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The son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan, is undoubtedly upholding the family legacy with his basketball talents. A couple of months ago, the 17-year-old basketball prodigy signed with WME Sports, the same agency that represents his mother. A few days ago, he confirmed to be following his father’s footsteps into college. Fast forward to now, Kiyan seems to be bringing it together in a single look.

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It’s a new jacket in Syracuse’s colors by Who Decides War. Not exclusively speaking about the possibility of a partnership, La La and Kiyan took to their official Instagram accounts and posted a story featuring a picture of them together. Kiyan, with an NIL valuation of $1.1 million, stunned in the jacket, paired with a white T-shirt, black shades, and a chain. The highlight piece, the orange jacket, does not seem to have been released yet as the website remains void of it.

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His mother, on the other hand, looked equally glamorous in a gray oversized sweatshirt that complemented her blonde hair and radiant smile. Adorable, right? But the two weren’t alone. They were joined by Carmelo Anthony, who sported a black jacket, shades, a black T-shirt, and a cap.

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La La and Carmelo got married in 2010, but as their marriage began to “dissolve,” keeping them on and off since 2017, La La officially filed for divorce in 2021. Since then, they’ve prioritized co-parenting Kiyan, their only son. “You gotta make it not about you and about them… I wouldn’t want to set the wrong example for Kiyan,” La La had admitted on Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast.

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The two also ensured to be present when the 17-year-old was announcing his college decision on Melo’s podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn. La La revealed they had been supportive of whatever Kiyan wanted to choose, never forcing their opinion on him, even when it was difficult for the New York Knicks star to stay shut on his knowledge about his alma mater.

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Through the process, during the announcement, and post, the former couple has stuck by him. Today was one such instance again as the Syracuse commit began with the initial steps of his next chapter.

Kiyan’s jacket makes it to the most special moment

Kiyan was up at a party with his parents and their friends after his college announcement when Interview Magazine caught up for an interview. The snippets of the family together were captured Tom Harold just moments before.

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While he had three colleges in mind, including Syracuse, his decision was announced on Friday night. Influenced by the opportunities at his father’s alma mater, Kiyan decided to continue the family legacy and committed to Syracuse. “I’m my own player, and I want to do even bigger things,” he shared during a chat with Jayson Buford, at a secluded warehouse on the shores of New York Harbor — where Melo records his podcast.

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However, his decision was influenced by other factors as well. “Mostly, how they could see me fitting in there and recruiting me for myself and not just who he was,” he added. For Kiyan, it was important to establish his own identity and not let his collegiate career be overshadowed by his father’s legacy. Since Syracuse’s campus and coaching staff welcomed him for who he is, he committed to the university without hesitation.

But Kiyan isn’t the only one benefitting from this decision. Syracuse University stands to gain immensely from having Anthony Jr. on their team, with his NIL valuation of $1.1 million being a significant advantage. As of now, Kiyan has lucrative partnerships with brands including PSD Underwear, Nerf, and the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. Kiyan might be following his father’s footsteps but his story looks a lot different.

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Yashika Dutta

2,141 Articles

Yashika Dutta is a Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the NCAA, WNBA, and Olympics. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she specializes in the high-stakes energy of college basketball, with features on the Big Ten Conference and the chaos of March Madness that bring fans right to the hardwood. Her coverage has even caught the attention of UConn coaches and Olympian Rori Dunk, earning her recognition for both accuracy and insight. A former state-level basketball player, Yashika channels her on-court experience into reporting that captures the game’s intensity beyond the box score. With a player’s sense of timing and a journalist’s instinct for storytelling, she shines a light on rising stars like Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins, while unpacking the pressures and triumphs that shape college hoops. Whether charting a Big Ten rivalry or chronicling the ethos of March Madness, Yashika connects fans to the heart of the game with energy and authenticity.

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Shivatmika Manvi

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