“The king of New York was not in the McDonald’s All-American Game.” Despite his son Ailjah’s selection, Gilbert Arenas didn’t hide his frustration over Kiyan Anthony’s snub. Well, Carmelo Anthony’s 18-year-old son, despite being ranked the No. 1 player from New York, not making the list was quite a shock. And it seems Kiyan has finally found the perfect way to respond to the supposed disrespect he faced.

However, it’s important to understand why Kiyan was left out of the 48-year event. The official reason provided? Kiyan didn’t play at least 50 games in his senior year because of the back injury in November. Thus, making him ineligible as per the required criteria. However, there have been speculations that it was all because Kiyan is committed to Syracuse. A Nike institute for over 3 decades. And McDonald’s All-American is sponsored by Nike.

No wonder that Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert suspected “politics” against Kiyan. The Nike/Adidas rivalry is a long-standing one, with significant implications for endorsements and player opportunities, and their suspicions reflect a broader concern about brand influence in basketball. In either case, the 18-year-old now has the perfect response for his McDonald’s All-American Snub.

“I made that list. @no.chill.gil,” Kiyan captioned his IG post, sharing a series of snaps from his recent outing at the Jordan Classic. The caption seems to be a clapback for his snub on the McDonald’s All-American list. A fitting reply. Especially considering the 18-year-old also earned the MVP honor at the Jordan Classic. Thus leading his Team Air to a 141-124 win against Team Flight. His Instagram post served as a confident and direct response to his doubters, letting his performance speak for itself and silencing any questions about his abilities.

With his 26 points and 5 rebounds, Carmelo Anthony’s 18-year-old son outperformed multiple players who have been ranked higher than him. The only player to outscore him was Caleb Wilson with his 28 points. It seems, however, Kiyan’s effective 11 of 15 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 from behind the arc just sealed the honor for him. But still, why tag Gilbert Arenas in his IG post? Well, not only did the 3x All-Star support Kiyan during his All-American snub, but again re-emphasized what a blunder it was after Kiyan’s recent MVP honor.

Gilbert Arenas once again backs Carmelo Anthony’s son

When Kiyan Anthony lit up the court with an MVP performance at the Jordan Brand Classic, one person wasn’t surprised at all—Gilbert Arenas. The former NBA star, who’s never been shy with his takes, felt the moment proved a point he made weeks ago. And if you’ve been following the conversation, you probably knew this was coming.

“Told yall leaving him on that Mcdonalds game gonna turn him up. @kiyananthony Jordan Classic MVP, He aint Done YET,” Arenas wrote on Instagram. Here’s what makes this whole situation even more interesting. The McDonald’s All-American Game took place in New York City, and Kiyan? As mentioned earlier, he’s widely recognized as the top high school player in the state. Yet, when the rosters dropped, he did not make the cut. Arenas had pointed it out earlier in his Instagram story: “Kiyan ‘The King of New York’ Anthony wasn’t invited to the McDonald’s All-American Game in New York…” 

Surprisingly, now it’s Gil’s son, Alijah, who didn’t make it to the Jordan Classic. Once again, it’s hard to ignore that Alijah is signed with Adidas, and Jordan Classic is sponsored by Nike’s Jordan brand.

“If I want to play McDonald’s, I got to be Adidas… Same thing with USA basketball… If you an Adidas guy, y’all are basically begging Nike… to put you on team…” Gilbert Arenas once said on his podcast. So it’s possible he suspected foul play at Carmelo Anthony’s son not making it to the McDonald’s All-American. Fortunately for Kiyan, not only did he re-navigate his way to a major event, but showcased his MVP potential.

The Jordan Classic, while not carrying the same prestige as the McDonald’s All-American Game, still offered a valuable platform for Kiyan to showcase his talent and prove his doubters wrong, providing a crucial opportunity to rewrite the narrative.