Kiyan Anthony, son of NBA great Carmelo Anthony, is no stranger to the limelight. As the heir to Melo’s $160,000,000 fortune and a young, up-and-coming basketball talent himself, Kiyan has experienced some of the best things money can buy at a young age. However, as fans of Carmelo and his family would already know, money isn’t something the Anthonys flaunt unnecessarily. A lesson demonstrated brilliantly by Kiyan in his recent appearance at Sneaker Con. During this, he made a shocking confession that both cracked up and impressed fans of the 17-year-old hooper.

Kiyan Anthony pulled up to Sneaker Con, a convention where treat sneakers are in abundance and rare and elusive sneakers are sold. While roaming through the Sneaker Con event, Kiyan saw a rare pair of Nike Dunks. Which had a whopping price tag of $50,000 on them. Kiyan admired the sneakers and said, “These are fire.” He then had a very humble and honest act of transparency. Kiyan said, “I don’t know if I can afford this though.” The crowd was in shock before he said, “I will touch it.”

But here’s the thing – just because Kiyan isn’t dropping $50k doesn’t mean he isn’t in the know. Kiyan is a massive sneakerhead and has some rare kicks of his own. One of Kiyan’s gems? A pair of Nike Blue Jordan 11s from the man that the shoes are named after, Michael Jordan. Now that’s flex! Kiyan isn’t about a massive price figure or outrageous looking shoes – he’s all about the sneaker culture and history within the shoe.

On the court, Kiyan is frequently seen wearing sneakers from some of the game’s biggest names, such as Kobe Bryant and Luka Dončić. Kiyan not only has an appreciation for sneakers, but considers them part of his identity.

Interestingly, Kiyan isn’t stopping at just sneakers. He’s also dipping his toes into the fashion world in a big way. His partnership with American Eagle Outfitters is proof of that. Kiyan showed off their apparel during a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. Merging his love for basketball with a growing interest in fashion. And in August 2024, he took his fashion game even further by collaborating with Got Sole, a popular sneaker and streetwear convention. At the event, he promoted his own clothing brand, One Way, which he co-owns.

Inside Kiyan Anthony’s entrepreneurial journey

Kiyan’s business ventures don’t end at partnerships either. Recently, the brand unveiled its latest launch: a set of thermals. Dubbed “Swag is My Serenity,” the new collection includes sleek black and grey colorways of the thermals. Which are designed to be as comfortable as they are versatile. After Kiyan posted the brand new designs online, the collection quickly took off, with La La Anthony applauding the high schooler’s ability to find the perfect balance between pursuing a career in basketball and embarking on a creative journey through the world of fashion.

Through One Way Clothing, Kiyan is creating his own legacy that’s far more nuanced than being recognized as “Carmelo Anthony’s son”. For him, it’s about combining athleticism, entrepreneurship and fashion into a brand that is independently, but recognizably, one of his own. And that’s what makes him unique. He’s not attempting to ride the backs of his dad’s fame. Rather, he’s working hard to create a name for himself, and it’s manifesting well.

Kiyan’s Sneaker Con appearance, paired with his admission that he can’t afford a $50,000 pair, has made the young athlete even more relatable. But make no mistake: Kiyan is anything but your average guy; just your average young man with his own budding brand, burning passion for sneakers, and entrepreneurial spirit primed to get him paid.