Sprint sensation Noah Lyles, fresh off his wins at the 2023 World Track & Field Championships in Budapest, has ignited a fiery debate in the NBA world by questioning the use of the term “world champions” after they secure a championship win.
“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?” Lyles said after winning the men’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m world titles at the 2023 World Track & Field Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The sprint king’s remarks have drawn criticism including a sharp retort from ESPN Analyst Stephen A. Smith.
Smith initially criticized Lyles for what he deemed as a “flagrantly ignorant” statement, asserting that the term “world champion” in the context of the NBA referred to the league’s global prominence and the fact that players from various countries competed in the league.
“I’m sure he’s a good brother and a whole bit. He just came across as flagrantly ignorant – and that needs to be said,” mentioned Smith slamming Lyles.
However, just a day later, Smith took an unexpected turn and retracted his choice of words during the show ‘First Take’. He admitted that he might have been too harsh in labeling Lyles’ remarks as “ignorant,” and he offered an apology to the track star.
“My opinion about what he said, I thought I was a bit harsh… we still disagree to some degree, but the bottom line is the word ‘ignorant,’ that was just inaccurate on my part,” Smith acknowledged during the broadcast.
"My opinion about what he said, I thought I was a bit harsh… we still disagree to some degree, but the bottom line is the word 'ignorant', that was just inaccurate on my part."
Stephen A. Smith issues an apology to Noah Lyles on First Takepic.twitter.com/slEPvA2ALI https://t.co/vp2daMa7Bw
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 29, 2023
On the other hand, rapper Drake who initially fired back at Lyles joining other NBA stars was called out by the track and field sprinter.
In a retort to Drake’s response, Lyles retorted, “I am a fan of his music, but I am not going to be a fan of that weak comment.”
Lyles further elaborated on his stance during an interview with Canadian Running in Zurich, expressing that numerous individuals had reached out to him, voicing their agreement with his perspective. He emphasized the irony of the term “world champion” being used within the “National” Basketball Association, particularly when considering the global scope of the competition.
“Many people have reached out and said they agree with me. It’s funny because in the U.S., they are against it (my comment)… even when it’s called the ‘National’ Basketball Association,” Lyles said.
With athletes, analysts, and fans offering their diverse viewpoints, the debate surrounding NBA players’ “world champion” title shows no signs of abating any time soon.
