Six-time World Champion Noah Lyles created history in the 2023 World Athletics Championships by winning his third consecutive 200m final. While the USA is celebrating his outstanding feat, Noah Lyles has sparked a huge debate in the NBA world. After his dominant victory in the World Athletics Championship, Noah made some outrageous comments about the NBA which did not sit well with the NBA superstars.

2023 NBA champion Aaron Gordon and several other NBA players responded to Noah Lyles’ disrespectful comments about the league.

Noah Lyles trashes the NBA for false title

No one will deny that it is very hard to win a World Championship and only a few athletes have the skill and determination to do it multiple times. While talking about how hard it was to win a world title in track and field, Noah Lyles slammed 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 their head. World Champion of what? The United States?” Lyles believes that the NBA should not be calling their winners World Champions because the league consists of teams from only 2 nations, USA and Canada.

The reigning NBA champion Aaron Gordon did not like the World Champion diminishing the importance of his title. Gordon was a key part in the Denver Nuggets beating the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA finals. Gordon also helped 2 time MVP Nikola Jokic get past LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the Western Conference finals. With a difficult road to his first NBA title, Gordon had a nasty response for the 200m World Champion, “Whatever… I’m smoking buddy in the 200m.” Aaron Gordon believes he can beat the 6-time champion with ease.

NBA players respond to Noah Lyles’ comments

Apart from Aaron Gordon, many other NBA players took offense to Lyles’ comments and came back with a response of their own. Austin Rivers had a rational response to Noah Lyles’ World Title claim saying, “Simply put. Best players in the world play in the league. So…winning a NBA championship qualifies as world champs. Idk what’s more cringe, his comment or his voice and delivery.”

Miami Heat Star Bam Adebayo was not so subtle with his response, “Lol Is Somebody Going To Tell Him??”

And Devin Booker could do nothing but facepalm on Lyles’ outrageous comments.

Read More: Aaron Gordon Breaks Silence on His Reasoning Behind Deciding to Leave Orlando Magic

Even though the NBA does not include teams from all around the world, it still consists of some of the best players to ever play. NBA is the most competitive basketball league in the world and international players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic have made the game global. So, Noah Lyles’s comments are not fair to the NBA because at the end of each season, the best basketball team in the world lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy. Do you agree with Noah Lyles?

Watch This Story: 22YO Timberwolves Forward Gets Slapped With a $50,000 Fine Following a Chair Swinging Incident Against Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets