Sometimes basketball gives you more than stats and banners. It gives you moments that live forever. On Saturday, Carmelo Anthony walked into basketball immortality, his name etched alongside legends in Springfield. His son, Kiyan Anthony, was right there supporting his father and helping him slip into the Hall of Fame jacket.
When the basketball world thought that the Anthony clan had reached the pinnacle, they just showed that this was only the beginning. This father-son duo is stepping into something just as bold and memorable.
How Will Carmelo Anthony’s Hall of Fame Momentum Boost Kiyan’s Freshman Season?
Fresh off the Hall of Fame stage, Carmelo and Kiyan are launching an exclusive merch collection with SLAM called Slam 258, Cover Tee Collection. The drop features a cover tee, a framed magazine with protective casing, and an entire collection to celebrate Carmelo’s journey and the new chapter Kiyan is about to write.
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For Carmelo, there’s perfect symmetry here. In 2003, he led Syracuse University to its first NCAA championship as a freshman. He averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds, took down Texas in the Final Four with 33 points, and earned the title Most Outstanding Player. Syracuse history isn’t complete without Anthony’s name, and now his son is about to walk the same legendary path.
Why Did Kiyan Anthony Choose Syracuse Over Other Options?
Kiyan Anthony could’ve gone anywhere. Despite all the options, he chose Syracuse in the name of legacy. “I’m excited to play on a bigger stage, in front of more fans, in front of more people, higher expectations, higher everything,” Kiyan told Slam. “I feel like all the work that we’ve been putting in is definitely going to show on that level. And I’m definitely looking forward to going into the Dome and going into away games, being ready to compete and being able to win.”
This is such valuable bump for Kiyan Anthony
The Syracuse Freshman is holding his own against multiple NBA players
He looks like he may be the real deal
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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) August 21, 2025
The 6 ft 5 in guard ranks among the top recruits in the Class of 2025, already earning recognition as one of the best shooting guards in the country. Anthony is fresh off a summer where he dominated the NBPA Top 100 Camp and earned MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic. Just like his father two decades earlier, he’s walking into the Carrier Dome with something to prove.
7 DAYS OF MELO HIGHLIGHTS
Carmelo Anthony had the greatest CBB freshman season ever, leading the Syracuse Orangemen to their first ever NCAAB championship🏆 (h/t @Frankie_Vision)
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— CTRL the Narrative (@ctrlnarrative) September 3, 2025
What makes this collaboration so powerful goes beyond branding. This is storytelling at its finest. Anthony knows the weight of the Carrier Dome crowd, the pressure of Big East rivalries, and the roar of 35,000 fans. “I know what it’s like to get ready for a Georgetown game, or get ready for a Villanova game,” Carmelo said. “He (Kiyan) hasn’t experienced that yet. I’m excited for the unknown of how he’s going to react to it.” The collection bridges that gap between the father’s experience and the son’s anticipation.
What Does Carmelo’s Post-Playing Career Mean for Kiyan’s Journey?
There’s another layer to this story. Anthony’s life beyond the court is no longer about putting up buckets. He’s closing chapters with the NBA while opening new ones in business, media, and fatherhood. From his hit podcast “7 p.m. in Brooklyn” to joining NBC as an analyst, he’s building his world beyond basketball. Yet every lane somehow loops back to Kiyan, supporting him, guiding him, and teaming up with him in projects like this SLAM collaboration.
As Anthony puts it, “The NBA book for me as a player will be shut as of September 6….And after that, it’s everything else. I get to focus on other businesses. But also, running behind Kiyan and supporting him. This is the moment where I really want to just enjoy going to the games.” Anthony may have had the last word in Springfield, but now the louder conversation is about what the next Anthony will bring to the court.
“This is the calm before the storm,” says Kiyan. He became a reliable offensive engine at Long Island Lutheran, lifting his team to deep postseason runs. On the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Melo, he proved his scoring touch travels, putting up 19.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Then at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, he had the camp’s best average with 28.5 points per game. With that kind of potential and pedigree, Anthony might just be looking to create an all-out Orange storm in Syracuse.
