Syracuse University continues to undergo changes across several facets of university leadership. Already in 2026, we have seen the school hire a new chancellor, a new athletic director and now a new men's basketball coach in Gerry McNamara, who was officially hired on Tuesday morning.

McNamara has many things on his 'to-do' list in order to rebuild the program, but one of the more interesting things that needs to get answered: What should Carmelo Anthony's relationship with the program be moving forward?

In his lone season as an athlete at Syracuse, Anthony became one of the most popular and most successful players in school history. As a freshman, Anthony helped lead Syracuse to the 2003 national championship, the only national championship for the program. He paired with McNamara on that team.

Following his time in Central New York, Anthony was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Draft. Over the course of the next 19 seasons, Anthony became a 10-time All Star and a three-time gold medalist. He retired as a top-ten scorer in league history.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.

In 2009, Anthony created the "Carmelo K. Anthony Center Basketball Center." The $19 million dollar facility is used by both the men's and women's basketball programs.

Carmelo's son Kiyan just finished his freshman season at Syracuse, scoring 8.0 ppg. What will Kiyan's role be going forward? Plus, what, if at all, should Carmelo's role be? Brady and Goz discussed that and more for Syracuse Roundtable.

Goz- "..., some would say he (Kiyan) didn’t have a great ACC season, so when it comes to what Carmelo Anthony's role could be, would it be potentially an advisee to the new athletic director that hasn’t been reported.

We have seen past athletes have those types of relationships. Jayson Tatum does something like that with Duke, and so we have those types of roles with athletes like that. Does he continue to just be a father who watches the games? Does he help out in practice as a volunteer assistant? I don’t know what that role is going to be yet.

I do find it fascinating, but the idea that a popular alumni would not have an influence is probably naïve for me to think. It’s hard to get a grasp on that right now, but with no other reports out of how the role could change, I feel like he’d still just be a very rich, very popular alum, who’s gonna sit court side at a lot of games cheering on the team, and maybe even more so his son in season two."

Brady "...I don’t know Gerry McNamara or Carmelo at all so what their relationship is now versus what it was 20 years ago I can’t tell you that, but I would say: here is what I think needs to happen.

First and foremost I think that Gerry McNamara needs to go to Carmelo Anthony and just tell him that he wants his son to stay in the program. Like that is, what I think, is the first thing that needs to happen because I don’t think Kiyan Anthony overall had a great overall experience in the totality of everything in 25-26.

I certainly think in today’s modern world when that happens, transferring is always on the table no matter who you are and how strong your affinity for the university is. So I think Gery McNamara needs to just go and show Kiyan and Carmelo Anthony some love. Say look, I want you here in 2026-2027.."

Furthermore, Farkas also thinks that Anthony doesn't need to have an outsized role in the program at this time.

"I think if Adrian Autry were still here, then I would have had Carmelo as the general manager of the program to try to keep it all afloat. However, McNamara brings in his own credibility. I think Carmelo is best suited to just be a dad for the moment because I think the conflict of interest between Carmelo, Kiyan and Carmelo's relationship with McNamara is just too great. That said, the minute that Kiyan is gone from the program? I'd want Carmelo more involved."

To hear more of Brady and Goz's conversation, check out the video above. 

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