“I would destroy this kid”: Carmelo Anthony can’t hide true feeling on ‘cooking’ son Kiyan in 1-on-1 challenge

Largely considered one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Carmelo Anthony was a scorer on all three levels, but his iso-game was unmatched. But the former New York Knicks star’s son Kiyan Anthony, who is a budding basketball star himself, wondered if his dad thinks he could take him.

On “Close Friends Only with Instagram” released on Monday, Kiyan Anthony asked his NBA legend father if he ever looked at his video and thought he would “cook” him. The kind of competitor that Carmelo Anthony is, his answer would have been straightforward. However, the 10-time All-Star took his time to get to the answer for his son.

“When I watch your highlights, I’m looking for certain things, you know, depending on the game, depending on the situation, I’m looking for, certain things,” Carmelo Anthony said. “So I’m not, I don’t look at it, like everybody else look, you know might look at it.”

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"I do look at it. "Man! 18, I would destroy this kid. Light!"" [Timestamp 9:00]

In 19 years in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony averaged 22.5 points on 44.7% FG and 35.5% 3-point. During the 2012-13 season, Anthony won the scoring title and averaged 28.7 ppg in 76 games.

Kiyan Anthony shares about pressure of being Carmelo Anthony's son

For Kiyan Anthony, being Carmelo Anthony's son might start becoming more of a burden than a blessing. The Syracuse commit has reached a stage where the label of being the NBA legend's son could put immense pressure on him.

However, when the former NBA star asked his son about his feelings about being tagged as "Melo's son," Kiyan said he had no problem with it and followed up with a wholesome statement.

"I don't really have a problem with it," Kiyan said. "To be honest I feel like, anybody would want to be, Melo’s son. So At the end of the day, i’m my own person, I gotta do my own things."

"I feel like we have similar personalities, but at the same time, we are two different people. So can't label me as just Melo's son," he added. [Timestamp 1:48]

"You is though," Melo candidly said.

Kiyan Anthony graduated from Long Island Lutheran High School earlier this month. Both Carmelo and La La Anthony were in attendance for their son's big day. Kiyan, the 36th-ranked player in "ESPN 100," will move to his father's alma mater, Syracuse, for his collegiate career.

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About the author

Nandjee Ranjan

Nandjee Ranjan is a journalist covering the NBA and WNBA at Sportskeeda whose passion for basketball dates back to his childhood when he enjoyed playing the sport in school.

Nandjee finds his heart divided between two NBA powerhouses: the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. He idolizes LeBron James and his leadership, while he appreciates the Warriors' dynamic and team-oriented style of play.
Basketball, for Nandjee, isn't just a sport but a holistic approach to fitness and well-being. He's been drawn to team sports, finding fulfillment in the physical engagement basketball offers.

With years of following basketball, Nandjee contextualizes historical events and player performances. He believes in conducting thorough research before writing, only taking information from reliable sources. He doesn’t mind taking more time to write an articles, as long as it is 100% accurate for his readers’ benefit.

During his leisure hours, Nandjee finds relaxation by reading books.

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