Carmelo Anthony officially announced his retirement from the NBA on Monday, sharing his heartfelt sentiments through a video.
In the nearly two-minute clip, Anthony bid farewell to the NBA and emphasized that his son, Kiyan Anthony, would carry on his basketball legacy. In a poignant moment, he also publicly acknowledged his daughter for the first time.
“When people ask what I believe my legacy is, it’s not my feats on the court that come to mind, nor the awards or praise, because my story has always been about more than basketball”, Anthony said in the video.
He proceeded to showcase a photograph of his daughter, Genesis, whom he shares with Mia Burks. The camera then shifted to a picture of his son, Kiyan, whom he shares with his ex-wife, actress La La Anthony.
He continued, “My legacy, my son, is in you. I will forever continue through you. ‘Cause the time has come for you to carry this torch. so Ky, chase your dreams, let nothing hold you back, let nothing intervene. My legacy now and forever lives on through you. And I will always be proud at what you do. Peace.”
Kiyan, who is set to join the class of 2025, holds the impressive ranking of No. 62 prospect in the country and has received offers from prominent schools such as Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, and naturally, his father’s alma mater, Syracuse.
He played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Christ the King (New York) before deciding to transfer to Long Island Lutheran (New York), a school that competes in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference.
Furthermore, Christ The King has a rich history of cultivating exceptional basketball players, among them renowned names such as Jayson Williams, Lamar Odom, Speedy Claxton, and Tina Charles.
