Kiyan Anthony and Bryce James have a very close relationship as a result of the tight bond between their parents, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, which started in high school and continues to this day. In a recent episode of The Kiyan Anthony Show, he spoke about his relationship with Bryce.
Kiyan Anthony discussed Bryce James’ basketball skills, comparing his dunking style to that of his legendary father. He went on to praise Bryce’s sharpshooting ability, and the way he spoke about him showed the listening public just how close their bond is.
He’s a sharpshooter, he can really shoot. When he get hot, he really don’t miss. He’s bouncy. He’s more bouncy than me, I ain’t even gonna lie. I’m not even gonna say he look like his pops, but it kind of do look like his pops when he dunk a little bit.
Kiyan Anthony said in Overtime’s The Kiyan Anthony Show
Kiyan Anthony on Bryce James: “That’s like my cousin…Everybody just wants one of us to be like ‘I’m way better than him’—we would never say that about each other. We just go out there & compete” pic.twitter.com/c8vb6zpKJd
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 14, 2024
As Kiyan mentioned, despite the distance between them, Kiyan living in New York on the East Coast and Bryce James residing in Los Angeles, they have remained close. He also acknowledged that the public tends to compare them, just as their fathers were compared in the early days of their careers.
Kiyan once shocked the basketball world when he chose the James duo over him and his dad as the better basketball pair. The two young stars have also faced off against each other when Bryce’s Strive for Greatness team went up against Kiyan’s Team Melo, with their fathers watching from the sidelines. In a closely contested game, Bryce’s team secured a 71-65 victory.
Kiyan Anthony on why he received an offer from Syracuse
Carmelo Anthony became a national sensation after his standout college career at Syracuse, leading to speculation that his son, Kiyan, would follow in his footsteps by joining the same team. These suspicions were confirmed when Kiyan received an offer from Syracuse, and he even visited the school, posing for pictures with his father.
However, rumors of nepotism began to surface, prompting the 17-year-old to clarify in an episode of “Evolution 2.0” that his father’s legacy was not the reason Syracuse extended the offer. Instead, Kiyan emphasized that his own skills and potential were the driving factors behind the university’s decision.
My Syracuse offer, I got that almost two years and now I’m in my sophomore year. I felt like they offered me not just because of who I was, you know my dad being there – going to Syracuse and winning. I feel like they see my potential and looking forward to running it back.
Kiyan Anthony said
Interestingly, it doesn’t reek of nepotism as it was the fifth offer he received, following those from the Manhattan Jaspers, Memphis Tigers, Bryant Bulldogs, and George Mason Patriots. It only proves that Syracuse’s connection to his father, Carmelo, who had a standout season with the program in 2002-03, did not influence the decision.m
