Noah Lyles’s ‘world champion’ comment triggers NBA stars, Sha’ccari Richardson defends US sprinter
“World champion of what?” Noah Lyles said in his usual high-pitched tone after walking the talk at the World Athletics Championships. He had become the first man since the legendary Usain Bolt to win the 100m, 200m and 4x100m Gold medals at the world meet earlier in August. And the track and field superstar took a dig at NBA , sending the reporters in Budapest into splits.
Lyles, who has run the second-fastest 200m race in history, expressed his frustration at watching the NBA Finals and seeing the winners crowned as ‘world champions’. He provocatively asked, “World champion of what? The United States?”
The clip of the press conference from Budapest went viral on social media, dividing fans and experts alike. The discourse on social media took a massive turn as it became NBA vs Track in the US.
“You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head,” Lyles said after completing the golden triple at the World Athletics Championships.