August 28th 2023.
Noah Lyles is having an incredible run at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He has taken home three gold medals and solidified his ranking as the No.1 200m runner. In a recent press conference, he made some comments that have caused a stir amongst National Basketball Association athletes here in the United States.
According to Sports Illustrated, Lyles pointed out that NBA players only compete in the United States and Canada, yet they refer to themselves as “world champions” when they win the Larry O’Brien trophy. “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?” said Lyles.
His remarks reached NBA superstars like Phoenix Suns teammates Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, and Portland Trailblazers leader Damian Lillard. In response, Durant tweeted “Somebody help this brother”, while Booker added a face-palm emoji of his own. Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon, the current reigning NBA Champion, wrote “Whatever… I’m smoking buddy in the 200m.”
In recent years, the NBA has brought together players from all over the world, launching several global initiatives to promote the game of basketball in other countries and continents. Mexican-American player Juan Toscano-Anderson, who has been an ambassador for the NBA in Mexico, offered his opinion on the matter. “Last time I checked, the NBA was the best competition in the WORLD,” he said.
Players from all over the world aspire to be drafted to the NBA, as it is a confirmation of their skills and ability to compete with the best from across the globe. Lyles makes a good point, however the United States has been dominating in basketball competitions against the best players from other countries in the Olympics, having won a total of 16 gold medals since its introduction in 1936.
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