A mother’s love doesn’t need flashy accolades, it sees greatness long before the world does! Fans were sure Carmelo Anthony’s son would make to the McDonald’s All-American roster, especially since his father dominated the prestigious game back in 2002. But when Kiyan Anthony, the No. 1 recruit in New York, was nowhere to be found, the basketball community was shocked. Many couldn’t believe it, but it seems his mom didn’t need any fancy list to tell her what she already knew.

The Syracuse-committed had two stellar performances in a single week. First up, he faced off against his dad’s old stomping grounds, Oak Hill Academy, and he didn’t hold back. Kiyan went full attack mode, torching defenders on his way to 25 points and leading Long Island Lutheran to a comeback win. And if that wasn’t enough, he followed it up today with another 20-piece, helping LuHi take down Brewster.

Yes, that’s two wins, 45 points, and a whole lot of “y’all better pay attention” energy. La La Anthony wasted no time making her stance clear, posting a heartfelt pic hugging Kiyan with the caption: “Proud mom always!” But she wasn’t done. 

She doubled down, writing, “He’s a @mcdaag in my book!!!! #1 player in New York! 25 points yesterday. 20 points today. Player of the game both days. Dominates every tournament! The numbers don’t lie! Keep working hard baby! They’re gonna have to pay attention! @kiyananthony❤️‍🔥”

While ‘the proud mom’ doesn’t need any clarification, you must be wondering, what went wrong? So, let’s break it down. Look, the McDonald’s All-American Game is reserved for the best of the best—24 high school hoopers split into East and West squads. And yes, snubs happen every year. 

But Kiyan, ranked No. 35 overall in his class, had built a solid case. The Syracuse commit had been on a steady rise, going from Christ the King High School to Long Island Lutheran, where he averaged 10.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. 

But… he wasn’t even eligible. 

Turns out, McDonald’s has a rule: players must complete at least 50% of their senior season. And Kiyan back in November, threw down a dunk, took a brutal fall, and was sidelined until January. Missing that much time took him out of the running. So, no McDonald’s jersey for him. Failing to replicate family legacy must be a heartbreak, for sure. But if his mom’s confidence (and those stats) are any indication, Kiyan’s got plenty of big moments ahead.

And while mom keeps the hype train rolling, dad, Melo, is making sure Kiyan is ready for the financial game off the court.

Melo gives Kiyan Anthony a masterclass in big money

For decades, college athletes poured their talent into making millions for their schools without seeing a dime in return. But now, thanks to NIL deals, young stars like Kiyan Anthony are finally cashing in. And while that’s a huge win, it also comes with a whole new set of challenges—because guess what? Making money is one thing, but keeping it is a whole different game.

The NBA legend’s son has locked in a massive $1.1 million NIL deal with Syracuse. At just 17, he’s already seeing the kind of paychecks most people only dream of. But with that kind of cash flow, his dad isn’t letting him coast through life without understanding what’s really at stake.

While it’s not usual teenage stuff, Melo strongly believes that the young star must learn tax brackets and budgeting.  “I gotta talk to you about taxes at 17 years old. I gotta talk about how you budget at 17 years old,” Carmelo shared. “At 17, I was running around—we ain’t know nothing about no budget.” That’s the reality check right there.

While most kids his age are just figuring out gas money, Kiyan’s already deep in conversations about how much Uncle Sam is about to take from his earnings. And Melo is keeping it real. “I told him the other day, I said, you in my tax bracket now. You 17 in my tax bracket… you part of the 1%. So now I can’t hide that information from you. I got to tell you, you’re getting 60% of your money taken. Don’t ask me where it’s at. I ain’t got it.”

So, basically, with the NIL deals also comes growing up fast and learning financial literacy before even setting foot on a college campus. Budgeting, investing, understanding how much actually ends up in your pocket—it’s all part of the playbook now.

And while Kiyan might be new to this, he’s got one of the best mentors out there. Melo’s been in the game, made his millions, and knows exactly how fast it can go if you’re not careful. Kiyan Anthony is getting a masterclass in managing wealth—and if he applies these lessons right, his NIL money will just be the beginning.