Kiyan Anthony isn’t just playing to follow in his father’s footsteps: he’s aiming to build a legacy of his own. Despite averaging nearly 20 points a game this season, he didn’t land a spot in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Although Kiyan played in fewer than 50% of games due to a back injury, fans and his father suspected deeper reasons behind his exclusion. Instead of dwelling on the setback, Kiyan channeled his frustration into a commanding on-court performance.

One voice was especially bothered by the snub: Gilbert Arenas. During his podcast, he called out the decision. “The king of New York was not in the McDonald’s All-American Game,” he said, clearly frustrated. He even argued that Kiyan’s presence could’ve eclipsed the buzz surrounding the Knicks that week. Arenas didn’t hold back, arguing that the absence of New York’s top-ranked high schooler left the event without its rightful centerpiece. He believed missing out on this moment wasn’t just unfair: it was disrespectful.

But Kiyan didn’t let it define him—he used it as fuel. At the Jordan Brand Classic, he dominated the court, leaving no doubt about his potential. Gilbert, still fired up, took to Instagram to say, “Told yall leaving him on That Mcdonalds game was gonna turn him up @kiyananthony jordan Classic MVP aint Done YET 100.” Although Arenas didn’t get his “full-circle moment” from the All-American Game, Kiyan finally got it from the Jordan Brand Classic as he stepped onto the stage where Melo once played. The viral moment echoed the sentiment Carmelo Anthony might have felt: a silent vindication through his son’s triumph.

Kiyan backed up every word with his game. He dropped 26 points, including five three-pointers, and added three rebounds and two assists. His shooting was smooth, and he appeared locked in from the start. The crowd couldn’t get enough, and neither could his dad, Carmelo, who cheered proudly from the sidelines. Even his mother, La La Anthony, shared how proud she was in her Instagram Story.

With his MVP performance, Kiyan proved he’s ready. Not just to wear the Syracuse orange, but to carve his own path, parallel to the legend of Melo. And while others talk, this kid lets the box score do the shouting. Next stop: his own chapter in the Anthony legacy

From snubbed to crowned: Carmelo Anthony’s MVP gesture seals Kiyan’s redemption arc

Kiyan Anthony walked onto the Jordan Brand Classic stage with something to prove: and he did just that. Against top-tier talent like the Boozer twins, Chris Cenac, and Darius Acuff, it was his name called for MVP. His proud father, Carmelo Anthony, stepped forward, draped the MVP jacket over his son’s shoulders, then stepped back to let Kiyan have his moment. It wasn’t just a gesture: it was a powerful passing of the torch.

But rewind to March, and this moment didn’t seem so certain. Kiyan, New York’s top-ranked player in the class of 2025 and a Syracuse commit, was left off the McDonald’s All-American Game roster. The reason? A technicality: he missed part of his senior season due to injury, making him ineligible under the committee’s rules.

Melo didn’t hold back. On 7PM in Brooklyn, he said what many were thinking: “They jerked us. I think he really put the work in and really deserved to be a McDonald’s All-American because of his journey and how his development went.”

And the journey didn’t stop. Kiyan came back strong, dominating the EYBL circuit, dropping 42 points at the Top 100 Camp, and showing exactly why he belonged on that McDonald’s stage. But instead of sulking, he let his game talk.

So when Kiyan draped that MVP jacket around, it wasn’t just about the Jordan Brand Classic: it was about everything Kiyan overcame. As Melo once said, “From freshman basketball to becoming the number one player in New York.” They didn’t need the McDonald’s jersey anymore. This was the real vindication.