Noah Lyles of the United States.Photo:Sam Mellish/Getty
Sam Mellish/Getty
Lyles, 26, questioned the validity of the NBA’s “world champions” title while addressing the media after his three gold medal wins at the track and field World Athletics championships in Budapest, Hungary.
His remarks came in response to a question about how track and field could grow its popularity, according toUSA Today. Lyles replied, “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.”
Lyles questioned, “World champion of what? The United States?” during the address.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S., at times — but that ain’t the world,” he continued. “That is not the world. We [track and field] are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA.”
Noah Lyles of the United States.Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty
“Somebody better help this brother,” Durant, 34, wrote in a comment on ESPN’spostabout Lyles' conference.
Green, 33, commented, “When being smart goes wrong,” shortly after Durant.
Other notable names in the NBA who took issue with the statement includeDamian Lillard, PJ Tucker, Bam Adebayo and Aaron Gordon, who earned his first championship with the Denver Nuggets in June.
NBA stars comment on Noah Lyles' remarks.ESPN/Instagram
ESPN/Instagram
Even superstar rapper, and diehard NBA fan, Drake jumped in on the debate.
According to DJAkademiks, theSearch & Rescuerapper wrote, “He thought this speech was gonna be so hard in the mirror the night before… now the whole league doesn’t rate u,” with a handful of laughing emojis.
The NBA has seen a significant increase in popularity and success for its' international stars, with players like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic quickly becoming faces of the league.
Lyles, meanwhile has the fourth-fastest 200-meter time ever recorded worldwide, behind just Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, both from Jamaica. Lyles, from Florida, took home three gold medals at the World Athletics championships this week, in the 100-meter, 200-meter and the 4 x 100-meter relay as part of Team USA.
source: people.com
