"It was just out of context" - Devin Booker bluntly counters Noah Lyles' 'NBA world champion' remark
Devin Booker and Noah Lyles are again representing Team USA in basketball and track and field, respectively. Booker helped the Americans to a gold medal finish in Tokyo while Lyles finished third in the 200m despite coming in as the favorite. This year, the Phoenix Suns star went to the Stade de France to cheer for his compatriot.
Lyles made headlines last year following his three-gold romp at the World Championships in Budapest. Lyles topped the 100m and 200m sprints before helping the Americans rule the 4x100m relay.
After winning his events, the sprinter mocked the “World Champions” tag attached to every NBA championship-winning team. He said that league titlists shouldn’t be called as such because they are not competing against countries on the world stage.
Devin Booker, fellow Suns superstar Kevin Durant and other NBA players trolled Noah Lyles’ on social media for the assertion. On Monday, “Book” was asked by “The Athletic” about his reaction roughly a year ago following Lyles’ gold-medal-winning performance in France. Booker responded:
“I still don’t agree with the comment. 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.
“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.
Countries aren’t competing in the NBA but the players come from all over the world. It is the biggest league hosting the best players across the globe. For Booker, the international flavor of the league entitles the winners to be called “World Champions.”
Devin Booker and Noah Lyles continue their hunt for a gold medal
Noah Lyles is aiming to become the first American to win the 100m and 200m sprints in one Olympic since Carl Lewis did it in 1984. It remains to be seen if a contingent of the men’s basketball team will be around to watch Lyles go for history.
While Lyles is looking for another gold in track and field, Devin Booker is hoping to lead his team to a gold medal. Waiting for the Americans in the quarterfinals in men’s basketball are the Brazilians. Team USA is the heavy favorite to clinch the semifinals but the players will not take Brazil for granted.
Noah Lyles and Devin Booker aren’t on the same page when it comes to calling an NBA winner “World Champion.” But, both are united in trying to give more honor to Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.