Exclusive
TMZSports.com
Top NBA draft prospect Cole Anthony ain’t running from the dumpster fire that is the Knicks … in fact, the former UNC star says he’d embrace being selected by NY!!!
“I mean, look,” the projected 1st-round pick tells TMZ Sports, “hey, it would be cool!”
Of course, the Knicks are kind of in Anthony’s genes … his father, Greg Anthony, was drafted by NY back in 1991 and played with the team for the first 4 seasons of his lengthy NBA career.
But, the Knicks have devolved into a complete mess since Papa Anthony roamed Madison Square Garden … and it’s gotten so bad, a ton of free agents have passed on signing there the past couple years.
Cole, though, tells us he’d be fired up if the Knicks took him in October’s draft … adding he’s going to give “everything I can” to any team that’s willing to take a shot on him.
It’d make sense for the Knicks … Cole was a MONSTER at UNC despite injuries last season — he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 22 games for the Tar Heels.
By the way, Anthony — who was out at Cove Lounge in NYC for an event to give back to children over the weekend — also told us his old UNC teammates are fighting like hell to make sure there’s a college basketball season this year.
“They 1000% wanna play,” Cole says. “I don’t see why like — if you love basketball, why would you not wanna play!?!”