Kevin Durant, NBA players react to Noah Lyles

World title winner in the men’s track and field 100m, Noah Lyles, called out the use of “world title” to describe the NBA championship. ESPN has the clip:

“You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals, and they have ‘world champion’ on their head. World champion of what? The Unites States?”

Noah Lyles on the NBA championship

Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and other NBA players reacted:

Kevin Durant said, “Somebody help this brother.”

KD’s reaction has me weak. It’s the perfect reaction. Noah Lyles’ comment was out of left field, completely unnecessary and just plain wrong. Enjoy your moment without stomping on other dudes.

Let’s dissect Lyles comment.

Technically, the NBA championship is not a world title, but it really is. The NBA unquestionably has the best basketball players in the world. Nikola Jokic – who has won two of the last three NBA MVPs and the 2023 NBA Finals MVP – is from Serbia.

Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo – three of the world absolute best – play in the NBA. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Victor Wembanyama chose to leave France and play in the NBA.

In track and field terms, the NBA is like if the Jamaican track and field team came over, and then you shuffled the players together and competed. Still the best of the best competing.

We also have USA Basketball and the Olympics as proof that the NBA is far ahead of the rest the world in talent, even if you remove the great international players.

When Team USA, which is comprised of NBA players and usually one incoming NBA rookie, puts out a decent effort in FIBA play, they are virtually unbeatable. You don’t even need to send all the best NBA players, just a cohesive unit.

So yes, the NBA championship is a world. Stop hating on the bros.