There never seems to be a dull moment with Noah Lyles and drama. His beef with Tyreek Hill about who’s got the fastest legs isn’t cooling off anytime soon. The Olympic champ isn’t even considering the Miami Dolphins star a serious competitor. “It’s one-sided,” Noah declared recently, clearly not sweating Hill’s challenge. But now, he’s shifted gears and reignited his ongoing verbal sparring with NBA players.

On August 23, GQ Sports’ Instagram featured a Q&A session with Noah Lyles, where he fielded questions from fans and sports figures. One comment from Josh Hart of the New York Knicks caught Noah’s eye. Hart, replying to a fan’s remark about Noah’s performance, joked, “Lol na he an Olympic gold medalist. He can talk for life.” The fan had said, “Noah Lyles you survived the 100M hate watch, we will reconvene in the 200M.”

Noah wasn’t too pleased with the jab and shot back, “If y’all have to say ‘oh you got me but you won’t give me next time,’ I already won.” When the interviewer asked Noah if he knew who Josh Hart was, he admitted he had no clue. After the host filled him in, Noah just shrugged with a cheeky grin and said, “I appreciate it.” Whether he was being sarcastic or genuinely wholesome remains a mystery, but with his history of playful jabs at the NBA, we can guess where his head’s at!

After his impressive three-peat at the Budapest World Athletics Championships last year, Noah Lyles stirred the pot by taking a jab at the NBA’s “world champion” title. At a press conference, he quipped, “You know what 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?” This comment ruffled feathers among NBA stars.

Kevin Durant, a four-time Olympic champion, responded with a dig: “Somebody help this brother.” Despite the backlash, Noah Lyles stood his ground. In a subsequent interview, he doubled down, dismissing the NBA’s criticism as “whiny babies” and mockingly remarked on the uproar, “Everyone was in such a tizzy!” He even took a swipe at LeBron James, contrasting his own efforts to achieve greatness with those of the NBA legend.

When LeBron was honored as the flag bearer for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles was also part of the American contingent. Despite this, Noah had previously claimed that his journey to success was even tougher than LeBron’s, focusing on the sheer effort required in their respective careers. Such an all-over attack had one result: the athlete had to digest a few fireballs from the other side.

Noah Lyles couldn’t stay unattacked in his better days 

During the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles’ thrilling photo finish with Kishane Thompson became one of the most talked-about stories, with Lyles winning the men’s 100m final by just five-thousandths of a second. This victory ended a 16-year wait for a Team USA sprinter to top the Olympic podium in this event. However, not everyone on his team was celebrating.

Devin Booker, a fellow athlete, made a remark that drew attention: “I feel like all the best talent in the world is in the NBA. And that’s coming from an Olympic gold medalist who believes that being an NBA champion was probably harder to do.” This comment seemed to target Lyles, especially in the wake of his bronze medal finish in the men’s 200m event. The criticism continued to mount, adding fuel to the ongoing debate.

Before heading into the final of the event, Noah Lyles’ doctors confirmed he had COVID-19. Despite this, Lyles chose to compete, which led to his defeat in the signature event and his withdrawal from the remainder of the competition. Just a few days after the final, he was spotted celebrating at a nightclub, wrapped in the American flag. This move caught the attention of Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas, a former Washington Wizard, took to social media to question, “What kind of COVID boost was that? Come on, Noah, man, take your bronze and keep it moving. We didn’t need to see that.” This comment adds another layer to the ongoing debate surrounding Lyles. Will this latest development escalate the controversy further? What are your thoughts? Share them below.