Mention Kiyan Anthony, and most minds dart straight to his Hall-of-Famer dad, Carmelo. Predictably, conversations pivot to whether the 18-year-old phenom will lace up Melo’s sneakers. But there’s more to Kiyan than just basketball bloodlines. The softer side of the 18-year-old came out recently, showing the world just how deep his bond runs with his mom, La La Anthony.

In fact, 2024 has really flipped the script on their mother-son dynamic. Kiyan’s not holding back when it comes to showing love and appreciation. And on Valentine’s Day, he melted hearts by telling La La, “Mom, you have been my valentine for 16 years now…Thank you for everything.” It was a genuine moment that said more than any highlight reel could. Fast forward to this week’s Mother’s Day celebration, and once again, Kiyan showed up big time.

However, things didn’t go smoothly at first. This time around, Kiyan teamed up with DoorDash—yes, the $80.5 billion delivery giant—to pull off a grand gesture. Yet when La La pressed for the why, he quipped, “because of DoorDash.” Yep, it backfired. Still, credit to the kid—he learned his lesson and rectified his faux pas.

Days later, La La showcased his redemption on Instagram Stories—and it was impossible not to grin. The room was decked out with balloons and a big “Happy Mother’s Day” display. But Kiyan didn’t stop there—he dropped off multiple bouquets of roses and a very special handwritten note.

“Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom in the whole world. Thank you for always being there for me. Idk what I would do without you. It’s me and you forever! Love, Kiyan,” he wrote. So it seems this time, he nailed it. And La La, clearly touched, responded with a soft smile, saying, “Such a nice thing.”

But hey, before we get too emotional, let’s not forget the previous Mother’s Day moment that earned Kiyan a playful smack.

Kiyan Anthony’s Mother’s Day surprise earned him smack

This Mother’s Day, Kiyan Anthony, son of 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, tried to pull off another feel-good surprise for his mom, La La Anthony. And on paper, it had everything: flowers, sweets, and a heartfelt gesture. But the real kicker? He teamed up with $80.5 billion delivery giant DoorDash to make it all happen. Naturally, fans went wild the moment the surprise hit Instagram.

Then came the moment everyone’s talking about. In the video La La shared, Kiyan handed her a gorgeous bouquet and a custom-made giant bag crafted entirely from red roses. Her name, “La La,” stood out in bold white blooms. It was picture-perfect. Inside the massive rose bag? A bunch of her favorite treats—from Kit Kat and Snickers to Sephora goodies.

“DoorDash hooked us up. We are about to do something special with my mom for Mother’s Day. Watch this, she’s going to come down…” Kiyan teased in the clip. And La La’s reaction was priceless: “I love it! … You did good, you did so good!”

But just when things were getting too wholesome, La La threw the curveball. “What made you want to do this?” she asked. Kiyan’s answer? “DoorDash.” That’s right—not “because I love you,” but DoorDash. Cue the playful smack from La La: “You’re supposed to say you love your mom.”

Eventually, what started as a cute Mother’s Day gesture turned into a full-blown DoorDash promo. But hey, at least Kiyan learned his lesson and this time he led with love.