MILWAUKEE — When preparing to make his way to his new NBA home, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Cole Anthony received helpful advice from his father Greg Anthony, who spent the second half of his 11th and final NBA season in the Cream City.

“Make sure you get there early enough to enjoy a bit of summer.”

The 25-year-old guard made his way to Milwaukee well before the start of training camp and soaked up some of the September atmosphere, all while focusing on the upcoming season alongside new teammates who also got into town early.

“I gotta admit, I was a little sleep on the city,” Anthony told The Athletic Wednesday afternoon. “I think it’s a nice city, honestly. I’ve enjoyed my time here so far.”

The Bucks hope Anthony will feel the same way when summer comes back around after he completes his sixth NBA season. For now, the vibes are good as Anthony prepares for his first season on a team other than the Orlando Magic.

Anthony was selected by the Magic with the 15th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft and spent his first five seasons there before getting sent to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a June 15 trade package for shooting guard Desmond Bane. As the offseason progressed, it became clear that Anthony would not be a part of the Grizzlies’ plans, and they decided to buy out Anthony’s contract, making him a free agent.

With the freedom to choose his next team, Anthony decided to join the Bucks.

“I just looked at what they’ve accomplished here,” Anthony said of Milwaukee. “Obviously, they won a championship a few years ago. I looked at the structure of the team (and) the coaching staff and just was like, ‘All right, this aligns with my goals.’ I feel like I could slot in here and help this team win some games.”

Damian Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game as the Bucks’ starting point guard last season. General manager Jon Horst’s decision to waive Lillard and stretch his contract has the Bucks in need of significant production at the point guard spot. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins return to the roster at point guard, but Anthony will get a chance to help fill that role, as well.

After being a starter for Orlando in his first two seasons, Anthony became one of the team’s most important role players off the bench, as the Magic molded into a playoff contender under head coach Jamahl Mosley the last two seasons.

Last season, Anthony played 67 games and started 22 after Jalen Suggs’ injuries forced Orlando to try to inject some life on offense with different lineups. While Anthony averaged career lows in minutes (18.4), points (9.4) and rebounds (3.0) per game, he averaged 13.7 points, 3.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds as a starter. Still, the Magic ultimately deemed him expendable and included Anthony in the trade package to obtain Bane.

“I’m super excited to be (in Milwaukee), man,” Anthony said. “It just feels like a breath of fresh air after being in Orlando for the past five years. Obviously, I loved my time there, but this feels like, for me, a stepping stone in my career.

“I just want to come in and help the team win in whichever way I can. I think they’re going to ask me to do what I can do, which is score, pass the ball, guard, whatever, but I’m just really happy to be a part of this team specifically because it’s been great being here these past couple weeks and being with these guys. The energy is high. There’s a real professional vibe around everybody, and everybody has a chip on their shoulder.”

While Anthony has prepared for the season with new teammates, he received a massive compliment from one who has yet to return to Milwaukee. In an interview Tuesday with Sport24 in Greece, two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo declared Anthony will be an “X-factor” and “the surprise of the year” for the Bucks.

Those words had not made their way to Anthony by Wednesday afternoon.

“Damn, that’s a hell of a compliment,” Anthony responded. “I appreciate that from my big bro Giannis; shout-out to him.”

Cole Anthony (50) played five seasons with the Orlando Magic. He’s now excited about the opportunity playing with the Milwaukee Bucks. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)

That adoration is not a one-way street. As it has been for almost any free agent who has decided to sign with the Bucks during the last seven seasons, getting a chance to play with Antetokounmpo, the nine-time All-NBA forward, was near the top of the list of reasons why Anthony chose Milwaukee.

“I know his resume,” Anthony said of Antetokounmpo. “I’ve played against him, watched him play, and he’s a one-of-one player. I mean, the opportunity to get to run that little two-man action with him, that’s going to be legendary.

“I’m ecstatic, I’m super happy to be here. I haven’t seen him yet, but I’m excited to link up with big bro and start building a relationship, vibing and just gearing up to go win a championship.”

The Bucks will give Anthony plenty of opportunities to get downhill and attack the basket, but things may be slightly different for him this season. Horst and Bucks head coach Doc Rivers have made it clear that they plan on using Antetokounmpo in a “point forward” role, which may mean less work for guards with the ball in their hands and more playing off Antetokounmpo as a creator.

“When you have a dude that talented who can do everything, you gotta kind of conform your game and change your game up a little bit,” Anthony said. “For me, I’m never going to stop being myself. My game is never going to change too much, but I gotta adjust. I gotta adjust my role.

“There’s certain things working on just playing off him because he is going to have the ball. So, I’ve just been watching the film of a lot of the guard actions they have and ways that the guards can score and be effective and play off him. Not everybody gets a chance to play with a dude like Giannis.”

Anthony did not just spend his summer working on his game; he also gave back to the community. His 50 Ways Foundation, which focuses on youth mentorship and building resources for underserved youth, put together a full week of programming at the end of August before he made his way to Milwaukee. On Aug. 23, the foundation hosted a community day impacting more than 500 children by handing out free book bags and school supplies.

For a third consecutive summer, Anthony hosted an event called The Playbook, an exclusive, invite-only camp that attempts to equip high-level high school basketball players in New York City with the tools needed to thrive on the court with NBA coaching and off the court with financial literacy training.

“Growing up in New York, I was fortunately very blessed growing up. My family was doing well, but I always had perspective,” Anthony said. “I played AAU basketball from a young age on. I always had teammates, I always had friends that weren’t as well off as me.

“I would see how my parents would always extend their hands out and make sure my friends were good, just as much as they made sure I was good. I just saw how they were always giving back to the community. They always thrust that upon me, and I just naturally fell in love with trying to give back.”

Anthony said he has already reached out to Bucks forward Bobby Portis — who he heard is the unofficial mayor of Milwaukee — to figure out how he can start making an impact in the community in his new NBA home. In the meanwhile, Anthony will continue figuring out how he can make an impact on the floor as the Bucks start training camp on Monday.

“There was a period of time where I didn’t know what team I was playing on, so I just focused on being as ready as I can,” Anthony said. “Now I’m in Milwaukee, everything has started to feel a little more real, and it’s such a great opportunity.”

(Top photo: Troy Taormina / Imagn Images)