Noah Lyles continues NBA beef by shading league’s best player

If Noah Lyles hadn’t already captured the NBA world’s attention, he certainly has now.

The Paris Olympics 100m gold medalist recently admitted he had never heard of Nikola Jokic, widely regarded as the best basketball player globally and a three-time NBA MVP.

“I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know who that is,” Lyles said to Shannon Sharpe on the “Night Cap” podcast when asked about international players making an impact in the NBA.

Sharpe raised the issue during a discussion about whether NBA champions should be labeled “world champions” or just winners of the U.S.-based league. Lyles, who argued in 2023 that NBA champions shouldn’t be called world champions, reinforced his position by asserting that the holders of the Larry O’Brien Trophy are simply champions of a national league

 

Lyles also admitted to having “zero clue what basketball is” and confused the 73-9 Warriors with the 72-10 Bulls while discussing the 2016 NBA Finals.

 

 

Still feeling disillusioned?

 

During the interview, Lyles appeared somewhat resentful when discussing how NBA players are highly celebrated compared to himself and other Olympians. He mentioned that he didn’t receive a hero’s welcome after his successful return from the Paris Olympics.

“There was no parade waiting for me. I had my mom and dad ready to take me home, and I was just looking forward to going to bed,” Lyles said about his return from Paris.

Lyles’ critical comments about the NBA have sparked significant backlash, with stars like Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker accusing him of seeking attention. Additionally, Carmelo Anthony recently criticized Lyles for disparaging the NBA, suggesting his frustration stemmed from the lower earnings in track and field compared to basketball.

 

The controversy grew when it was reported that Lyles declined to attend an Adidas event last year meant to launch Anthony Edwards’ new line, although Lyles later denied the report, praising Edwards as a deserving player.

Lyles has also been involved in a public dispute with NFL player Tyreek Hill, who challenged him to a race after claiming he could beat the sprinter in a 100m event.