While Kiyan Takes 60% Hit, Carmelo Anthony Demands Stricter NIL Rules

Beyond the hardwood, Kiyan Anthony, barely out of high school, is already navigating the complex world of a six-figure clothing brand and a $1.1 million NIL valuation. But the glamorous facade of early financial success is quickly giving way to a crucial, real-world education, courtesy of his father, Carmelo Anthony. This isn’t just about basketball anymore; it’s a crash course in wealth management for a teenager on the cusp of college and a burgeoning business empire.

But while that sounds like a dream, the reality check hits hard. During a chat on the Boardroom podcast, Carmelo Anthony opened up about parenting in the NIL era, revealing, “I got to talk to you about taxes at 17 years old… at 17 years old I was running around we ain’t know nothing about no budget.”

Following up on that moment, Melo didn’t sugarcoat the hard truth he recently shared with his son. “I told him the other day, I said, you in my tax bracket now… you part of the 1%.” That hit comes with a price—literally. “You’re getting 60% of your money taken,” he told Kiyan, bluntly. NIL earnings don’t come with a tax exemption; instead, they’re taxed like ordinary income, and depending on the bracket, that means up to 37%. Add another 15.3% in self-employment taxes and suddenly, that million-dollar NIL deal doesn’t look as shiny.

On top of that, there’s the state income tax—which isn’t just a footnote. Melo’s advice to Kiyan includes planning for those extra cuts. While states like Florida and Tennessee skip state income tax, places like California and New York, where Kiyan is heading, dig deep into earnings. “These are fun conversations… he wanted to learn,” Melo shared, noting Kiyan’s openness to learn. But he also reminding that “this ain’t overnight.” Carmelo’s proactive approach to educating Kiyan about state-specific tax implications underscores the importance of location in NIL financial planning.

Since Kiyan will be suiting up for Syracuse, he’ll be paying up to 10.9% in state taxes on his NIL income. That’s where Carmelo Anthony’s push for change steps in. Watching his son navigate this, he’s raising the flag for stricter NIL rules to protect young athletes.

Melo’s take? “It’s the Wild Wild West,” he said. “But it’s an opportunity for these kids to make money and get paid for what they do out there.”

Sure, he loves that kids can finally cash in, but he wants structure. “There’s no rules and ramifications around it… If you’re paying these young men and young women like employees of a business, just make it a real business thing.”

Because ultimately, as Melo sees it, this system doesn’t need to be this confusing. “That would alleviate a lot of the issues and questions we have today.” Until then, Kiyan might be in the 1%, but he’s also learning how to keep what’s his.

Kiyan Anthony is a mindful spender

While Carmelo Anthony’s been vocal about the tax blows Kiyan’s been taking, his mom LaLa Anthony has her own take on how their son is handling money. During her chat on the SoFi Richer Lives podcast, LaLa opened up about the financial values she’s been pouring into Kiyan from day one. While acknowledging past regrets about her own financial education, she’s ensuring her son receives thorough financial instruction.

In fact, LaLa made it clear that spoiling him was never part of the plan. “As parents, it was always about making sure that he understood the value of things… we never overindulged him in anything.” Even now as a teenager, she says Kiyan’s mindset stands out. “He doesn’t want a lot of things, he cares about giving back, he cares about helping people.”

What’s even more impressive is how alert he is with spending. “If I buy him something, he’s like ‘Mom, why’d you buy this hoodie? It costs this much money,’” LaLa shared. It’s not about being cheap—it’s about being aware. And that kind of awareness doesn’t happen overnight.

So when Vivian Tu asked what advice she’s giving him now, LaLa said it plain: “Ask questions. Don’t feel like any question is a dumb question.” Clearly, Kiyan’s tuned in, asking the right stuff, and keeping his eyes on the numbers. Now the real question is—will the NCAA start listening too?