Drake Claps Back at Noah Lyles for Saying NBA Champions Are Not World Champions

• Noah Lyles has had a tough couple of days despite winning three gold medals in Budapest
• He excelled at the 2023 World Athletics Championships but also upset the NBA community
• Rapper Drake also took his time to blast the American sprinter over his divisive comments

Newly-crowned 100-metre and 200m world champion, Noah Lyles, was given a rollicking by NBA stars and fans for saying champions in the basketball league are not world champions.

Toronto Raptors superfan, Drake, decided to chime in on the conversation that went viral on social media - and he did not hold back.

On August 25, the American won the men's 200m final to secure his second gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

However, his win didn't grab the headlines. His presser after the race rubbed some people the wrong way after he controversially called out the NBA for referring to themselves as world champions.

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"I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have world champion on their heads. World champion of what? The United States? Don't get me wrong. I love the U.S. at times. But that ain't the world... We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting and thriving and putting on a flag to show that they are represented. There ain't no flags in the NBA," Lyles said via Eurosport.

The video of Lyles making the remarks went viral with NBA stars, analysts, and fans giving him a brutal dressing-down.

However, former 100m world champion, Fred Kerley, supported his compatriot.

Drake roasts Noah Lyles

Some NBA stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Aaron Gordon blasted Lyles for his comments.

The Canadian rapper joined in in slamming the sprinter.

“He thought this speech was gonna be so hard in the mirror the night before… now the whole league doesn’t rate u,” Drake posted via NBA Central.

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Lyles won three of the USA's 12 gold medals in Budapest. Few athletes have won three gold medals in the same event, and he is among those vaunted few.

The NBA is obviously a domestic competition and is the best basketball league in the world with the best players in the world. For some people, this makes NBA champions also world champions.

Lyles equals Bolt's record

Sports Brief previously reported on Lyles matching Usain Bolt's record after winning the 200m gold in Budapest, becoming one of the few to win three consecutive 200m world titles.

The Jamaican legend actually achieved this feat on four successive occasions during the height of his dominance from 2009 to 2015. Lyles is the third-fastest man ever over 200m.

The other person to have three consecutive world titles is retired American, Allyson Felix. Lyles also became the first person since Bolt in 2015 to win the 100m and 200m at the same event.