Kiyan Anthony celebrated his 19th birthday on March 7, and the Syracuse freshman’s mom, LaLa Anthony, posted a heartfelt message to wish him.
On her Instagram, LaLa posted a reel compiling some of Kiyan’s special moments while growing up and learning to play basketball. Reposting the same reel on her story, LaLa penned a message for her son.
“It’s @kiyananthony 19th birthday!!!!!! 🎊🎉❤️❤️,” LaLa Anthony wrote. “I Love you!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰.”
She posted another story, a collage of Kiyan’s childhood pictures. Once again, wishing her son turning 19, Anthony wrote:
“Happy 19th birthday baby!!! Love you @kiyananthony 🎊❤️🎈🎉.”
Kiyan has been the apple of his mother’s eye, and LaLa Anthony’s words of courage never fail to motivate the freshman star during his rough patches.
The Syracuse faces Pittsburgh on Saturday, but is left shorthanded since Kiyan Anthony isn’t playing. As per Chris Carlson of Syracuse.com, Anthony has been ruled out due to a lower-body injury sustained in the Orange’s most recent game against Louisville. Kiyan’s freshman season has been a bumpy one. He is averaging 8.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game in 18.7 minutes of game time. He has shot 39.9% from the floor, 25.4% from the deep, and 62.8% from free throws.
Although Kiyan’s start to college basketball has been rather rough, his parents have always been by his side. LaLa Anthony, ahead of Kiyan’s debut game for the Orange, had shared a post on her Instagram, enthusiastically rooting for her son. Kiyan’s dad and NBA Hall of Famer, Carmelo Anthony, has time and again reinstated his belief in his son to bounce back and have a successful college career as he did as a Syracuse legend.
Carmelo Anthony Reveals His Feelings About His Son Playing College Basketball
Everyone knows Carmelo Anthony is a college basketball legend. He helped Syracuse win its only national championship in 2003 before being selected as the third overall pick in that year’s stacked NBA Draft. However, he does not expect his son Kiyan to replicate the same path as him or live up to his name as a legend. Giving a realistic take to NBA TV, Melo said:
“He’s a young 18-year-old kid. We never expected him to be one-and-done.”
Carmelo Anthony was a one-and-done prospect, winning a national championship as a freshman before heading into the NBA. However, Kiyan wasn’t as highly ranked a recruit as his father was. For most of his career, Kiyan has been coming off the bench and has had a rather poor efficiency.
“We ain’t in no rush,” Melo said. “For me to see his progression from August to now, that’s more impressive to me than anything else… how much better, smarter he got.”
Syracuse and coach Adrian Autry are still figuring out how to best fit Kiyan into the Orange’s system. Sure enough, Autry giving him straight DNPs in certain games must have frustrated fans and even Carmelo Anthony to some extent. But Melo believes in Kiyan’s ability to bounce back and use this opportunity to learn and keep growing.
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