In December 2024, the next generation of two NBA icons finally crossed paths. Kiyan Anthony, a 6-foot-4 four-star guard out of Long Island Lutheran who recently committed to Syracuse, squared off against Bryce James, the youngest son of LeBron and a senior at Sierra Canyon. For Kiyan, it was another step after averaging 14 points per game with Team Melo on the AAU circuit. For Bryce, who would go on to commit to Arizona in January 2025, it was a proving ground in a spotlight he’s known his entire life.
The matchup dates back to 2002, when Carmelo Anthony’s Oak Hill squad edged LeBron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary, 72-66, in a showdown that defined their high school legacies. Carmelo pouring in 34, LeBron answering with 36. Now coming back to the second generation rivals.
It seems like Bryce James was really up for a game with Kiyan Anthony, judging by how utterly disappointed he looked on his Instagram Live while sitting with his Arizona teammates. What started as a casual chat quickly turned into a telling moment. Bryce leaned in and asked, “is Arizona or Northwestern playing Syracuse?”, a question that clearly wasn’t random. His teammate Anthony Dell’Orso shut it down with a straight, “nah, we don’t play Syracuse,” while another voice added matter-of-factly, “Syracuse is in the ACC.” It looked like a genuine letdown, the realization that a head-to-head with Kiyan Anthony wasn’t on the docket.
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Arizona, now part of the Big 12 after the conference realignment in 2024, simply doesn’t share a regular-season rotation with Syracuse, who remain in the ACC. The only realistic way Bryce and Kiyan could square off in college would be in a preseason tournament, a neutral-site showcase, or a March Madness matchup. So when Bryce’s teammates shut it down on the Live, the letdown wasn’t just over one game, it was about the realization that their paths may rarely cross on the NCAA stage.
Syracuse has Kiyan Anthony on its roster, and a head-to-head would have been a rare litmus test between two young players carrying enormous expectations. Wanting Syracuse, or at least asking about it aloud on a public Live suggests he was looking for validation on the court: a direct, uncontested way to measure himself against Kiyan rather than letting comparisons live forever in headlines. It clearly showed need to prove yourself as an individual player, not just as “LeBron’s son”, that too at such a young age.
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Off the court, the rivalry has spilled into the NIL marketplace. Bryce James, represented by Klutch Sports, carries an estimated NIL valuation of $1.1 million, boosted by deals with Taco Bell and Uninterrupted. Kiyan Anthony’s figure hovers slightly lower, around $750,000-$1 million, anchored by partnerships with PSD Underwear, Nerf, and his own One Way Clothing brand. Still, all the numbers mean little compared to proving it head-to-head on the court.
Could this be the start of a rivalry at 18? Absolutely, but with caveats. Both are the same recruiting class (born 2007), playing parallel trajectories that intersect quite often. Kiyan’s Syracuse commitment and Bryce’s Arizona signing put them on national stages where future matchups (non-conference slates, tournaments, or the pros) are possible. Rivalries often begin with a spark, one contested game, one public moment, a social-media exchange.
Legacy pressure off the court for both Kiyan and Bryce
Kiyan Anthony knows what it feels like to be overlooked. After missing out on the McDonald’s All-American Game last season, his father Carmelo was vocal about the snub, saying Kiyan “really put the work in … deserved to be a McDonald’s All-American,” but Kiyan chose to let his game answer. He bounced back with strong showings in showcase events like the Jordan Brand Classic, where he shared MVP honors, reminding everyone why Syracuse locked him in early.
Off the floor, Kiyan is carving his own identity through NIL deals. Kiyan Anthony just got a Player Exclusive (PE) version of the Air Jordan 6 Low, made especially for him, and it’s loaded with meaning. The sneaker, surfaced in September 2025, features Syracuse-inspired colors, premium materials, and “KIYAN” stitched on the heel.
The snub fueled “redemption” storylines, with Kiyan shining in alternatives like Iverson Classic and EYBL (28.5 PPG at Top 100 Camp). His 26-point efficiency (73% FG) outshone peers like AJ Dybantsa (25 points); it was a “like father, like son” moment, with Carmelo presenting the MVP award.
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What makes this PE special is how it aligns with Kiyan’s vision off the court. He had publicly expressed that he wanted a deal with Jordan, partly because his father Carmelo has been one of Jordan Brand’s iconic athletes. Amidst this dream moment, he is also under scrutiny for his commitment with Syracuse, as it can lead to comparisons with his father.