NBA Players Clap Back at U.S. Track Star Noah Lyles' 'World Champion' Comments

Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Damian Lillard are among the NBA players to respond to Lyles.

United States track and field star Noah Lyles raised eyebrows with his recent comments in which he was critical about NBA players referring to themselves as “world champions” after winning an NBA title.

“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?” said Lyles.

Those comments reached a slew of NBA stars, who took to the comment section on Instagram to raise issue with what Lyles said.

Among those to weigh in and respond were Suns’ duo Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, and Nuggets’ reigning NBA champion Aaron Gordon, among others. 

Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and other NBA players respond to Noah Lyles' comments. pic.twitter.com/O1eApkNpFG

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 28, 2023

“Somebody help this brother,” wrote Durant, while Booker commented a face-palming emoji.

“Whatever... I’m smoking buddy in the 200m,” wrote Gordon. 

Lyles, 26, enjoyed a successful weekend at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where he won three gold medals. He’s the world’s No. 1 ranked 200m runner and is in the top five in the 100m, according to World Athletics. He was feeling confident after his strong showing, and didn’t hold back when discussing the NBA.

A six-time world champion, Lyles feels that because the NBA only plays in the United States and Canada, they shouldn’t consider winning a ring to be on the same plane as a world title.

Juan Toscano-Anderson’s comment cleared the air in that regard. 

“Last time I checked, the NBA was the best competition in the WORLD,” wrote the former Lakers, Jazz, and Warriors guard.