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15 Years After Kobe Bryant’s ‘International’ Claim, Noah Lyles Brings a Shocking Twist in NBA ‘World Champion’ Debate

Published 09/14/2023, 4:16 PM EDT

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Noah Lyles has become one of America’s most prominent track and field figures in such a short span. He was already a well-established athlete in the 200-meter category, and he swiftly transitioned himself into the 100-meter as well. He is one of those current runners who is looked up to as the one who can challenge the records of Usain Bolt. He is already on a mission to break records like a bat out of hell. More so, he became the only fifth man in the world this year in August to clinch a double individual world title while also going on to become the 4×100 meter world champion.

He was invited to various shows and podcasts for conversations about his life, career, and everything. Along similar lines, he recently sat down for an interview with Brandon Marshall for a chit-chat session. The two discussed Lyles’ recent “world champion of what” NBA controversy. During their conversation, there was a mention of late American Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and how he warned American ballers against the upcoming international talent. Amid his slant on the NBA, Lyles added something very unlikely, which can be shocking for the fans.

The visionary Kobe Bryant and Noah Lyles’ take

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On September 13th, Lyles made an appearance on the ‘I AM ATHLETE’ podcast, which is hosted by former American football wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The podcast’s entitled, “Noah Lyles: “We [Track Athletes] Don’t Get Enough Attention!” This interview was all about Noah Lyles and his recent track and field success. However, in a particular segment, the duo discusses Lyles’ NBA controversy, and while they were discussing this, Marshall mentioned that he had a debate on the show about being the world champion.

The former NFL star further adds that he agrees that they are not the world champions and also regrets Team USA’s defeat at the FIBA World Cup. Then comes the mention of the world’s best ballers currently, to which Marshall adds that the latter topic is debatable as the last few MVPs were all international players. Then Marshall mentions Kobe Bryant and says, “Kobe said this back in like 2008; it was like, look, we’re sleeping on the rest of the world, like they’re catching up.” 

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Then the duo discuss how global basketball players play and that some of them play better than the US players. To this, Lyles replies, “I feel like we can create the best cohesive team; I feel like we have the ability; whether we are going to put our best foot forward or not, that’s for them to s**k.” Later, the duo delves into how Noah Lyles conquered his fears and achieved remarkable success.

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The backstory of how Lyles got hold of his nerves

Noah Lyles talks about how he lost the feeling of being nervous and became what he is today. The first mention comes of his high school days, when he was trying to secure his spot on the Pan American Juniors team and had to go up against some of the best high school runners. He then adds that he is feeling the nerves and intrusive thoughts of that moment. He then remembers the hard work he did to make it to the team, not letting it slip that easily.

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He also discusses his 2021 Olympic trials experience when he faced a moment of choking. He shares that his mother played a crucial role in helping him overcome this setback. According to his mother’s advice, she told him not to worry about the moment because it was created by God for him. She emphasized that the moment was not greater than him but designed specifically for him. This perspective has since guided him forward in his life.

Watch this story: Witness the Genesis of the Legend of Noah Lyles: The Finish You Know, the Start You Don’t

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Written by:

Abhishek Rathore

550Articles

One take at a time

Abhishek Rathore is a US sports writer for EssentiallySports. He is a passionate sports enthusiast and comes with a staunch experience in content writing. So, he blended his love and passion and started writing about all things sports.
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Edited by:

Suman Varandani