In the wake of Team USA being eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Noah Lyles has finally been acknowledged for his previous take on the idea of NBA champions being crowned world champions. As most NBA fans should be aware, Team USA surprised the global basketball community by losing to Team Germany in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
To those who do not know, Noah Lyles is an American professional track and field sprinter. It might stun fans to know that he holds a 9.83-second 100-meter record. Considering that he is a certified athlete, he was called out and attacked by NBA players themselves for his comments on NBA champions and World champions.
Now that Team USA has been eliminated from an international basketball tournament, prominent members of the NBA media have given Lules credit for his previous take. With that being said, let us take a closer look and find out more.
Was Noah Lyles right about Team USA basketball?
Since he turned out to be right, Noah Lyles has been making his presence felt on social media. He liked several posts that acknowledged him in the wake of Team USA’s failure to become world champions.
Noah Lyles liked these two posts on Twitter after Team USA got eliminated by Germany in the FIBA World Cup Semifinals 😳 pic.twitter.com/kLnbdZ9ojS
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 8, 2023
NBA fans will be aware of Lyles’ interesting take. He disapproved of the fact that the winners of the NBA Finals were called the world champions and pointed out that the entire world was a lot bigger than the USA. Lyles held athletes who were representing their country and flag on a higher pedestal.
Many members of the NBA media and players called him out for this take by pointing out that the NBA is home to some of the best international talent such as Giannis Antetokounmpo. Since the league is considered a place for the best of the best, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith initially called out Noah Lyles for his perspective.
If the NBA is home to the best of the best, one would certainly assume that Team USA would win the 2023 FIBA World Cup. However, they failed to even qualify for the finals and lost to Germany. That undoubtedly emphasizes Lyles’ stance that the entire world is a lot bigger than the United States. Even Stephen A. admitted that Lyles was right all along.
Stephen A. Smith says Noah Lyles was right about USA basketball
“It gives credence to Noah Lyles … International competition is different and the USA gets exposed.”
(Via First Take) pic.twitter.com/jRDvVTm3KD
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 8, 2023
In any case, Team USA’s loss at the FIBA World Cup seems to have brought more attention to the amount of international basketball talent. Fans might just see more players from different countries in the NBA.