Being the son of an NBA legend comes with a unique set of pressures. For Kiyan Anthony, the son of 3× Olympic gold medalist and 10× NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, it’s more than just living in the shadow of greatness—it’s about carving out his own path. At just 18, Kiyan has already made a name for himself, earning top rankings in the class of 2025 by ESPN. However, with recognition comes scrutiny, and Kiyan’s journey hasn’t been without its share of challenges.

In a YouTube video titled The Kiyan Anthony Show on Overtime, Kiyan opened up about the weight of these expectations. He candidly shared how being Carmelo Anthony’s son has put him under a constant microscope, but he also believes his own performance has added to the pressure. “I feel like I’m more under the microscope than ever. Just because, like, the way I’ve been playing and showcasing my talents on the floor, people are starting to realize, like, it’s more than just being for my excellent,” Kiyan explained in the video.

As the video progressed, Melo himself chimed in, praising Kiyan’s dedication and growth. Melo pointed out that fans are beginning to see his son’s true potential. “The fans are starting to see, OK, he’s coming to his own. That’s the most important part,” Melo said.

But it’s not just Carmelo Anthony who has taken notice. Renowned NBA trainer Chris Brickley, who recently worked with Kiyan in a practice session, spoke highly of the young star. Sharing a clip of Kiyan’s skills, Brickley added, “Sharpening your skills never stops & improvement happens when you push beyond your comfort zone. Kiyan Anthony continues to improve. The future is ALL YOURS bro. Just keep your foot on the pedal 💯.”

In a recent appearance on Open Run With Rachel Nichols, Melo was asked if he thought Kiyan could surpass him in the game. His response: “I hope so. I mean better is relative, right? You have to go through a lot to be better in the sense of just longevity, career… what you have to go through on a day-to-day basis.”

It’s clear Melo believes his son has what it takes, and Kiyan is already working hard to shape his journey with dedication and training.

Kiyan’s training with Melo

Though Kiyan has always had the privilege of learning from one of the best, training with his dad hasn’t always been easy. In his 2023 Overtime documentary Evolution, Kiyan talked about how Melo pushed him from a young age. “My dad is a trainer. We used to, you know, be in a lot of controversy because I was like 12 years old, and he was trying to put me in the post at the time,” he revealed.

Of course, Carmelo Anthony doesn’t hold back when it comes to criticizing his son’s performance. “Y’all not playing hard,” Melo bluntly said during a game in 2023, captured in the same documentary. “Y’all playing soft, y’all playing like suckers. You think y’all gonna be recruited by coaches playing like this?”

Kiyan also shared how valuable it is to have Melo’s insight on the sidelines. “Whenever my dad sees us lacking or doing something bad, he always comes to the timeout and gives his input,” he said in another video from 2023. “Everybody loves to listen because they know he knows what he’s talking about.”

Still, Melo isn’t easy on him during practice. Last year, in an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Kiyan revealed that his dad pushes him hard. “If I were to mess up, he’ll get on me. He just wants me to be great… He guards me real aggressive just so I can feel what the next-level strength is like.”

Stay tuned for more 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.