20.2 factors per recreation, leapfrogging a number of stars within the course of. 

Sports activities usually comes with the truth of coping with plenty of unconventional curses; issues that will appear weird to a non-sports fan however utterly regular for a daily.

Be it the idea of a bogey staff in soccer (soccer), the commentator’s curse in cricket, or essentially the most (in)well-known of all of them — the sophomore hunch within the NBA.

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The sophomore hunch is the place a promising rookie season faces the tough actuality of the NBA and involves phrases with the top of their honeymoon interval. Not for all of them, although.

Beating the sophomore hunch, ft. Orlando Magic’s Cole Anthony

Cole Anthony was one of many top-most prospects of the 2020/21 draft and was the fifteenth choose in spherical 1, picked up by Orlando Magic.

Throughout his first season on the Amway Middle, the rookie guard averaged not more than 12.9 factors per recreation, capturing 39.7% from the ground and 33.7% from 3 PT. Issues have modified since then for the 21-year-old.

Coming into what might have been a sophomore hunch, Anthony has, in truth, raised his recreation. Not solely is he averaging an excellent 20.2 factors per recreation, however he’s additionally capturing 44.8% FG with changing 41.4% of his three-pointers.

Cole Anthony is presently averaging 20.2 PPG

That’s greater than:

Khris Middleton (20.0)
Russell Westbrook (19.0)
James Harden (18.7)
Damian Lillard (18.5)
De’Aaron Fox (18.1)

CA’s capturing from ‘20-‘21 to ‘21-‘22
39.7% ➡️ 44.8% FG
33.7% ➡️ 41.4% 3PT

Sophomore hunch who? pic.twitter.com/ga6ogBS5C2

— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) November 8, 2021

His PPG sits over Khris Middleton (20), Russel Westbrook (19), James Harden (18.7), Damian Lillard (18.5), and simply shy of the likes of Joel Embiid (21.4), and Tyler Herro (21.3)

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Anthony ran the present for Orlando towards Utah Jazz yesterday night time of their 107-100 win, posting 33 factors, three rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks.

Regardless of his super run of type, although, Magic are 14th within the Jap Convention, with a 3-8 report. Furthermore, with 100.5 factors per recreation, they’re the third-worst offensive aspect within the league, sitting simply above Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Detroit Pistons.