American track and field competitor Noah Lyles ridiculed the NBA players, and the stars have retaliated. In response to NBA players using the word “world champion” to describe taking home the Larry O’Brien trophy, Lyles questioned, “World champion of what…the United States?”
NBA stars respond to Noah Lyles who gave his take on NBA champs calling themselves world champs 🍿
(h/t: espn) pic.twitter.com/ImbDUem6g3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 28, 2023
At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest over the weekend, renowned US sprinter Noah Lyles earned his third gold medal. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old made headlines for his startling remarks against the NBA. Some of the league’s top players, including Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard, among others, took issue with Lyles’ remarks and retaliated against the sprinter on social media.
Durant, a two-time NBA champion, made fun of Noah’s remarks. “Someone help this brother,” he retorted. Devin Booker, KD’s teammate on the Phoenix Suns, responded with just a disappointed emoji. Damian Lillard wrote “TF.” Superstars like Lillard had trouble believing what Lyles had said. Aaron Gordon issued a challenge to beat him in a 200-meter sprint as he was so enraged.
Along with them, Tyus Jones of the Memphis Grizzlies, Juan Toscano-Anderson of the Utah Jazz, and former player Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat also responded to Lyles’ remark.
Noah Lyles has won 3 gold medals for USA in the 2023 World Athletics Championships
Noah Lyles, exuberant and increasingly outspoken, is hardly a new figure on the track; the 26-year-old is in his ninth year as a professional, having joined Adidas the year before Usain Bolt retired. But, after winning a stunning 100m/200m double plus gold while leading the US team to victory in the 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Lyles is poised to reintroduce track and field to a broader audience.
“This is the third gold for me here. It’s sensational, amazing. You can’t do better. It’s out of control. I love Team USA because everybody is coming here thinking, ‘I’m going to win’. We’re able to put that into a team effort and then we’re unstoppable,” said Lyles.
He loves the spotlight and the spotlight loves him 💥@LylesNoah is the world 200m champion in 19.83! #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/gtQr9wx3F0
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 1, 2019
Lyles began his medal count by winning the men’s 100m world title in 9.83 seconds, a lifetime best. He was 0.25 seconds slower than Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds. The newly minted world champion then turned his attention to the 200-meter race. Lyles swept away the field in the 200-meter finals, easily defending his world championship in 19.51 seconds.
With two gold medals under his belt, the track star was now looking forward to the men’s 4×100-meter relay. The USA swept the event, with Lyles leading the team to gold with a timing of 37.38 seconds.