Ex-NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas Offers Advice to Noah Lyles to Repair His Image

Ever since his comments resurfaced from 2023 in which he threw NBA players under the bus for not earning the “world champion” moniker, USA track and field star Noah Lyles has been public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of both NBA players and their fans.

Lyles didn’t help his case either when he refused to show up at a launch party for Anthony Edwards’ shoe release with Adidas, but there’s at least one former NBA star who’s coming to his defense — three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas.

“I don't think he should have been hated,” Arena’s said on his “Gil’s Arena” podcast . “I was cheering for [him]. I was like oh he's an American player, I want all Americans to win all the [expletive] medals. … But (the fans) see someone hated, and I'm like ‘Man, just the way people think about your name, you have got to do a rebrand.’”

Arenas believes part of why Lyles, who won gold in the men’s 100 meters and bronze in the men’s 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is so heavily criticized is because of the arrogant demeanor he gives off.

Lyles made himself an easy target with his boisterous comments and the apparent vendetta he has against non-Olympic gold medalists and NBA players, in particular.

“How many pictures did you take with other athletes?” Arenas asked. “Did you go to any other American events? Because we're seeing that Sha'Carri Richardson is at the NBA game, she's at the swimming, and we're seeing other athletes go support each other.

"So I'm trying to figure out did another player take a picture with you champ? So the fact that you are not relatable, you have to sit back and say, ‘Damn dog I'm too great to not be recognized by other athletes.’”

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