Carmelo Anthony’s ex, La La Anthony, overwhelmed as son Kiyan pays ultimate tribute ahead of Hall of Fame induction

NBA legend Carmelo Anthony will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Ahead of the ceremony in Connecticut, the former New York Knicks star's son, Kiyan Anthony, sent an emotional message to him.

The Players' Tribune posted a video paying tribute to the former NBA player, which began with a highlight of Anthony from Syracuse. During his one year with Syracuse, Anthony led his team to the NCAA title. Fast forward to 2025, Kiyan followed in his father's footsteps and committed to the Orange.

Kiyan credited Anthony for his hard work off the court and for supporting him.

"Yo pops, it's Kiy. You've been a Hall of Famer to me my whole life," Kiyan said. "All of that hard work, every day, you grinding, nobody seeing you work as hard as you do. Everybody taken you for granted. It doesn't go unnoticed. I've seen everything and I appreciate you for paving the way for me, taking on their next legacy. I know I'm in good hands because you gonna be right by my side.

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"I just want to tell you how proud I am. Seeing you getting inducted into the Hall of Fame means everything to me. I appreciate you for everything. So keep going and getting better. Love you Pops."

Following Kiyan's tribute, his mother, La La Anthony, got emotional. She reacted to the video in the comment section with a series of emojis.

"🥹🥹🥹," she wrote.

Carmelo Anthony chooses two NBA legends to present him at the HoF induction

Carmelo Anthony lived in one of the greatest eras of basketball and quickly rose to the top as one of the league's best offensive players. Although the former NBA player never won a title, his impact on the game was immense.

Anthony is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday and chose two legends to present him at the ceremony: Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson.

Anthony had previously said on Paul George's podcast that he wanted Michael Jordan, Iverson and Wade to present him at the prestigious ceremony.

"I was inspired by MJ," he said. "Then you have AI, who impacted my whole professional career. We all know the impact that Iverson had on us. Then you also got my brother D Wade...you better be right here."

The finalists of the 2025 HoF induction ceremony will be honored at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut at 7 p.m. ET on Sept. 6. The two-day event will start on Friday. Dwight Howard is the only other NBA player on the list.

About the author

Nandjee Ranjan is a journalist covering the NBA and WNBA at Sportskeeda whose passion for basketball dates back to his childhood when he enjoyed playing the sport in school.

Nandjee finds his heart divided between two NBA powerhouses: the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. He idolizes LeBron James and his leadership, while he appreciates the Warriors' dynamic and team-oriented style of play.
Basketball, for Nandjee, isn't just a sport but a holistic approach to fitness and well-being. He's been drawn to team sports, finding fulfillment in the physical engagement basketball offers.

With years of following basketball, Nandjee contextualizes historical events and player performances. He believes in conducting thorough research before writing, only taking information from reliable sources. He doesn’t mind taking more time to write an articles, as long as it is 100% accurate for his readers’ benefit.

During his leisure hours, Nandjee finds relaxation by reading books.

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Edited by Alvin Amansec