Syracuse Orange icon Carmelo Anthony recently took on the role of NBA analyst for Peacock during his son Kiyan’s debut with the team on Monday night. Kiyan, who came off the bench, scored 15 points, contributed three rebounds, and had three assists in 29 minutes, helping Syracuse secure a commanding 85-47 victory over Binghamton.
From his position at the analyst desk, Carmelo spoke with pride about Kiyan’s performance, particularly highlighting his defensive efforts. “Most importantly for me, (Kiyan had a) defensive night,” he remarked, noting his son’s full-court pressure during the game.
Kiyan is known for his offensive prowess, having emerged as New York’s top basketball prospect in high school. However, his ability to adapt to a new role at Syracuse has impressed coaches and fans alike. Syracuse’s head coach Adrian Autry praised Kiyan’s energy and defensive contributions, saying, “I thought especially on the defensive end, I thought (Kiyan) gave a lot of energy. I thought he moved. I thought he made the right rotations.”
The opportunity for Kiyan to step up was accelerated by an injury to starting guard JJ Starling, who suffered a lower-body injury early in the game. This situation led to Kiyan receiving a significant increase in playing time, and he certainly made an impact with his performance.
Carmelo was not the only basketball star celebrating Kiyan’s milestone; LeBron James also shared words of encouragement by reposting a picture of Kiyan on his Instagram story with the words “Yessir nephew!!!” alongside a salute emoji.
Following the win, Coach Autry reassured fans that Starling’s injury was not serious, but if he misses the upcoming game against Delaware State on Saturday, Kiyan may find himself starting in his place.
Reflecting on his own Syracuse debut, where he scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Memphis in 2002, Carmelo noted the growth he sees in Kiyan, stating, “He’s developing man, I just love to see him develop. I’m proud of you champ, wish I could’ve been there.” Kiyan mentioned after the game that his father will be in attendance for their next match, scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., which will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, and tickets are available for as low as $4.
This narrative of Kiyan taking his first steps in the college basketball arena, combined with the mentorship and emotional support from his father, reflects a hopeful future ahead for the young player.