It’s never easy being the child of a sports legend. Some try to live up to the hype but end up walking away. Consider Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan—both gifted, both sons of Michael Jordan, yet neither reached the NBA. The weight of expectation can crush even the most talented. That’s what makes Kiyan Anthony’s rise even more special. Despite the pressure, he’s stepping up. And recently, he proved just how far he’s come.

Kiyan isn’t content with being known solely as Carmelo Anthony’s son; he’s determined to forge his own path. At the 2025 Jordan Brand Classic, Kiyan stole the show, dropping 26 points and snagging MVP honors. He even won the MVP, echoing his father’s legacy. Fresh off his McDonald’s All‑American nod, Kiyan seized the Classic stage. And although he didn’t beat Carmelo’s 27-point record, his performance was still unforgettable. And Melo was right there to acknowledge his son.

His mother, La La Anthony, couldn’t hold back her joy. She shared her pride on Instagram with posts that made waves. In one story, she wrote, “Proudest mom on earth!!… his dad played in this game when he was in high school and Kiyan beat his scoring record tonight & got MVP!! @kiyananthony love you so much”. In another, she added, “This is so crazyyyy. I’m so proud.” Her excitement was real, not just for the win, but for the years it took to reach this.

How did Kiyan reach this moment? Honestly, it started with sacrifice, especially from his mom. La La reflected, “When I had my son… I never want to be that mom that’s like, oh, my mom was working.” She admitted she missed a few moments, but for the most part, Kiyan could say his mom was always there. “So I think having a child automatically makes you, you know, realign your focus and your priorities.” To her, Kiyan takes the greatest priority, and if it means that she has to make adjustments in her work life, she is all for it.

And that shift never wavered. La La said, “I schedule everything around my son.” Whether it’s birthdays or basketball games, nothing takes priority. “I’ve had to tell my manager, I’ve had to tell agents, I’ve had to tell TV, like, it’s my kid’s birthday, it’s my kid’s this. It’s like, I have to be there.” She added, “When it comes to my kid, I just don’t play around.” Now, the world sees what unwavering presence and love can help create. It is this level of sacrifice she has made that has helped Kiyan keep his focus on court.

La La Anthony stays gracious, praises Carmelo’s fatherhood despite their divorce

In the interview, La La Anthony also got real about life after divorce. She opened up with advice for those trying to rebuild themselves—and surprisingly, she also praised her ex, Carmelo Anthony, for being a great father. Coming from someone who went through a very public and painful split, her words caught a lot of attention.

When asked how to move forward after a breakup, La La spoke with honesty. She urged people to reconnect with who they were before the relationship. “Don’t lose who you are and get back to who you are and who you were before the marriage,” she said, encouraging others to remember their passions and job skills. It’s easy to lose parts of yourself in a relationship, she admitted, but finding that strength again is key to healing.

And when the conversation turned to co-parenting, La La’s praise for Carmelo was heartfelt. She was honest about the learning curve, saying, “No one gets married thinking they’re going to get divorced… you’re navigating in new waters.” Yet despite everything, she called Melo “the greatest dad I know.” She even added, “I’m just so blessed that we have a child together… and my son gets to experience having two incredible parents.”

Her words carry more weight when you remember how rocky their split was. From reports of infidelity to living separately and La La no longer wearing her ring, their divorce wasn’t quiet. Still, hearing her speak so positively now shows growth and maybe even peace. Coming from someone who went through a public, painful end to a marriage, her grace says more than any headline ever could.