Kiyan Anthony, son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and actress La La Anthony, may be dribbling his way to the top of high school basketball, but he’s dribbling over some height facts, according to his mom. La La had fans laughing after a recent video surfaced in which she humorously fact-checked her son’s claims about his height.
At 17, Kiyan is already making waves on the court for Long Island Lutheran High School. Ranked 34th in the 2025 national recruiting class and currently New York’s top prospect according to 247Sports, he’s got the game, the genes, and, well, supposedly the height.
In a video shared by Overtime on Instagram, Kiyan was asked about his height by a fan. Without missing a beat, the young baller proudly proclaimed he was “6-foot-5.” La La, in true mom fashion, chimed in from the sidelines with a quick—and hilarious—reality check:
“You’re 6’4”, baby. Stop lying! He’s 6’4.”
Kiyan, unbothered and unfazed, shot back, insisting, “I just got measured the other day.” The social media back-and-forth quickly had fans amused, many parents likely nodding along knowingly. After all, who hasn’t had a teenager stretch the truth a few inches?
La La’s Instagram often showcases Kiyan’s journey and growth, both on and off the court. She recently posted a video reflecting on his transformation from the 7-year-old kiddo donning his dad’s New York Knicks jersey to the towering 6-foot-4 (or 6-foot-5, depending on who you ask) high school star he is today. The caption read: “Growing up right before our eyes 🥹 @kiyananthony.” It seems, however, that Kiyan’s age isn’t the only thing growing “right before our eyes”—so is his self-reported height!
But if you think La La’s strict about height, wait until you hear her stance on family bonds. On the October 11th episode of “Baby, This is Keke Palmer,” La La spoke candidly about her close relationship with Kiyan, even calling him her “best friend.”
“My son is my best friend. He lives with me. He sees the ups and downs. I don’t know anybody that I’m closer to! He’s with me through all of my moments but he also knows how to respect and treat me as his mom.”
When people question the “best friend” label, La La is quick to remind them that it’s not all fun and games—she’ll “check him” in an instant, much like she does on Instagram.
But no matter if Kiyan is 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5, one thing’s for sure: his mom is always going to keep him grounded—even if that means shaving an inch off his height.
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