Credit: Twitter
The sensational US Sprinter, Noah Lyles won his third gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest over the weekend, however, the 26-year-old made the headlines for his striking comments on the NBA. Lyles' comments didn't go well with some of the superstars in the league including Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, and Damian Lillard among others, who fired back at the sprinter on social media.
After winning his third title in the tournament on Sunday, Lyles questioned the World Champion status of the NBA champions and said, "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?"
He went on to clarify his love for the US but admitted that the NBA is not a world championship but the World Athletics Championships are, and stated, "Don't get me wrong. I love the US at times. But that ain't the world. "We (World Athletics Championships) are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting and thriving and putting on a flag to show that they are represented. There ain't no flags in the NBA."
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His comments seemingly didn't go well with some of the NBA superstars, who hijacked an ESPN Instagram post's comment section and trolled the American sprinter. The four-time NBA champion, Draymond Green commented, "When being smart goes wrong," on the other hand, Durant wrote, "Somebody help this brother."
Also watch: Noah Lyles survives a horrific buggy collision ahead of 200m semifinal at World Athletics Championships
Damian Lillard responded, "TF" with two laughing emojis while reigning champions Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon wrote, "Whatever... I'm smoking buddy in the 200m." Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote, "The NBA is the best league in the world. That's why the champs are 'world champs.'"
Apart from them, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones, Utah Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, and former Miami Heat star Udonis Haslem also reacted to Lyles' comment.
