US Sprint Noah Lyles Slams NBA Teams For Calling Themselves World Champion

After winning the 200-meter gold medal, American sprinter Noah Lyles criticized NBA teams for proclaiming themselves “world champions” and was praised for a very valid argument.

US Sprint Noah Lyles Slams NBA Teams For Calling Themselves World Champion

In Budapest, Hungary’s capital city, where the World Athletics Championships are being held, Lyles is participating.

The 26-year-old has accomplished the rare feat of winning the 100- and 200-meter races in the competition.

Following his victory in the 100-meter race the previous week, Lyles took the 200-meter gold as part of an American one-two with Erriyon Knighton, with Letsile Tebogo of Botswana taking home the bronze.

In the event that the US team triumphs in the 4×100-meter relay, he may still earn three gold medals at the competition.

However, NBA champions and stars were more interested in Lyles’ post-victory remark.

With his latest views, Lyles sparked debate when he blasted NBA players for referring to themselves as “world champions” after winning an NBA championship.

“You know what hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals, and they have ‘world champion’ on their head. World champion of what? United States?” Lyles questioned. “Don’t get me wrong. I love the US at times. But that ain’t the world.

“We [World Athletics Championships] are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting and thriving and putting on a flag to show that they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA.”

As Lyles races toward the Olympics in Paris next year, all eyes will be on him. If he wins all three sprints in Paris, he will join Americans Carl Lewis, Wilma Rudolph, and Jesse Owens as others who have accomplished this feat.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns added their two cents. Durant replied with the message “Somebody help this brother,” and Booker did the same with a face-palm emoji.

The Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon, the current NBA champion, added his voice, saying, “Whatever… I’m smoking buddy in the 200m.”

Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers also weighed in, writing “Tf” and including a couple of laughing emojis.

Tyler Herro took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his  viewpoint: “The NBA is the best league in the world. That’s why the champs are ‘world champs.'”

 

FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE- 

Former NFL QB Blake Bortles’s Retirement Plans Includes Constructing His Home