Back to the Olympics Newsfeed

'World champion of what?' Noah Lyles' criticism sparks backlash by NBA players

Related Topics: NBA, Noah Lyles

Track and field superstar Noah Lyles sparked a bit of a brouhaha on social media during the weekend with his claim that NBA champions are undeserving of the "world champion" title.

Lyles, 26, won three gold medals at the track and field world championships in Budapest, Hungary last week, including victories in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. At a news conference Friday, he was asked about how to grow or improve his sport and responded, in part, by drawing a distinction between track world champions like himself and those in American pro sports leagues, such as the NBA.