Carmelo Anthony Responds to Son Kiyan's Benching

Syracuse basketball legend offers measured take on Kiyan's lack of playing time in loss to Virginia.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 10:55am

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Syracuse basketball icon Carmelo Anthony responded to his son Kiyan's benching in a loss to Virginia, striking a measured tone. Kiyan did not see any minutes of court time for the first time all season, with Syracuse coach Adrian Autry citing a need for more physicality and ball distribution from seldom-used guard Bryce Zephir. Carmelo posted on social media that "a little adversity don't hurt" and that Kiyan "will be Good!" as part of his basketball journey.

Why it matters

Kiyan Anthony's playing time has been a topic of heightened interest given his famous father's Hall of Fame basketball career. While Kiyan has embraced the pressure of following in Carmelo's footsteps, his uneven freshman season has included both starting opportunities and reduced minutes as Syracuse has searched for the right lineup and rotation.

The details

Kiyan Anthony did not play any minutes in Syracuse's loss to Virginia on Saturday, the first time he has been held out of the game entirely this season. Syracuse coach Adrian Autry cited a need for more physicality and ball distribution, inserting seldom-used guard Bryce Zephir into the rotation instead. Kiyan had been averaging 8.9 points per game but with the lowest offensive efficiency numbers on the team.

  • Kiyan Anthony did not play any minutes in Syracuse's loss to Virginia on Saturday, February 4, 2026.
  • Prior to the Virginia game, Kiyan had played limited minutes of 9 minutes in a win over Notre Dame the previous week.

The players

Carmelo Anthony

A Syracuse basketball icon and Hall of Famer who has attended many of his son Kiyan's games this season.

Kiyan Anthony

The freshman guard for the Syracuse basketball team and son of Carmelo Anthony, who has garnered heightened attention due to his famous father's basketball pedigree.

Adrian Autry

The head coach of the Syracuse basketball team, who decided to bench Kiyan Anthony in favor of more physical and ball-distributing options against Virginia.

Bryce Zephir

A seldom-used guard for Syracuse who Autry inserted into the rotation against Virginia to provide more physicality and ball movement.

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What they’re saying

“He'll be Good! THEY SAY it's part of the Journey. A little adversity don't hurt”

— Carmelo Anthony

What’s next

The Syracuse coaching staff will continue to evaluate Kiyan Anthony's role and playing time as the season progresses, looking to find the right balance and lineup that maximizes the team's performance.

The takeaway

Kiyan Anthony's benching highlights the challenges of living up to a famous family name, as the freshman navigates the ups and downs of his first college basketball season. However, his father Carmelo's measured response shows an understanding that "a little adversity" can be part of the journey for a young player developing his game.