Carmelo Anthony’s Hall of Fame induction turned into more than a celebration of his basketball career. The 41-year-old NBA great used the stage to share how fatherhood transformed his life, getting vulnerable in front of his children for the very first time.

“Your father isn’t perfect, but he is proof that struggle doesn’t mean surrender,” he told his son, Kiyan, and daughter, Genesis. “Proof that the road can be rough and still lead to glory.”

The moment marked a new chapter for Anthony, who has always been protective of his private life. His son Kiyan, 19, has been in the spotlight as a rising star in basketball and will play at Syracuse University this fall. His daughter Genesis, now seven, has been kept mostly out of public view. Carmelo only confirmed she was his child in 2023 during his retirement announcement and later celebrated her birthday with a Knicks-themed party.

Anthony’s speech also touched on the responsibility and redemption he’s found in raising his children. “Raising children in this world is revolutionary. I didn’t just want to be a basketball player; I wanted to be a model of redemption, of accountability, of love,” he said. “My kids saved me. They gave me a reason to move past ego, past noise, past criticism. They remind me that legacy isn’t what you leave behind, it’s what you lift up.”

The emotion carried through as he spoke about his late father, Carmelo Iriarte, who passed when he was a toddler. Anthony paid tribute to his father’s life as a poet, activist, and member of The Young Lords, calling him a source of strength even in his absence. He closed by dedicating his Hall of Fame jacket to them both, a symbol of the family bond that continues to guide him.