Kiyan Anthony should probably be teaching a class or two on wishful thinking. At 17 years old last year, he was already talking about sneaker deals like a seasoned pro. Back in August 2024, he put it plainly: “I want an NIL deal with Jordan, ’cause my pops signed with Jordan. I feel like that will be fire.” It was a teenager’s dream, harking back to 2002 when Carmelo lit up the Jordan Brand Classic and eventually became one of the company’s first signature athletes.

That wish now is not so far-fetched. On September 19 2025, Jordan Brand produced a special Air Jordan 6 Low PE made just for Kiyan, complete with Syracuse-inspired colors and his name stitched on the heel. Pair that with his decision to commit to Syracuse, the same university stage where his father, Carmelo Anthony got his foothold, and suddenly everything seems to be lining up in his favor. But even with all the pieces falling into place, one sharp voice has already cautioned him about the road ahead at Syracuse.

That cautionary voice? It came from former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague, speaking on his Club 520 Podcast. Teague voiced his take on Kiyan’s situation at Syracuse. “He could have went somewhere smaller. Get more of an opportunity, bro. Syracuse is terrible. They basketball right now,” he said, before adding that while the Orange brand is strong, the current program isn’t. For Teague, the problem isn’t whether Kiyan will play, he’s confident Anthony will see the floor but how much the school and its fans are expecting from a freshman still finding his footing.

Teague laid out the math in simple terms. “They gonna expect him to average 23. He about 13… He gonna average about 12.” That’s the gap he sees between hype and reality. Syracuse, coming off a stretch of mediocrity after Jim Boeheim’s departure, has been looking for a star to hang its rebuild on. Last season, the Orange hovered in the middle of the ACC, ranked outside the top 100 nationally in offensive efficiency according to KenPom, and struggled with consistency on both ends of the floor.

Kiyan himself isn’t blind to what’s coming. Back in July, on his father’s podcast, he addressed the comparisons head-on. Watching Bronny James get dissected online simply for not being LeBron, he admitted the same shadow hangs over him. “It’s a new generation, two totally different people, even though that might be your kid,” Kiyan said, making it clear he wants the freedom to be judged on his own terms.

The 6-5 guard spent last season at Long Island Lutheran, where he averaged 15.2 points per game and earned recognition as a top-40 prospect in ESPN’s 2025 rankings, slotting him as the No. 1 player in New York. He also shined on the EYBL circuit with Team Melo, showing off the deep shooting range and scoring ability that scouts project will translate to the college game.

It wasn’t however the first time Teague questioned the hype. Months earlier, he compared Kiyan unfavorably to Indiana prospect Braylon Mullins, saying the buzz around Carmelo’s son didn’t match the eye test. It is a pattern, where Teague has urged people to separate Anthony’s name value from his present-day production. In this case, his warning is aimed less at Kiyan himself than at the ecosystem around him.

Kiyan’s New York roots meet his first Jordan PE

If you want to understand why the Jordan PE feels so personal for Kiyan,

you have to start in New York. His “One Way” tattoo is the name of the streetwear label he launched in 2023 with his best friend, Jadyn. “Growing up in New York, I’ve always been around fashion,” Kiyan explained. “As I got older, [I’m] just trying to create my own fashion and trying to set my own lane.”

That’s why when SLAM Kicks unveiled the Kiyan Anthony Air Jordan 6 Low PE, it wasn’t hard to see the symbolism. Orange and blue tie directly into Syracuse, the same stage Carmelo once owned. Layered textures, elephant print suede at the heel, scaly leather, even a “23” stitched into forest-green suede, gave it a look that stood apart from the usual PE churn. And at the back, stitched in bold, was the giveaway: KIYAN. That mark made the difference.

With the NIL era fully underway, Kiyan has already stacked up deals with AT&T, Nerf, and American Eagle, proof that brands see him as potential on the court. In the case of Jordan PE it would be a natural fit and a chance to extend a family legacy while giving Kiyan the platform to keep blending basketball, fashion, and identity on his own terms.

Amidts Jeff Teague’s blunt warning that Syracuse will demand more than hype. Kiyan Anthony is already showing he’s ready to carry the weight of his name but the rest will be decided on the court.