Ditching Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Others, NBA Star Corners With Cancelled American Hero Noah Lyles After Embarrassing FIBA Exit

US sprinter Noah Lyles has lashed at the NBA. The bone of contention? The coveted title of “World Champion”. Lyles sparked a controversy after his stellar performance at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest. In a post-interview, he fired at the NBA for calling themselves the ‘World Champion’.

Since then, he has sparked a larger conversation amongst fans about what it truly means to be world champion.

NBA players backfires at Lyles

Noah Lyles, fresh off his golden triple at the World Athletics Championships, expressed his frustration at NBA athletes. As per him, the claims of NBA teams to be world champions isn’t justified since the league primarily comprises American teams.

He says that what’s even more surprising is that after winning the NBA finals, they call themselves ‘world champions’. He mockingly asks, “world champions of what? The United States?”. He even added that there is no flag in the NBA league and it is ‘us’ who represent their countries on the world stage.

Though made in jest, his remarks did not sit well with the NBA athletes. Several of them, including Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. “Somebody help this brother,” Kevin Durant said on his Instagram while Green commented, “When being smart goes wrong”. Aaron Gordon went as far as saying that he can easily beat Lyles in the 200 m race.

Evan Fournier Weighs In 

Among other NBA players who responded was New York Knicks star Evan Fournier. Fournier, who has had an impressive NBA career, offered a more nuanced perspective on the issue.

“I think it’s the point of view of a lot of Americans that when they win at home, since it’s the best championship in the world, automatically you are world champ. can understand that point of view. I agree that it should be just NBA champion personally,” Fournier said.

He further added, “If you participate in the World Cup or even the Olympics and you win you have a right to call yourself world champion. But when, I mean the way I look at it is NBA champions for sure they’re they’re the best team but it’s just it’s just a title. I mean it’s…. it’s, it’s not that big a deal it’s just a title. But for him (Lyles) to say that, I understand where he’s coming from because he’s an athlete and he just won world titles.”

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The debate ignited by Lyles’ comments underscores an interesting dichotomy between different sports and their perception of global dominance. While the controversy continues to simmer, it remains to be seen how Team US will do in the FIBA World Cup.

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