Carmelo Anthony Prepares Son Kiyan Anthony for Life as a Million-Dollar NIL Athlete: 'You’re in My Tax Bracket Now

Most 17-year-olds are focused on high school, friends, and maybe college applications. But for Kiyan Anthony, the son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, life looks a little different. The young basketball prodigy has already secured a $1.1 million NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal with Syracuse, the same school where his father won a national championship in 2003. While the financial windfall is great, it also comes with a reality check. Instead of just talking about school or basketball, Carmelo is having serious conversations with his teenage son about taxes, budgeting, and what it really means to be in the top 1% of earners.

NIL deals have changed college sports forever, giving student-athletes the chance to profit off their name. But with that comes responsibilities—particularly when it comes to money management and taxes. Carmelo Anthony recently opened up about the lessons he’s teaching Kiyan Anthony about financial literacy at such a young age.
“I got to talk to you about taxes at 17 years old. I got to talk about how you budget at 17 years old,” Carmelo said. “At 17 years old, I was running around—we ain’t know nothing about no budget.”

Kiyan, who has received offers from top Division I programs, chose Syracuse and is already seeing the benefits of his NIL deal. But Carmelo isn’t letting him get caught up in the excitement without understanding the full picture.
“I told him the other day, I said, you in my tax bracket now. You 17 in my tax bracket… you part of the 1%,” Carmelo explained. “So now I can’t hide that information from you. I got to tell you, you’re getting 60% of your money taken. Don’t ask me where it’s at. I ain’t got it.”


Kiyan isn’t the only young athlete navigating the world of NIL money. Last year, Shedeur Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, signed a massive NIL deal worth $5.1 million. He’s well aware of the financial responsibilities that come with it.
“Understand taxes are real,” Shedeur warned. “You are going to have to pay taxes. You can have all the fun you want because you are going to have to get it out of your system, but know that taxes are not playing with you.”
For decades, college athletes brought in millions for their schools while receiving no financial compensation. Now, with NIL deals, young stars like Kiyan Anthony and Shedeur Sanders are finally earning what they deserve—but they’re also learning that with great wealth comes great responsibility.
Also Read: LeBron James Moves Closer to Historic 50,000 Career Points Milestone as He Prepares to Make NBA History
For Carmelo Anthony, the goal is clear: making sure his son is prepared for the realities of financial success. And at just 17, Kiyan is getting a crash course in what it really means to manage wealth at the highest level.