Noah Lyles ignites feud with NBA fans amid claims he shaded Anthony Edwards' Adidas shoe deal.
Noah Lyles is facing more heat from NBA fans amid reports of the hissy fit he allegedly threw in response to Anthony Edwards’ Adidas shoe deal.
The track and field star, who scored two medals during the 2024 Paris Olympics, is accused of criticizing his apparel sponsor, Adidas, for releasing a signature sneaker for Edwards before him.
According to a feature from TIME reporter Sean Gregory, Lyles was offended when Adidas invited him to the shoe-release event for the Minnesota Timberwolves star while in contract negotiations for an extension.
“You want to do what?” Lyles allegedly said. “You want to invite me to [an event for] a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals? In a sport that you don’t even care about? And you’re giving him a shoe?”
“No disrespect; the man is an amazing athlete. He is having a heck of a year. I love that they saw the insight to give him a shoe because they saw that he would be big. All I’m asking is, ‘How could you not see that for me?'”
While Adidas remains mum on the reports, the brand reached a multiyear contract extension with Lyles in February. The six-time world champion and three-time Olympic medalist is said to be adamant about releasing his own signature shoe.
If the reports are accurate, it comes one year after Lyles went viral for questioning why NBA players are referred to as “world champions” when winning a final series.
“You know what hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals, and they have ‘world champion’ on their heads,” Lyles said at the time.
“World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S.—at times—but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA. We gotta do more. We gotta be presented to the world.”
As a result, Lyles faced backlash from NBA fans going into the Paris Olympics, which only heightened amid news of his latest reported comments about a star player.
“Anthony Edwards is more iconic than Noah will ever be btw,” one fan tweeted on Monday, Aug. 12.
“Tearing down others trying to get what you want is always a terrible look. Yikes,” added someone else.
Both Lyles and Edwards walked away with gold medals while in Paris. With two added to his roster, Lyles might have his own Adidas shoe in the works.
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