Kiyan Anthony made his opinion about Syracuse’s current standing very obvious. So it makes one wonder why he even chose it. Sure, when he admitted that Orange basketball is underwhelming, he wanted to be credited with its turnaround. But that’s added pressure, along with being Carmelo Anthony’s son. Another NBA player is watching the expectations put on the 18-year-old guard and had a very blunt take on it.

The expectations on Kiyan became obvious when Zaire Franklin came on Club 520. The NFL player played college football at Syracuse from 2014 to 2017, over a decade after freshman Melo led the Orange to an NCAA championship. The basketball program at their alma mater hasn’t been so great, even with Anthony’s athletic facility there.

Despite that, Franklin is excited for what Kiyan could bring to the team. “Kiyan, he got to save us. Come on. Let’s go, young man,” he said despite the Club 520 crew’s hesitation. DJ Wells said that Orange is in trouble, and B Hen claimed there’s too much pressure on Kiyan.

Even Franklin admitted the pressure on Kiyan is massive, yet, “He ain’t had no choice. I ain’t going to lie. I ain’t going to hold you. Like, he had to go to Syracuse. I mean, continue his dad’s legacy. I mean, he’s going to be cool, though. I think they going to be all right, though.”

Because he said that Kiyan had to pick Syracuse because of his dad, Jeff Teague said, “I think he should have went somewhere else.” His co-hosts agreed when he even bluntly said, “I mean, Syracuse is terrible.” At least Franklin wasn’t hurt by it.

Syracuse has a five-star recruit in Sadiq White, but the unspoken burden is on Kiyan to repeat the feat his father did in the freshman season. As much as Franklin claims that he’d face that pressure regardless, Teague thinks that Kiyan could’ve avoided the Bronny-like pressure of being Melo’s son, compounded with the freshman expectations, if he were anywhere but his dad’s alma mater with a building named after him.

Kiyan Anthony admits he’s in a tough situation

Even Zaire Franklin had to accept that Syracuse basketball hasn’t been the same since Carmelo Anthony was there. And he counts Melo as one of the top three athletes to come out of ‘Cuse.

“Last year, the coaching was messed up, though. Kiyan coming, everything back right, man,” he claimed. The last two seasons have not had Melo’s coach, Jim Boeheim. Adrian Autry took over the head coaching position but hasn’t been able to lead the team to a conference or national contention yet.

Under him, Syracuse was 14-19 overall last season and in the bottom rungs of the ACC. The situation is so dicey that even Kiyan admitted to his dad’s face, “Like, last three years, I know we were known as mediocre. Now it’s super mediocre.“ Even Melo didn’t deny the reality.

Realistic about what he signed up for, Kiyan doesn’t want to be known for a championship. “I want my team to be known for the turnaround like ‘oh, that’s Kiy’s freshman years, they was winning nine games.’”

For what it’s worth, Jeff Teague and Zaire Franklin know Autry will do everything to facilitate Kiyan’s aspiration. Although Teague lacks confidence in top-scoring high schoolers like Kiyan (who went 40 in Peach Jam and earned MVP at the Jordan Classic), he knows Kiyan will get the most minutes on the floor, whether in Syracuse or anywhere else.

However, Teague is seemingly worried about the others in the team. Either way, Kiyan, ex-Orange athletes, and even Melo’s former rivals know what he signed up for. How he meets those expectations will be seen in November.