“My parents raised me right,” Cole Anthony once said, leaning back after a tough workout. Sweat still on his brow, voice calm but certain. “They don’t hand anything to me in life. What they do hand to me is knowledge.” That line stuck. Not flashy. Not rehearsed. Just real. It tells you exactly who Cole Anthony is without needing a long resume. He’s been around wealth, fame, and big stages—but he’s never acted like anything’s owed to him.

He talks like someone who’s had to earn respect at every level, not just because of his last name or zip code but because he’s put in the work. He’s one of those people who pays attention to the court and off it. And honestly, that mindset might be his greatest skill. Ok, wait, we are not here to talk about his on-the-court story; rather, we are here to look at his family and their story.

Was Cole Anthony’s father an NBA player? A look into his parents and their legendary careers.

The Orlando Magic point guard was born to Greg Anthony and Crystal McCrary, and these two are incredibly accomplished individuals in their own right. You could say Cole was born into excellence—basketball on one side, creativity and intellect on the other. That mix of grit and brilliance really shows in the way he carries himself today. Let’s start with Greg Anthony—yes, Cole’s dad was very much an NBA player.

A tough, scrappy point guard, Greg played eleven seasons in the league. He was never the flashiest guy on the floor, but, man, he was reliable. He did the dirty work. Do you need someone to press full court or sacrifice for the team? That was Greg. He played for six different teams, including the New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Grizzlies. What stands out to me is how he started for the Grizzlies after being picked in the 1995 expansion draft.

That’s not a small feat. He was the kind of player every team needed, even if he wasn’t on every poster. But before the league, Greg made serious noise in college. He transferred to UNLV and helped the Runnin’ Rebels win the 1990 NCAA Championship. He did it while playing through a broken jaw—wired shut, mind you. That alone says something about his toughness.

It’s not hard to see where Cole gets his edge from. You watch Cole play, and there’s this fire in him. A confidence. A willingness to take the shot and live with the result. That’s not random—it’s learned, and it’s earned. Now, on the other side, we have Crystal McCrary. She’s not an athlete, but make no mistake—she’s every bit as legendary. A lawyer turned author, filmmaker, and activist, Crystal’s resume stretches across so many fields that it’s honestly hard to keep up.

She started in entertainment law, representing artists, writers, and directors. But she didn’t stop there. She co-wrote novels like Home Court Advantage and Gotham Diaries that peeled back the curtain on the world around basketball, celebrity, and culture. Later, she pivoted into filmmaking and directed “Little Ballers,” a documentary on youth basketball in NYC.

If you’ve seen it, you’ll get how deeply she understands what the game means—not just as a sport but as identity, escape, and connection. She didn’t just raise a hooper; she helped raise a movement, especially for young Black voices. Honestly, now that’s just as impressive as any championship. It’s clear that both Greg and Crystal gave Cole more than just talent or opportunity.

They gave him work ethic, perspective, and drive. They also didn’t raise him in a bubble. Cole’s been around success his whole life, but you can tell he doesn’t feel entitled to anything. That’s rare. People love to debate nature vs. nurture, but in Cole’s case, it’s both. A former NBA guard for a dad who played through injury and a mom who turned words into power—that’s one powerful combo.

And yeah, they’re divorced now, but they both still show up for him, publicly and proudly. The exact date of their divorce is not available, but by this, he got a stepfather named Raymond McGuire, who is a banking executive on Wall Street, and also a stepmother who is a dermatologist. So, now that we know about his parents, let’s also look to see if he has any siblings.

Does Cole Anthony have any siblings?

Yes, Cole Anthony has siblings. He is the oldest of five, and he wears that role well. His sister is his best friend, which says a lot about him, honestly. You’d think an NBA player might drift away from family stuff, but Cole seems to lean into it. Then there’s Leo—his five-year-old brother from his mom’s second marriage. Leo tags along to Cole’s workouts in New York like it’s normal business. That’s kind of wholesome.

Greg Anthony, Cole’s dad, once said something that stuck. “When he’s with his younger siblings, he’s about their world.” That paints a picture. It’s not just him showing up—he’s fully there. Video games, pool time, puzzles, football, whatever they’re into, he’s down for it. And that’s not a show; he genuinely enjoys it. That says more about Cole than any stat line could.

He’s not just big brother by birth—he’s big brother in action. A protector, a role model, someone his siblings look up to. And it sounds like he’s well aware of the privilege he’s had and wants to share it. He’s said it himself: “I just don’t want to be an a**hole.” There’s something honest in that. No ego, just a guy trying to do right by the people around him.