“I think he deserved to make it. No bias s–t. I think he really put the work in and really deserved to be a McDonald’s All-American.” That raw honesty from Carmelo Anthony said it all—he was hurt, not just as a former player, but as a father. Seeing his son, Kiyan Anthony, miss out on one of high school basketball’s most prestigious honors stung deeply. After all, Carmelo had earned his spot back in the day. For Kiyan, the snub came from the brand worth over 215 billion dollars—yes, the same McDonald’s that has hosted this iconic All-American event for nearly five decades. But here’s where it gets interesting. Rather than letting the moment define him, Kiyan turned the setback into fuel.
If you’ve been following his journey, you probably already know—this story didn’t end with disappointment. The big question still lingers though—how did one of New York’s top prospects from the Class of 2025 get left off the McDonald’s All-American roster? As reported by several outlets, the reason came down to injury. Kiyan hurt his back during his season opener last November, which sidelined him for several games. Unfortunately, that kept him from meeting the event’s strict eligibility requirement—playing in at least 50 senior-year games. It was a tough blow, and Kiyan himself still calls it his biggest “L.” But he didn’t dwell on it for long.
In a video that recently surfaced on Instagram, Kiyan was asked about his biggest L. “I didn’t make the McDonald’s game,” he admitted. That’s when Carmelo chimed in, not with pity, but with pride: “Turned that to a W.” Neither of them went into detail about that win, but fans didn’t need an explanation.
Just weeks later, Kiyan Anthony lit up the court at the Jordan Brand Classic, where he not only led his squad—Team Air—to a 141-124 victory, but also snagged MVP honors with 26 points and 5 rebounds. That’s something his father, despite his legendary run, didn’t achieve during his own time at the event. So while Kiyan might’ve missed a milestone Carmelo Anthony hit, he carved out his own moment—one that even his dad didn’t reach. Now that’s flipping the script in the best way possible. Although there’s no denying that missing the McDonald’s All-American snub will remain a regret. Mainly because of suspicions of ulterior motives behind the decision.
Ex-Warriors star, despite his own son’s selection, could not digest Kiyan’s All-American snub
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