Many hooping enthusiasts see Kiyan Anthony as a promising young basketball talent; the 17-year-old has cemented the same with his stellar performances in the Nike EYBL. Some would say that it is his father’s genes, 10× NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Whatever it is, it has surely given the followers some on-court drama and invited varying opinions. And recently talking about how his son would react in different circumstances on the court, Anthony remarked, “I got to see him in those environments to understand how he’s going to react in certain environments.” Looks like that moment came sooner than expected.

In a recent matchup against Team KD, Kiyan found himself face-to-face with an opponent, engaging in some intense trash talk. Before things could escalate further, Carmelo Anthony who was sitting courtside jumped in, physically separating the two players. While some applauded his protective instincts, others questioned his interference in his son’s moment.

Kiyan has been a standout in the Nike EYBL and even in his last matchup, he led his team to victory against Team KD, scoring an impressive 27 points. Additionally, ESPN ranks him as the No. 41 prospect in the 2025 class. Despite these impressive stats, Melo believes his son still has a lot to learn. “He’s going to have to deal with it totally different than me,” he said, emphasizing the different set of challenges that Kiyan will be exposed to.

Carmelo Anthony further elaborated on the difficulties Kiyan must navigate, particularly how to respond to trash talk and personal jabs about his family. “How you going to react to that in the middle of you got to go get a bucket, or you got to get a stop?” he questioned. Thus, Melo highlighted the mental toughness required to stay focused amidst distractions.

As Kiyan continues to adapt to these challenges, it’s clear that his father will always be there to support him. However, Carmelo’s recent intervention has sparked a debate among fans.

Mixed reactions erupt as Carmelo Anthony steps in during son Kiyan’s heated game

The incident had the fans divided in opinions. “I love it. Great seeing Melo with his son while in the heat of battle. Let’s go,” one fan said, showing strong support for Carmelo’s actions. Sure, Melo would know the consequences of a heated battle on the hardwood.

Looking back at 2006, when Nuggets’ Anthony along with nine other players on the court at the time were ejected for engaging in a brawl. Multiple players, including Anthony, threw punches, in a brawl that began when New York Knicks’ Mardy Collins prevented an easy basket from Denver’s J. R. Smith by grabbing him around the neck and taking him to the floor. Immediately, Smith got up and jawed with Collins, and just as things appeared to be calm, Anthony threw a punch that floored Collins. This resulted in Melo receiving a 15-game suspension.

Moving on, some fans criticized Melo for jumping onto the court, arguing that it was the referee’s duty to handle the situation. “Let the ref do his job Melo,” one netizen insisted, suggesting that Carmelo’s interference overstepped boundaries. Another fan mocked the intervention, saying, “Melo let him talk sh**, then said chill,” highlighting a perception of inconsistency in Carmelo’s approach.

Yet, Kiyan’s performance in the game provided a strong counterpoint to the criticism. One X user noted that Kiyan answered his opponent with his skills, saying, “Then Kiyan proceeds to fry the kid.” In this intense matchup, Kiyan went head-to-head with the top-ranked freshman, nicknamed Baby KD, scoring 27 points and leading his team to a 73-66 victory.

Some fans took the incident with a touch of humor, with one hilariously commenting, “Gone be me at my son’s games too,” accompanied by a laughing emoji. Another chimed in, “I love it (laughing emoji) Melo as a basketball dad is perfect,” appreciating the lighter side of Carmelo’s involvement.

No matter what the reactions from fans state, it is explicit that Melo is there to support his son all the way. What remains to be seen is whether or not Kiyan will take back a lesson or two from this. What do you think?

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.