[Saba Sports News] Noah Lyles, the American athlete, faced criticism for questioning the NBA’s tradition of calling their Finals winner the “world champions.” Despite the backlash, Lyles reaffirmed his stance after Team USA’s elimination by Germany.
Lyles acknowledged the amusing aspects of his comment, such as Drake taking notice, but he remained steadfast in his view. He expressed frustration with the backlash on platforms like TikTok and Twitter, where he saw himself constantly mentioned.
Critics argue that the NBA is the best basketball league globally, with over 100 foreign-born players on NBA rosters. Lyles acknowledged the NBA’s excellence but insisted on the importance of playing against the rest of the world to earn the “world champs” title, emphasizing the distinction between the national and global sides of sports.