Noah Lyles Questions NBA's 'World Champion' Label
Several NBA stars responded to insinuations made by sprinter from the United States, Noah Lyles questioning the label 'World Champion' NBA. Of course, this seems to demean the competition they participate in.
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| Noah Lyles celebrates after anchoring the USA team to victory in the men's 4x100m relay final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 26. (Photo: Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images) |
The 2023 100-meter and 200-meter world champion said that a team that is NBA champion does not mean that it has become world champion. Lyles laughs that the NBA is only a competition that takes place in the U.S. and Canada.
Response to Noah Lyles' Question on NBA 'World Champion' Label
"You know the most painful thing for me is having to watch the NBA Finals and they've got 'world champion' in their heads. World champion in what way? Champion in the United States," Lyles told Sports Illustrated.
"Don't get me wrong. I sometimes like the US, but it's not the world," he continued.
Also, read: 2023 US Open Grand Slam Tennis Tournament Begins.
Lyles' comments were responded to by a series of NBA stars. Starting from the Phoenix Suns duo, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), to players from last season's NBA champion team Denver Nuggets, Aaron Gordon.
Durant penned a poignant statement responding to Lyles' comments. The 34-year-old basketball player felt Lyles needed help.
"Someone please help this person," Durant wrote.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers players tried to correct Lyles' statement. "Last I checked, the NBA is the best competition in the world," he said.