American superstar sprinter Noah Lyles took home three gold medals and two world titles at the World Athletics Championships last week. He also made a record by winning the double sprint in the 100m and 200m races. But the current spotlight is not on his victories anymore and has shifted to his recent controversial comment about one of America’s favorite sports.

Noah Lyles had just clinched the gold in the 200-meter race in Budapest when he took a dig at the NBA champions. He expressed his frustration at the NBA athletes calling themselves “world champions” despite the league primarily consisting of American teams. In the midst of all this controversy, many are questioning the motive behind Lyles’ comment and whether it was a genuine critique or simply a way to gain attention.

Analyzing Noah Lyles’s intentions

Noah Lyles addressed a crowded room full of media personnel after his gold medal win in the 200-meter race in Budapest. He started by speaking about his performance and then showed his annoyance at the lack of support for track and field athletes.

Thereafter, he digressed from his initial topic and began criticizing the NBA, saying, “I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have world champion on their head. World champion of what? The United States?”. A popular Twitter user by the name ‘Track Spice’ used his platform to express his opinion, suggesting, “I think Noah Lyles’s comment was a publicity stunt to get his name out there on mainstream media by calling out the NBA and knowing they’ll respond Smart publicity move”.

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The Twitter user alleged the sprinter’s motivation for the comment, writing, “Controversy sells”. Noah Lyles has confirmed some of this suspicion with his subsequent remarks.

Noah Lyles is seen as a worthy successor to Jamaican legend Usain Bolt by track and field enthusiasts. The American is on a mission to occupy every record in the sport and become the absolute emblem of excellence. He is not only chasing Bolt’s records but also his post-racing career decisions. Just like the Jamaican superstar who still makes headlines after his retirement with his other ventures, Noah Lyles “wants to move past being track-famous”. 

He has starred in a documentary film which premiered on August 18. The new world champion said that his drive behind medalling came from wanting to draw more attention to himself. He wants to leverage this popularity to transcend into the mainstream and explore opportunities in music and fashion. Notwithstanding his personal reasons for the remarks against the league, the NBA athletes have clapped back at Noah Lyles.

Backlash from NBA Athletes as controversy surrounds Noah Lyles NBA critique

Many NBA stars have joined the conversation to voice their disagreement with Noah Lyles’ bold remarks. Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns was the first to respond mockingly, “somebody help this brother”. His teammate Devin Booker was at a loss for words and expressed his disappointment with a face-palming emoji.

Aaron Gordon, who plays for the Denver Nuggets, challenged Noah Lyles to a 200m race. Besides them, Draymond Green, Damian Lillard, and Udonis Haslem also chimed in with their thoughts on Noah Lyles’ claim.

Not Noah Lyles, But 19-Year-Old Who Broke Usain Bolt’s Record, Walks Off With a Sweet Silver at World Athletics Championship

They pointed out to Noah Lyles that five MVPs come from foreign countries. The NBA athletes have brought attention to the fact that even though the league is played in the U.S., players from all over the world are represented. In the meantime, Noah Lyles has remained silent on the matter and his fans anticipate a response soon.

Watch This Story: Noah Lyles Eyeing on Shattering Another Record of Usain Bolt After Breaking the Sprinting Legend’s Record in Seven Years