Carmelo Anthony Reveals He Nearly Joined Kobe’s Lakers—Now He’s Passing the Torch to Son Kiyan in Viral Jab Step Masterclass

NBA legend Carmelo Anthony spent 19 seasons dazzling fans with his scoring prowess, but it turns out his career could have looked very different. In a recent interview, Melo shocked fans by revealing just how close he came to teaming up with the late, great Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers before his blockbuster trade to the New York Knicks in 2011.

“It was almost done,” Anthony admitted, sending Lakers fans into a frenzy of what-ifs. “Me and Kobe talked about it. We were ready.”

Instead, Melo landed in Madison Square Garden, where he became the face of the Knicks for seven seasons and racked up 10 NBA All-Star appearances. But while Carmelo’s NBA journey is over, the Anthony legacy is just getting started.

These days, Melo’s biggest highlight reel isn’t coming from the hardwood—it’s from the gym, where he’s coaching his teenage son, Kiyan Anthony, who’s already turning heads as a top high school prospect. The duo recently went viral after a video surfaced showing Carmelo giving Kiyan a masterclass in the art of the jab step, a move that defined Melo’s career.

In the clip, Carmelo instructs:
“You can’t put it down right away. Open up.”
Kiyan, eager to show his skills, fires back:
“Move!”
Melo, ever the teacher, repeats:
“Can’t put it down right away. Go. Go!”
Kiyan responds with a smooth bucket.
Melo laughs, “Who you tellin’ to move, me? No, you gotta go!”

The exchange is pure basketball gold—and fans can’t get enough. The video has racked up thousands of likes and shares, with comments praising both Melo’s coaching chops and Kiyan’s swagger.

“Carmelo’s teaching his son the same moves that made him a legend. The legacy continues!” one fan wrote.

While Carmelo’s days lighting up NBA arenas are over, his impact on the game—and on the next generation—could be even greater. With Kiyan Anthony already drawing comparisons to his famous father, the basketball world is watching closely.

And as for that Lakers “what if”? It may never have happened, but Carmelo’s next chapter is unfolding right before our eyes—one jab step at a time.

Kiyan has a long journey to cover if he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps on the NBA court, but he is currently making a name for himself as a shooting guard for the Syracuse University Orange. Kiyan has a great bond with his father, and he recently honoured him with a surprising tattoo.

Bulls Forward Names Carmelo Anthony As The NBA Player He’d Stand By No Matter What

Anthony is regarded as the greatest scorer in the history of the NBA and secured the scoring champion title in 2013. Over the years of dominance on the court, Anthony has attracted a larger crowd who often praise him for his impressive skills. In an interview, Chicago Bulls’ Matas Buzelis named Anthony when asked about which NBA player he would stand by unwaveringly.

“Carmelo Anthony is the greatest scorer ever…I don’t think people realize how insane it was to guard him.” Buzelis said (via Legion Hoops).

In 2025, Anthony will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the second time.

Brittney Griner Finally Breaks Her Silence Over Alleged Caitlin Clark Comments That The WNBA Refused To Investigate

Brittney Griner speaking to reporterBrittney Griner (Photo via Twitter)
WNBA star Brittney Griner was at the center of a new debate over what she allegedly said in a game against basketball phenom Caitlin Clark.

The Atlanta Dream center found herself at the center of social media controversy last month when some fans thought she disparaged Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark upon fouling out.

The game’s broadcast focused on an upset Griner saying something as she returned to the Dream bench after fouling out of the game. While there’s no audio of this moment, some who tried to read Griner’s lips thought she called Clark a “trash f–king white girl.”

However, there’s no proof of Griner saying those actual words since others thought she stated something else.

It took weeks for someone to finally get a quote from her, and she provided much of nothing.

Brittney Griner was asked about this moment before her team’s June 15 game against the Washington Mystics and said, “I remember fouling out, being mad. I remember fouling out on, I believe it was [Natasha] Howard driving to the basket. They said I put my hand in.”

WNBA Chooses Not To Investigate Brittney Griner

Griner Drops F-Bomb, Apologizes Amid Clark Slur RowBrittney Griner (Photo By Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever’s 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta weeks ago, cameras seemingly caught Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner labeling Caitlin Clark “trash” before calling her a “f***ing white girl” in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard.

The clip of Griner speaking on the bench, lacking context, spread on social media and went viral.

Griner, who won a gold medal for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, essentially got aw@y with whatever came out of her mouth because the league basically ignored the controversy.

This incident is not the only time Griner vocalized her frustrations this season. Following another game, she stormed off mid-interview, yelling at the referees to “be f—ing better.