Carmelo Anthony Weighs In After Son Kiyan Benched in Syracuse Loss to Virginia
Syracuse’s loss to No. 18 Virginia on Saturday came with an unexpected subplot - freshman guard Kiyan Anthony, son of Orange legend Carmelo Anthony, didn’t see the floor for the first time all season.
And yes, Carmelo noticed. But his response?
Calm, composed, and exactly what you’d expect from a Hall of Famer who’s seen the highs and lows of the game.
“He’ll be Good! THEY SAY it’s part of the Journey. A little adversity don’t hurt,” Carmelo posted on ESPN’s main social media page, offering a public show of support for his son.
Kiyan’s absence from the rotation didn’t go unnoticed - not just because of his last name, but because of the buzz that’s followed him ever since he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and commit to Syracuse. The younger Anthony has been under a national spotlight all season, carrying the weight of expectations that come with being the son of a national champion and future NBA Hall of Famer.
But for those who’ve been closely tracking the Orange, Saturday’s DNP wasn’t entirely out of the blue. Kiyan’s minutes have been trending down in recent games. The week prior, he logged just nine minutes in a win over Notre Dame - a clear signal that head coach Adrian Autry was beginning to tweak his backcourt rotation.
Kiyan’s season has been a rollercoaster. He started the year in the lineup, getting early opportunities while veteran guard JJ Starling recovered from a minor injury.
In those early outings, Kiyan brought an aggressive scoring mindset, showing flashes of the offensive confidence that runs in the family. But as the season wore on and Starling returned, Anthony’s role began to shift.
His offensive efficiency, per KenPom, currently ranks lowest among Syracuse’s regular rotation players - a stat that likely factored into Autry’s decision-making against a rugged Virginia team.
Instead of turning to Anthony, Autry went with sophomore guard Bryce Zephir, a seldom-used reserve who’s been earning praise behind the scenes. Zephir stepped in during key moments - first in the opening half when starting point guard Naithan George picked up his second foul, and again in the second half for a brief run.
Autry explained the move after the game, pointing to Zephir’s toughness and team-first mentality.
“He gives us a sense of physicality and toughness on the perimeter, and also a guy that is looking to get people involved,” Autry said. “That’s something that was missing a little bit for us. We have guys that can score, that like to score, but especially in this game right here I thought his physicality defensively ... that was my thinking.”
Autry didn’t stop there. He praised Zephir’s work ethic and attitude - the kind of intangibles that don’t show up in a box score but can shift the energy of a team.
“He’s been a worker all year,” Autry said. “Guys that come in and work all day and give you everything and never complain, that resonates, and obviously we’re trying to find that right ingredient. I thought this team needed someone else to try to get people the ball.”
It wasn’t just Kiyan who saw reduced time. Freshman forward Sadiq White also had a limited role, logging just two minutes in the first half. He made the most of them - scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds - but didn’t return after halftime.
The message from Autry is clear: Syracuse is still searching for the right mix, especially against elite competition like Virginia. And in that search, rotation shakeups are part of the process.
For Kiyan Anthony, this is a moment of adversity - the kind that every young player faces at some point. But with a support system like his, and a father who knows the grind better than most, it’s also a chance to grow.
As Carmelo said, this is part of the journey. And the journey’s just getting started.