When you’re among the top stars of your domain, you attract a lot of attention, and no one is probably experiencing this as much as Noah Lyles. While the sprinter is currently taking time off from the tracks after his golden feat at the Paris Olympics, ghosts of days past continue to mar the celebrations. With Lyles’ “World Champions of What?” from 2023 still a hot topic in the US, collegiate football phenoms have now entered the chat.

In a podcast episode of 2Legendary With Shedeur Sanders, uploaded on YouTube on August 28, the host and his brother Deion Jr. shared their take on the whole Noah Lyles-NBA debate. At one point in the podcast, two-time Super Bowl winner Deion Sanders’ son asked his sibling about his thoughts on the Olympian’s comment. Deion pondered, “Do you think if you win the Super Bowl you’re a World Champion?” However, Deion Jr. couldn’t wait for an answer and went on to say, “I think it’s different cuz you only play American football in America.”

The Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur also agreed with the sentiment and said, “Yeah, you are a World Champion.” The brothers also noted that the case is similar for the basketball community as well. The collegiate football star also explained the reasoning behind his thought process. “Whenever the players go back to their countries and play for their countries those same players are in the NBA. Of course, I feel like the World Champions,” Sanders said.

“I feel like the NBA is definitely world champions too,” Deion Jr. also seemed to be on board with Shedeur’s take on the matter, as the duo sort of surmised that Noah Lyles might have been over his head when he took the dig at basketball stars last year. However, the iconic Deion Sanders’ sons aren’t the only ones who have gone after the runner for his controversial comments!

A destructive chain reaction sparked by Noah Lyles

Ever since Noah Lyles made the vexed remarks last year after his triumphs at the 2023 World Championships, chaos has taken away his peace. Athletes and fans from all walks of life have come together to jeer at the three-time Olympic medalist for his seemingly ignorant view of basketball players’ achievements.

Soon after Lyles’ statements came to the fore, NBA icon Kevin Durant responded with a retort of his own, claiming the Florida native should seek help. “Somebody help this brother,” Durant smirked on social media. The USA Basketball’s official X handle also took a potshot at the sprinter amidst the drama after they secured the Olympic gold in Paris earlier this month.

Devin Booker, Durant’s teammate from the Phoenix Suns, went as far as to claim that he would show Lyles his place in a race over 200m if they ever crossed paths on the tracks. However, 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t see many problems with Noah’s snarky comments.

Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George also said last December, “The game is more and more becoming an international game with the international talent that’s coming into the league, but from his point of view, being a USA athlete, I think he’s right in terms of world champion, competing on that scale and winning the gold medal,” during an episode of Podcast P. Who do you think is in the right here? Share your take with a comment!