Noah Lyles has caught the NBA’s attention.
Recently, the 100m gold medalist from the Paris Olympics said he didn’t know who Nikola Jokic was. Jokic is considered the best basketball player in the world and a three-time NBA MVP. “I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know who that is,” Lyles told Shannon Sharpe on the “Night Cap” podcast when asked about non-American players in the NBA.
โImma be honest, I donโt know who that is.โ
– Noah Lyles on Nikola Jokic
( @NightcapShow_ / h/t @ClutchPoints )
โ NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
Sharpe asked this while discussing if NBA champions should be called “world champions” or just winners of a U.S.-based league. Lyles argued that calling them world champions isn’t right because they only compete within one country . He believes it’s unfair to give a global title to national league winners.
Fans might think Lyles’ comments are surprising and bold.
Lyles also admitted he doesn’t understand basketball much and confused famous teams like the 73-9 Warriors with the 72-10 Bulls. During his interview, he seemed upset about how much more celebrated NBA players are compared to Olympians. When he came back from Paris, there was no grand welcome for himโjust his parents ready to take him home.
Lyles vs. The NBA:
His remarks have sparked backlash from stars like Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker, who think he’s seeking attention with his comments. Carmelo Anthony criticized Lyles too, saying he’s taking shots at the NBA because track-and-field isn’t as profitable as basketball.
The tension grew when reports surfaced that Lyles skipped an Adidas event meant for Anthony Edwards’ new shoe line last year. Though Lyles later praised Edwards as deserving of a signature shoe, it didn’t smooth things over completely.
Lately, he’s also been in a spat with NFL’s Tyreek Hill , who challenged him to a race after claiming he’d win against the sprinter in a 100m dash.
What do you think about all this drama?
