Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony last played in the 2021-22 season for the Lakers. He appeared in 69 games and made three starts in his final season. Since retiring, Melo has shifted his focus to his son’s basketball career.
Kiyan Anthony was a four-star recruit in the high school class of 2025. He received several offers from major college programs like Indiana, Michigan, Florida State, Tennessee, and USC. However, Kiyan chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and committed to Syracuse. Recently, Carmelo was interviewed on The Big Podcast. The 10-time all-star mentioned how “fulfilling” it is to see Kiyan “put on the Cuse jersey.”
Carmelo Anthony is proud to see his son play at Syracuse
“The most fulfilling thing… is seeing him put on the Cuse jersey.” 👏
– Carmelo Anthony on his son Kiyan playing at Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/IXpJcqNmnk
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) January 6, 2026
While Kiyan Anthony is following in his father’s footsteps, he has massive shoes to fill. Carmelo played one season for the Orange and helped them win a National Championship in 2002-03. Additionally, Melo was a consensus All-American at Syracuse. He averaged 22.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. After one collegiate season, Carmelo declared for the NBA draft and was selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003.
At Syracuse, Carmelo was a full-time starter. In his first collegiate season, Kiyan Anthony primarily comes off the bench. Kiyan has appeared in all 15 games for the Orange in 2025-26 and has made two starts. Despite not being a starter this year, Anthony’s 10.7 points per game are the third-most on the team. Recently, Carmelo Anthony was interviewed on The Big Podcast.
"He just turns his motor on, just play, the ball will find him"
Kiyan Anthony's 11 off the bench leads all scorers in the first half as Syracuse wins its first ACC road game over Georgia Tech pic.twitter.com/kdzvLdb416
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 7, 2026
Carmelo mentioned how “fulfilling” it is to watch Kiyan play for his alma mater. During the interview, he got nostalgic. Anthony said he knows the same feelings his son is going through. Lacing up his sneakers and running out of the tunnel to see the same fans that were there 20+ years ago. Melo mentioned that it is the beauty of college sports. The community is like no other.
On Syracuse’s basketball roster, Kiyan Anthony is listed as a six-foot-five forward. At the next level, that height is undersized for the forward posistion. It could benefit Anthony to make a posistion change to SG.
That could help him expand his game as a ball-handler and playmaker. In 2025-26, Kiyan Anthony is averaging 21.3 minutes per game for Syracuse. That is the most minutes per game for any non-starter on the roster. Anthony feels like a player who could benefit from a second collegiate season, rather than the typical one-and-done in college basketball.
