Kiyan Anthony gets candid about which current NBA player gives him the best advice
Kiyan Anthony, one of the most closely watched high school prospects in the country, is already surrounded by NBA voices. Yet when he talks about who is shaping his approach to the game right now, he singles out one current player as the most influential source of advice.
That detail matters because Anthony, the son of future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, has no shortage of guidance. He has grown up around locker rooms, practices, and film sessions, and he understands the difference between casual tips and real mentorship. The current player he leans on most, he says, is the one who consistently blends honesty with practicality: detailed feedback on his shot selection, how to read a second defender, and how to carry himself when the gym is full of scouts.
For a teenager with NBA expectations attached to his last name, that kind of counsel can be as important as any on-court skill. The league has seen plenty of talented young guards and wings arrive with hype but little understanding of how to be a professional. Executives increasingly talk about “NBA readiness” not just in terms of strength and shooting, but in how quickly a player can absorb schemes, accept roles, and handle the noise.
Anthony’s relationship with an active player offers a shortcut into that world. The advice he receives is rooted in the modern game: spacing reads, pace changes, and how to find impact without dominating the ball. It reflects where the league is headed, with versatile perimeter scorers expected to defend multiple positions, initiate offense, and adapt to analytics-driven shot profiles.
There is also a symbolic layer. A current NBA player investing in Anthony’s growth signals how seriously the next generation views him. For front offices, that kind of endorsement underscores his potential to fit into a professional environment.
Anthony still has steps to climb before reaching the league, but his willingness to highlight and lean on one trusted NBA voice suggests he is already learning one of the league’s most valuable skills: choosing the right people to listen to.
That detail matters because Anthony, the son of future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, has no shortage of guidance. He has grown up around locker rooms, practices, and film sessions, and he understands the difference between casual tips and real mentorship. The current player he leans on most, he says, is the one who consistently blends honesty with practicality: detailed feedback on his shot selection, how to read a second defender, and how to carry himself when the gym is full of scouts.
For a teenager with NBA expectations attached to his last name, that kind of counsel can be as important as any on-court skill. The league has seen plenty of talented young guards and wings arrive with hype but little understanding of how to be a professional. Executives increasingly talk about “NBA readiness” not just in terms of strength and shooting, but in how quickly a player can absorb schemes, accept roles, and handle the noise.
Anthony’s relationship with an active player offers a shortcut into that world. The advice he receives is rooted in the modern game: spacing reads, pace changes, and how to find impact without dominating the ball. It reflects where the league is headed, with versatile perimeter scorers expected to defend multiple positions, initiate offense, and adapt to analytics-driven shot profiles.
There is also a symbolic layer. A current NBA player investing in Anthony’s growth signals how seriously the next generation views him. For front offices, that kind of endorsement underscores his potential to fit into a professional environment.
Anthony still has steps to climb before reaching the league, but his willingness to highlight and lean on one trusted NBA voice suggests he is already learning one of the league’s most valuable skills: choosing the right people to listen to.
