Jayson Tatum gives Kiyan Anthony the scoop on playing 1v1 game vs 'prime' Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony’s son, Kiyan Anthony, is one of the best prospects in the class of 2025. Kiyan joined his father when they visited Team USA's camp in Las Vegas on Tuesday and met their players. He then asked Jayson Tatum if he could beat his father in his prime in a 1v1 game.
Just like every fierce competitor in sports, Tatum refused to believe that he would lose against the NBA great. The Boston Celtics star, who is fresh coming off winning a title, said that he would beat prime Carmelo Anthony in a 1v1 game to 11 points.
Kiyan: "If you play my pops 1-on-1 in his prime to 11, what do you think the score would be?"
Tatum: "11-8, me."
Arguments can be made but Jayson Tatum's claim will be impossible to prove.
Tatum just finished the seventh year of his NBA career. He averaged 26.9 points on 47.1% shooting from the field and 37.6% shooting from beyond the arc. Carmelo Anthony, in his prime year, averaged 28.7 points on 44.9% shooting from the field and 37.9% shooting from the three-point line.
This year, Tatum finished sixth in MVP voting, while Carmelo in his prime season in 2012-13, finished 3rd in MVP votes.
Kiyan Anthony says he could beat 17-year-old Jayson Tatum
After Kiyan Anthony's question, Jayson Tatum came back with a question for him asking if he could beat him when he was 17. Kiyan initially said he could, but then admitted he was just lying, which made Tatum laugh.
Tatum: "Who you think would [win] when I was 17 and you were 17? I think I would win."
Kiyan Anthony: "I think I would win."
Tatum: "You think you can beat me now?"
Kiyan: "Yeah! Nah I am lying."
Tatum has established himself as one of the best basketball players in the world today. He is only 26 years old but already has a championship, five All-Star nods, one All-Star Game MVP, and three All-NBA First-Team selections under his belt.
Kiyan, on the other hand, has received multiple college offers and is ranked 27th nationally in his class, per On3 rankings.