United's newest star reveals the Ingles pitch he couldn't refuse

Star Melbourne United signing Cole Anthony says Joe Ingles played a key role in bringing him to Australia.

Ingles himself was one of United's marquee off-season signings, but landing Anthony, still very much in his prime, was a huge coup among a new-look squad.

The 26-year-old played 35 games in his most recent NBA campaign and was lining up in the Playoffs for Orlando as recently as last year.

Now he arrives in the NBL as a genuine MVP threat, crediting Ingles, his manager and United's powerbrokers for opening his eyes to the opportunity.

"My good partner Bryce Council, who's been my right-hand man for 20 years, he was actually the one who brought me this opportunity to the table," Anthony said via NBL Now.

"I had to take it seriously, just because I trust his word.

"I sat down, just talked with the team (United) a bunch, really felt their energy and their love and their passion for it.

"Joe Ingles got in my ear a little bit and helped push me in the right direction."

Ingles and Anthony played 75 games together during the 2023/2024 NBA season with Orlando.

Anthony says he saw Ingles as a "big brother figure" early in his career.

"He was a huge factor," the star guard explained, speaking of Ingles' influence in getting him to Melbourne.

"Being able to go to Melbourne, a great city going to get some great weather and learn under a guy who played in the league for 10 years, who is just a super high IQ player.

"When I was a kid I was watching Joe play in the league and I never forget ... when he was going at PG (Paul George) in that one Playoff Series. From that day I always rock with Joe and I was a kid, and so I've seen Joe almost like a big brother figure to me.

"I'm really excited to just learn from him and just soak up the knowledge and just be around his team."

Anthony joins a stacked United roster that also features Sam Waardenburg, Luke Travers, Chris Goulding and Josh Oduro.

Still, it's playing alongside Ingles again that he's looking forward to most.

"Joe's just a heck of a heck of a guy. Just can hoop," he said. "Doesn't look like he can hoop, but boy, he can hoop. And just one of the funniest dudes I've met. Just super down to earth and just a real solid guy. And doesn't hurt that he knows the game.

"I'm just excited ... it's going to be fun."

Anthony said he'd been amazed by the welcome from Australian fans.

"I've already gotten a bunch of DMs, likes, comments, just people just literally just hitting me up just showing love like, 'Yo Cole from Melbourne', 'I'm from somewhere in Australia'. Just like, 'Yo, really excited to see you come down here'. So, I definitely have been feeling all the love."

As for his message to NBL fans who can't wait to see him in action:

"I just want to tell them how excited I am that they've embraced me so far, before I've even touched down in the country or in the continent," Anthony added.

"I'm excited. I think it's going to be a great season. We're going to have a lot of wins and we're going to have some fun while we're doing it."