Track and field and the NBA clashing with each other is quite a far-fetched narrative. Surprisingly, things got a little bit interesting when Noah Lyles decided to get involved. Now, Lyles has been competing on the world stage for a long time. While he has won several international accolades, Lyles seemed to be a little amused with the ‘world champion’ narrative of the NBA athletes. As a result, Lyles decided to address the elephant in the room, which is when all hell broke loose. 

So what exactly happened? Well, going back a couple of years, Lyles made an NBA comment that broke the internet. During a press conference at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Lyles stated how exactly were the NBA champions termed as the ‘world champions.’ He further went on to say that since the NBA is a National League, there was no point in calling the NBA finals champions the winners of the world. And while Lyles faced a lot of flak for his comments, the Olympic gold medalist came clear about the same in a recent interaction. 

In his appearance on the ‘Toure Show’, Lyles was asked about how people thought that he had a big ego. Lyles responded that his message was not received in the manner that he intended to. However, speaking about the same, he also made yet another shocking claim, that most of the dissent came from within the United States. The majority of backlash he faced came from athletes who were American. But when it came to European athletes, the Olympic gold medalist claimed to have a strong bond of friendship with them.

Reflecting on the same, Lyles stated, “I mean, it’s died down now, but at the time, it was like, this guy doesn’t even know what he’s talking about… And it was American NBA players. Because I have a decent relationship with a few European players.” He also went on to give the example of French basketball player, Evan Fournier. Lyles pointed out that both Fournier and himself had the same massage therapist. So when they talked over the incident, Fournier shared a good laugh and agreed to Lyles’ words.

Interestingly, this is not the only time Lyles got into loggerheads with NBA athletes. Back in June 2024, an interview with TIME got everyone’s attention once again. This time, Lyles rejected an invitation from Adidas. And the occasion? Well, the shoe launch of NBA athlete Anthony Edwards.

Expressing significant displeasure, Lyles mentioned that Adidas is launching a shoe for someone “who has not even been to an NBA finals.” The Olympian also demanded that he too, should have gotten his own line of sneakers by now. Meanwhile, with the US NBA fraternity getting seemingly enraged, the likes of Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and more hit back at the Olympic gold medalist.

The “World Champion” debate just heated up as NBA stars chimed in

Noah Lyles didn’t hold back when he questioned NBA teams calling themselves “world champions.” And the reaction to the same from basketball’s elite too was swift and unforgiving. After his triple gold-medal sweep at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Lyles called out the NBA’s use of the title, asking, “World champion of what? The United States?” His remark immediately triggered backlash from some of the league’s biggest names, including Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Draymond Green, and Aaron Gordon.

Stephen A. Smith initially dismissed Lyles’ stance, saying, “Lyles just came across as flagrantly ignorant,” though he later walked back on his comments. Kevin Durant commented, “Somebody help this brother.” Warriors star Draymond Green also chimed in, writing, “When being smart goes wrong”. While Phoenix Suns guard, Devin Booker who is also a member of Team USA, simply posted a face-palm emoji in response. Meanwhile, several others sided with Lyles, questioning the legitimacy of the “world champion” label.

Amid this, Lyles found an unexpected supporter in two-time NBA MVP Nigerian-Greek player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who defended the sprinter’s point of view. “He received so much backlash for saying the, like, obvious,” stated Antetokounmpo sitting on the 48 Minutes podcast. He further questioned the NBA’s use of the term, stating, “I don’t think in any other sport you are called the world champions… When they win the World Cup, they play against the USA team, they play against the teams around the world, you know, countries around the world, then they say world champs.”

Moreover, team USA’s disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup only fueled the debate. With a roster lacking its top superstars, some argued that the NBA’s global dominance wasn’t as clear-cut as many assumed. 

As opinions continue to clash, Lyles’ comment has undeniably reignited a long-standing debate. Whether the NBA Championship alone is enough to claim world champion status—or if true global competition is required—remains an open-ended question.