Noah Lyles faces backlash from NBA players over world champion remarks

Track and field star Noah Lyles found himself at odds with several NBA players after making comments questioning the validity of the "world champion" title used by NBA teams. The controversy began at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, where Lyles secured victories in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. Speaking to reporters, Lyles discussed his aspirations for raising the profile of track and field, expressing his desire for more former world champions to attend high-profile meets. However, his remarks took a critical turn toward the NBA.

"You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have 'world champion' on they head. World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong, I love the US – at times – but that ain’t the world," Lyles stated. He emphasized that track and field is a truly global sport, saying, "We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA."

Lyles' comments touched on a long-standing criticism of American sports culture, where champions in domestic leagues are often referred to as world champions, despite competing only against teams from the US and Canada. The NBA, in particular, is home to many of the best basketball players globally, which some argue justifies the use of the term.

However, Lyles' remarks were not well-received by NBA stars. Kevin Durant, a two-time NBA champion and 2014 MVP, responded on Instagram, saying, "Somebody help this brother." Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green also chimed in, writing, "When being smart goes wrong," accompanied by a face-palm emoji. Devin Booker, an NBA star and member of Team USA, simply posted a face-palm emoji in response.