“I think everybody has their own unique style.” Now, one can expect Carmelo Anthony to think the same about the playing style of his son Kiyan Anthony. The phenomenon of ‘basketball bloodlines’ has captivated fans for decades. We have seen the success stories of Kobe Bryant following in his father Joe’s footsteps, Stephen Curry surpassing his father Dell’s accomplishments, and Jaren Jackson Jr. carving out his own NBA career. But for every success, there are countless others who crumble under the weight of expectations. Now one of the most influential agents in the NBA, Rich Paul, has recently shed light on the unique challenges faced by Carmelo Anthony’s son.

In the recent episode of the ‘7 pm in Brooklyn‘ podcast, Kid Mero asked the guest of the segment, Rich Paul if the NBA was turning into a father-son legacy sport. The 43-year-old started his answer by stating the advantages of today’s NBA stars’ kids while giving the example of Kiyan, however, at the same time, the NBA agent also added a con.

“The negative is, he’s [Kiyan] Carmelo’s son, right? So he’s under pressure to go to Syracuse, there shouldn’t be, I know it’s not coming from his parents. The negative side of it is again like you can’t expect Kiyan if he chooses to go to Syracuse to be who his dad was, right. And I think the tough part about social media, the tough part about people having a voice, that you can’t see these anonymous critics and things like that. Their expectation is not realistic. So I think sometimes it’s better for them to, even if they want to walk in the same shoes as their dad, sometimes it might be better if they can go in different route,” said Paul during the podcast.

The high expectations of Kiyan from his fans are quite understandable. After all, his father’s college basketball and NBA journey was nothing short of glorious. At Syracuse University, Melo led the Orange to their first and only NCAA championship in 2003 as a freshman, averaging 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game. His tournament performance was legendary, earning him the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.

Moreover, in the NBA, Melo’s career has been equally impressive. He’s a 10x All-Star and has led the league in scoring (2012-13 season with 28.7 points per game). Anthony’s scoring prowess is evident in his 62-point game against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2014, setting both a Knicks franchise and Madison Square Garden scoring record. His versatility as a scorer is reflected in his career average of 22.5 points per game across 19 seasons

However, even though Paul talked about the negatives surrounding Kiyan, as mentioned before, the 42-year-old also revealed the advantages of being the son of an NBA player. “I think it’s about balance right between. It’s easier for these guys than it was for them. I think it’s just based upon, the platform and all the eyes that’s on the score. Look I’m Kiyan, my dad is Carmelo, right? So he was a superstar in the NBA. He can teach me what he was taught and what I’m being taught, he’s expediting the journey in terms of attention to detail, what works and doesn’t work. Having an understanding on how to approach it, right?“ said Paul during the podcast.

Melo’s teachings have been evident in Kiyan’s recent performance. The 17-year-old had quite a good stint in the Peach Jam, SLAM Summer Classic, and Rod Wave this summer. While having an NBA great as a father undoubtedly opens doors and provides invaluable guidance, it also comes with a unique set of challenges. However, Syracuse isn’t the only option that the young shooting guard was looking for.

The Colleges on Kiyan Anthony’s target

Carmelo Anthony’s son is on the verge of making one of the most important decisions of his young life: selecting a college. Being one of the top shooting guards from the class of 2025, Kiyan has garnered significant attention from top universities across the country. Initially, he had received over 20 offers from various programs, including Michigan, Tennessee, and Maryland.

However, the 17-year-old was focusing on the colleges Auburn, Florida State, Ohio State, Rutgers, and especially his father’s alma mater, Syracuse. “I’m looking forward to take a second visit [to Syracuse], and nobody knows, I can go there so,” said Kiyan during an interview with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Now, the young shooting guard has further narrowed down his choice to three colleges: Auburn, USC, and Syracuse. “They haven’t offered me yet. I’m still learning about them… a few of my close friends are over there, Tahaad (Pettiford) and Jahki (Howard) and they tell me about it. I’m looking forward to them throwing the offer so I can go take the visit,” said Kiyan about Auburn on ON3 Sports.

It is a difficult decision and encompasses how well one’s academic, athletic, and personal preferences match up with a school. This will certainly weigh heavy on the way his life goes from here, and he will relish the day for years to come.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.