Noah Lyles has once again stirred up controversy in the NBA world, as comments he made prior to the Olympics have resurfaced and gained attention online.
During an interview with TIME’s Sean Gregory in June, Lyles took a swipe at Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. Lyles expressed his desire for a signature sneaker with his sponsor, Adidas, and was unhappy when the brand invited him to an event promoting Anthony Edwards’ new shoe.
“‘You want to do what?’ Lyles questioned. ‘You want to invite me to an event for a guy who hasn’t even made it to the NBA Finals? In a sport you don’t even prioritize? And you’re giving him a shoe? No disrespect—he’s an amazing athlete, having a great year. I appreciate that Adidas sees his potential. But I can’t help but wonder, how did they overlook that with me?'”
One of those who reacted was Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, joking that when he read the quote, he thought it was from the notorious fake Twitter account “NBA Centel”, rather than the actual account “NBA Central”.
Damn I thought this was Centel https://t.co/jgTuPK0JIH
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) August 11, 2024
This is not the first time Lyles has upset the NBA community. Last August, he caused a stir by questioning the idea of NBA champions being referred to as “world champions,” considering that the league is predominantly made up of U.S. teams, with the Toronto Raptors being the only exception.
“You know what hurts me the most is having to watch the NBA Finals and seeing ‘world champion’ on their heads,” Lyles stated last year. “World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong, I love the U.S., sometimes, but that’s not the world.”
His comments received backlash from NBA players throughout the league.
Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Damian Lillard were among the top players who responded to Lyles.
Despite all the talk, the track star proved himself in Paris this year by winning gold in the men’s 100m sprint. Lyles also took home bronze in the 200m despite battling Covid.
READ MORE: Noah Lyles Responds to ‘World Champion’ Backlash
