Carmelo Anthony was moved to see his son, Kiyan Anthony, make a stunning debut on the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team.
On Tuesday (November 4), the 18-year-old son of ex-spouses Carmelo and Lala Anthony played with his team against the Binghamton Bearcats and dropped fifteen points in his first game. The Orange won 47-85.
While watching the game with the NBA on NBC crew, Anthony called himself a "proud dad" and complimented the team on their defense, also saying his son was "picking up full court."
"We teach patience," Anthony added. "He's developing, man. I just love to
see him develop. This is his first game. Fifteen points, six for ten, three rebounds, three assists off the bench."
Anthony continued, "So, let's talk about efficiency. This is what we want to see. If they bring you off the bench, go out here and do this and bring something else to your team. I'm proud of you, Champ. I wish I could have been there, but I'm here. We was talking about the Brooklyn Nets."
In a post-game interview, Kiyan said he could "understand" that his father had to work. "He's watching right now. I know he's seeing through the camera and I appreciate him for watching. I'll see him soon. And it's no worries. He'll be at the
next one," Kiyan said.
"You already know, champ. What's understood don't need to be spoken on, man," Anthony replied after seeing the clip.
Anthony, who retired from the NBA in 2023 and won a National Championship with Syracuse, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September, and during the ceremony, he credited his son and daughter, Genesis, 7, for being his "legacy."
In a recent cover story for SLAM, Anthony, who also played ball for Syracuse, imparted wisdom to Kiyan for his time at the university. "I know what the Dome feels like with 35,000 people in there," Anthony told the publication. "He hasn’t experienced that yet. I’m excited for the unknown of how he’s going to react to it. He’s gotta get prepared for that. The game is the game—but it’s also a lot that comes with the game."