Noah Lyles NBA world champion controversy, explained: Why USA track star took shot at basketball league

Count Noah Lyles among the more outspoken American athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics. The self-proclaimed fastest man in the world, who proved it by winning gold in the men's 100m final at the 2023 World Championships, is no stranger to controversy.

Just under a year ago, Lyles made some comments about the NBA that made their way back to the league's best. Those statements are resurfacing as he begins his Olympic campaign. The 27-year-old will take part in the 100m and 200m races as well as the 4x100m relay at the Paris Games.

Some of the basketball players Lyles' comments reached are his teammates at these Olympics, but there's no evidence of any bad blood boiling up in Paris. Still, in this one instance, Lyles managed to get under their skin.

Here's what happened when the Team USA track star took a shot at the NBA last year, stirring up some controversy along the way.

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What did Noah Lyles say about the NBA?

In an August 2023 press conference at the end of the World Championships in Budapest, Lyles criticized the NBA's notion of labeling its title winners as world champions.

"You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have 'world champion' on their head," he said. "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...We are the world."

He went on to mention that track and field meets like the World Championships have many countries represented and aren't dominated by teams and athletes from one place.

MORE: Olympics track and field results

NBA players react to Noah Lyles comments

Lyles' comments made their way back to members of the NBA, who had their fair share of opinions on the subject.

Among those who put in their two cents were Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard and Aaron Gordon .

But Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who plays for the Greece national team, defended Lyles' position.

“I wanted to back him up so bad, you know,” Antetokounmpo said. “He received so much backlash for saying the, like, obvious.”

Noah Lyles 2024 Olympic schedule

Saturday, Aug. 3

Sunday, Aug. 4

Monday, Aug. 5