With victories in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter events at the global championships in Budapest, Hungary, last week, Noah Lyles became the first man since Usain Bolt to achieve a triple at the worlds.
NBA players utilizing the moniker “world champion” after winning the NBA Finals was his one and only pet peeve.
“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, responding to a question after his 200-meter victory.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S., at times, but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We 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,” he added.
NBA All-Stars were quick to catch wind of his hot take.
Along with Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, who has one gold medal from the 2020 Tokyo Games, Kevin Durant, who has three Olympic gold medals and one world championship gold, were some of the renowned athletes to voice their anger on social media.
