Devin Booker's True Feelings On Noah Lyles' Olympic Gold After 'World Champions' Beef

Devin Booker possesses enough pride for country to be happy for Noah Lyles. Just don't think the Phoenix Suns superstar's longstanding disagreement with the world's fastest man is over entirely.

After Lyles secured Olympic gold in the 100m on Sunday in an instant-classic photo finish, Booker was asked to address the sprinter's controversial remarks from last summer on NBA title-winners not actually being real "world champions."

"I still don’t agree with the comment,” Booker told Sam Amick of The Athletic . “I feel like all the best talent in the world is in the NBA, and this is coming from an Olympic gold medalist (who believes) that being an NBA champion is probably harder to do.”

Lyles ignited a widespread beef between he and NBA players last August after winning three golds at the World Athletics Championships, quipping that the "thing that bothers him most" is NBA players declaring themselves global champions.

"Champion of what?!," an incredulous Lyles asked rhetorically. "The United States?! Don't get me wrong, I love the U.S. at times, but that is not the world."

Booker made sure to specify that Lyles' epic victory in the 100m was "crazy" and "great for America," sending his fellow gold-medal winner congratulations.

Don't be fooled into assuming any lingering animus Booker and his NBA peers may hold for Lyles has thawed completely, though.

“The statement was said,” he said of Lyles' past comments. “I think how it was said — you know, it was just out of context. I feel like it was something that was weighing on his heart for a long time. He’s gained a following since then. He held it down, though, so congrats to him.”

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