Copyright Heavy.
Kiyan Anthony’s college career began with a performance that felt straight out of a storybook, and LeBron James was among those paying attention. Before stepping onto the court, the 18-year-old freshman spent an hour on the phone with his father, Carmelo Anthony, who couldn’t be in attendance at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Syracuse legend had NBA broadcast duties with NBC, but that didn’t stop him from tuning in as his son made his long-awaited debut in orange. Coming off the bench earlier than expected, Kiyan scored 15 points in Syracuse’s 85-47 win over Binghamton, BET reports. With starting guard J.J. Starling exiting just minutes into the game due to a hamstring injury, Anthony seized the moment. He shot 6-for-10 from the field, nailed a three-pointer, and added three rebounds, three assists, and no turnovers in 28 minutes. Syracuse coach Adrian Autry praised the freshman afterward, Syracuse reports. “I thought Kiyan played really extremely well,” Autry said. “Especially on the defensive end, he gave a lot of energy and made the right rotations. I was extremely proud of him tonight.” LeBron’s Two-Word Shoutout Not long after the final buzzer, LeBron James took to Instagram to salute Kiyan’s big night, Athlon Sports reports. The Lakers star kept it short and full of pride, writing, “Yessir nephew @kiyananthony.” It was a simple message, but one packed with history. James and Carmelo Anthony entered the NBA together in 2003, LeBron as the first overall pick to Cleveland and Carmelo third to Denver. The two became close friends while facing off for years in the league, later teaming up with the Lakers and playing side by side for Team USA during gold medal runs in 2008 and 2012. That bond has carried into the next generation. As Kiyan follows in his father’s footsteps at Syracuse, he’s doing so with the eyes of two basketball icons watching closely. La La Anthony sat courtside to witness her son’s breakout, while Carmelo watched proudly from the NBC set. “I’m just a proud dad, doing what we do and enjoying the game,” he said with a grin after seeing Kiyan’s highlights. Carmelo Anthony couldn’t hide how proud he was after watching his son’s debut. “He’s growing, man. I love seeing his progress,” he said. “First game, coming off the bench, that’s exactly what we hoped for. I’m proud of you, champ. I wish I could’ve been there to see it in person.” Certainly, Melo will be able to make plenty of games this season. Carrying the Family Legacy Expectations will remain high for Kiyan Anthony this season. He’s not Syracuse’s highest-ranked recruit, as freshman Sadiq White holds that title, but his name carries weight. From Pearl Washington to Billy Owens, Syracuse has seen legends arrive with hype, yet few have drawn this much attention before their first tip-off. For Kiyan, Monday’s debut was more than a stat line. It was proof that he belongs, that the family legacy is alive in a new era of college basketball. And with LeBron and Carmelo cheering him on, the story is only beginning.
