Over the years, few NBA friendships have been as tight as the one between Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. They’ve been inseparable since their rookie days in 2003. “We came in together. Some way, somehow we will always be connected,” Melo once shared. Their families are equally close, with Kiyan Anthony, Melo’s son, enjoying the perks of having LeBron as an “uncle.” But sometimes, those perks come with unexpected twists.

Last September, Kiyan went all out for his buddy Tylil, a streamer and massive LeBron fan, by gifting him a signed jersey from “Uncle Bron.” You’d think this kind of gesture would seal their friendship, right? Well, not exactly. Turns out, the jersey held sentimental value for Melo himself, and the moment he found out, he wanted it back. What seemed like an innocent act of generosity turned into an awkward situation.

Then came the chaos. A video surfaced where Kiyan attempted to reclaim the jersey, and let’s just say Tylil didn’t take it well. In the clip, you see Tylil’s reaction escalate quickly—he shouted, destroyed his own sofa, and even trashed his streaming setup in a fit of frustration.

Meanwhile, Kiyan clarified his side during an ‘Overtime’ podcast, saying the gift wasn’t random. “Tylo definitely one of my mans. I gave Tylo a LeBron jersey because people who watch Tylo, they know that LeBron is like his die-hard favorite player.” But despite the thoughtfulness, Kiyan clearly didn’t anticipate his dad stepping in and flipping the script.

For Kiyan, getting cool stuff from “Uncle Bron” isn’t uncommon. In a 2022 interview with ‘Overtime’, he casually mentioned asking LeBron for shoes and getting them without any hassle. “Yeah, he just sent me a few,” Kiyan said. But this time, it wasn’t that simple. Even when you’re connected to greatness, not everything goes smoothly—especially when sentimental value enters the game.

The Melo-Bron bond

Growing up in single-parent households in inner cities, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony both carried the weight of becoming symbols of hope for their communities. That shared responsibility forged a deep connection. Back in 2019, LeBron explained to The Athletic how their backgrounds naturally drew them together. “When you have a connection with somebody, you can’t explain it. We have no idea,” James said, emphasizing how their bond goes beyond words.

Interestingly, their admiration dates back decades, starting at the 2001 Junior Olympics. A young LeBron, already hyped as a high school phenom, was left stunned the first time he saw Melo play. “I remember coming home and telling my high school teammates how I just seen probably the best high school player up to date that I have seen in my life,” LeBron shared. Melo, dominating the court at Oak Hill Academy, sparked a competitive drive between them that fueled their future success.

Fast forward to 2020, and LeBron’s loyalty to Carmelo shined brighter than ever. Melo, once criticized and pushed out of the league, made a comeback with the Portland Trail Blazers. LeBron didn’t hold back his pride, saying, “I don’t know if he needed to hear it or not, but I’m f—king proud of him. Like, really like a blood brother.”

And now, their kids seem to be following in their footsteps, carrying on the next generation of this special friendship.