Milwaukee Bucks Guard Cole Anthony to Wear No. 50 Jersey in Tribute to His Father’s Brief 2002 NBA Stint

Cole Anthony is bringing more than just his game to Milwaukee—he’s bringing a family legacy. When the Milwaukee Bucks unveiled their latest addition, there was a familiar number stitched across the back of the jersey: 50. It’s a number etched in quiet NBA history, and Cole Anthony wearing it is no accident. The former Orlando Magic guard is paying tribute to his father, Greg Anthony, who briefly donned the same number for the Bucks during the twilight of his NBA career in 2002.

For the Anthony family, basketball is a lineage as much as it is a passion. Greg Anthony, a respected veteran guard known for his defensive tenacity and floor leadership, wore No. 50 for Milwaukee during a nine-game stint in 2002, marking the final stop in a 12-year NBA career. Now, 23 years later, his son will take the floor in the same number for the same franchise, hoping to carve out a new chapter of the Anthony legacy.

“I wanted to honor my dad,” Cole Anthony said during his introductory press conference in Milwaukee. “He’s the reason I fell in love with this game. Wearing No. 50 is a small way to show that love and respect—and now, to wear it in the same city where he ended his career, that’s surreal.”

Greg Anthony’s time in Milwaukee was brief but meaningful. Signed in January 2002 to bolster the Bucks’ backcourt during a playoff push, the elder Anthony brought veteran experience and poise to a team led by Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, and Glenn Robinson. Though his on-court impact was limited—averaging just 1.3 points and 1.1 assists in limited minutes—it symbolized a full-circle moment for a man who once fought his way into the league as a late first-round pick in 1991.

Cole, on the other hand, enters Milwaukee at a far different stage in his career. Still only 24 years old and entering his fifth NBA season, he was traded from the Magic in a three-team deal that saw the Bucks reshuffle their bench unit and deepen their guard rotation behind Damian Lillard. He arrives with the promise of athleticism, shot creation, and a spark off the bench—all qualities that Milwaukee’s coaching staff believes can help reinvigorate the team’s second unit.

“Cole is a player with great energy and a fearless approach,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “He brings something we need—quickness, toughness, and a guy who can go get a bucket. But beyond that, he brings character. The respect he has for the game and his roots, you see that right away.”

Indeed, Cole Anthony’s connection to the game runs deep. Born in 2000, just as his father was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, Cole grew up around NBA locker rooms, watching and learning from some of the league’s best minds. He eventually rose through the high school ranks as a five-star recruit, played a season at North Carolina, and was drafted 15th overall by Orlando in 2020.

Over four seasons with the Magic, Anthony showed flashes of brilliance and established himself as one of the league’s more intriguing young combo guards. In the 2023–24 season, he averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting a career-high 44.1% from the field. His ability to play on or off the ball makes him a flexible piece in any rotation, and the Bucks envision him being a key cog in a team chasing another championship.

Yet, for Cole, the move to Milwaukee is more than just basketball. It’s an emotional homecoming of sorts—a reconnection to a piece of his father’s journey that he was too young to remember but always heard about.

“My dad didn’t talk a ton about his playing days,” Cole said. “But when he did, he always spoke highly of Milwaukee. He respected the organization, the fans, and the way they treated him even in that short time. So to be here now, it just feels right.”

Greg Anthony, now a broadcaster and analyst with CBS Sports, echoed the sentiment. Speaking during the NBA Summer League broadcast in Las Vegas, he smiled when asked about his son donning the No. 50 jersey for his former team.

“That’s pretty special,” Greg said. “I was only in Milwaukee for a short time, but to have Cole wear that number there—it brings a big smile to my face. I’m proud of the man and the player he’s become.”

Cole’s decision to wear No. 50 also reflects a deeper cultural and familial theme in the NBA—sons of former players not only following in their fathers’ footsteps but honoring them in symbolic ways. It’s a tradition that spans generations: from Kobe Bryant (son of Joe “Jellybean” Bryant) to Gary Payton II and Klay Thompson, the league is filled with legacies carried on and names honored.

“I think every kid who grows up with a parent who played at the highest level has a dream to get there too,” Cole said. “But for me, it wasn’t just about getting here. It was about doing it my way while never forgetting where I come from.”

That awareness of heritage and history is something the Bucks organization has embraced. The team posted a photo of Cole holding his new No. 50 jersey on social media with the caption, “Familiar number. New legacy.” Fans quickly drew the connection to Greg Anthony’s short stint with the team and began celebrating the father-son continuity.

Cole Anthony won’t be tasked with carrying the franchise’s weight on his shoulders. But his presence is intended to provide depth and energy, particularly in the minutes when Lillard or Khris Middleton rest. With the Bucks aiming for another deep postseason run, Anthony’s role will be to maintain pace and pressure while injecting the kind of enthusiasm that can lift a second unit.

“I know what I bring to the table,” Cole said. “I’ve grown a lot over these past four years, and I feel like I’m ready to help this team win in whatever way I can. Whether it’s scoring, facilitating, or just bringing energy off the bench—I’m here to do it.”

The Bucks believe his confidence is well-placed. General Manager Jon Horst praised Anthony’s “competitive edge and love for the game,” noting that his blend of youth and experience is rare in a player who’s still just 24.

“He’s been in the league long enough to understand what it takes, but he’s still young enough to grow with our core,” Horst said. “He’s the kind of guy who could be a difference-maker in a playoff series—and wearing No. 50 makes it even more special.”

Cole Anthony’s first game in a Bucks uniform—presumably in the NBA preseason this fall—will be the moment where memory meets movement, legacy meets opportunity. For the fans in Milwaukee, it will be a reminder of the franchise’s layered history and the often beautiful ways it comes full circle. For the Anthony family, it will be a nod to the past—and a bold stride into the future.

“I know my dad’s proud,” Cole said. “But I’m not just here to wear the number. I’m here to make it mean something again.”