The bond between Kiyan Anthony and his mother, La La Anthony, is legendary in basketball circles. But when the Syracuse freshman faced off against his mom during a recent practice session, family ties took a backseat to competitive instincts.
The 6’5″ shooting guard casually drained a three-pointer over Anthony with zero hesitation, proving that even the tightest mother-son relationships have boundaries on the basketball court.
Syracuse Star Shows No Family Favoritism on Court
Anthony captured the moment on her Instagram story, documenting her son’s effortless shooting display. Her caption, “I never stood a chance 😂😂😂😂😂😂” perfectly captured the one-sided basketball encounter. The video showed Kiyan pulling up for three while Anthony stood nearby on the court, attempting to defend him.
The shooting guard displayed the same smooth mechanics that earned him MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic in April 2025, where he scored 26 points for Team Air. This performance solidified his status as one of the nation’s top prospects.
La La had been documenting Kiyan’s practice sessions throughout the day, posting stories of him shooting free throws, hitting three-pointers from various spots on the court, and throwing down dunks. Each clip showcased the polish and confidence that made him the No. 1-ranked player in New York for the class of 2025.
Mother-Son Dynamic Meets Basketball Reality
The lighthearted moment highlighted their unique relationship. Anthony openly calls Kiyan her best friend, while he describes her as his “why.”
Behind the scenes, she handles much of the operational work for his basketball career. Kiyan calling her “the big dawg” who “does all of the dirty work” while his father, Carmelo, gets the courtside visibility speaks to her integral role in his development.
Kiyan Anthony Gets Tattoo Portrait of Mom La La Anthony: ‘You Are My Why’
Full details here: https://t.co/1ur8B9R2gj pic.twitter.com/xB0gDD6NGQ
— Complex (@Complex) July 31, 2024
Yet when basketball is involved, competitive instincts clearly take precedence. Kiyan’s casual confidence in pulling up for three over his mother reflects the scoring mentality that powered his impressive high school career.
He averaged 19.6 points per game in the Nike EYBL circuit and led all scorers with 28.5 points per game at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, numbers that caught the attention of major programs nationwide.
Orange Banking on Anthony’s Elite Scoring Ability
Syracuse secured Kiyan’s commitment in November 2024, beating out Auburn and USC for the coveted recruit. The Orange program desperately needs his offensive firepower after finishing 14-19 overall last season, their worst record in over 50 years.
The casual shooting display comes as Syracuse prepares for a challenging schedule. The team will face stiff competition at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas on November 24-25, where they’ll battle Houston on November 24 and Kansas on November 25. Both programs finished in the top 15 nationally last season, presenting immediate tests for the freshman guard.
For a Syracuse team looking to return to relevance, Kiyan represents hope. His combination of size, shooting touch, and basketball IQ mirrors the skillset that made his father a Hall of Fame player. If he shoots with the same confidence against ACC defenders as he does against his own mother, the Orange could surprise many skeptics this season.
The Instagram moment may have been lighthearted, but it revealed something important about Kiyan’s mindset. When he steps between the lines, relationships don’t matter. Only buckets do.