Stephen A. Smith slams ‘flagrantly ignorant’ Noah Lyles comments

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has blasted four-time world champion Noah Lyles over his controversial comments about the NBA.

Stephen A. Smith has blasted Noah Lyles. Photo: Getty Images and ESPN

ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith has slammed US track and field star Noah Lyles after his comments about NBA title winners.

The sprinter, 26, questioned why hoops stars refer to themselves as “world champions” after winning a championship even though the NBA is a domestic league.

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“You know what hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head,” Lyles said after winning three gold medals at the 2023 World Championships.

“World champion of what? The United States?”

A number of NBA stars, including Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Damian Lillard, publicly criticised Lyles for the remark.

And Stephen A. took their side on Monday’s First Take.

Lyles became the fifth man to take the 100m-200m double at the world champs. Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

First, the sportscaster congratulated Lyles for his victory in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash as well as the 4x100-meter relay in Budapest, Hungary, where the tournament took place.

“I’m sure he’s a good brother and a whole bit,” the ESPN star continued.

“He just came across as flagrantly ignorant – and that needs to be said.”

Bro literally said they come to the “NATIONAL” basket ball league and then claims that they WORLD champions😭😭😭

Please make it stop!! It’s enough now😭😂😂😂

How you winning a national comp. and want to claim world champion😭😭😭 Literacy is important mara guys 😂😂 https://t.co/75CpfOq4X6

— Neo Khabele (@Don_Varocious) August 29, 2023

To justify his point of view, Smith pointed out that a vast majority of NBA superstars – such as Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo – currently come from outside of the US.

He then brought up a press release from October 2022 that said the NBA featured 120 players from 40 countries and six continents between the 30 teams at the time.

Stephen A. Smith has unloaded on Noah Lyles. Photo: ESPN

Stephen A. added the number has increased since then, making up nearly a third of the league.

“So how is that not global?” the First Take star asked.

“How is that not the world champion?”

Smith added: “One could easily argue that NBA players compete more against international competition than he (Lyles) does.”

Lyles claimed the gold in the 100m ahead of Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Zharnell Hughes of Great Britain and Northern Ireland while fellow American Christian Coleman came in fifth.

In the 200-meter rush, two USA sprinters joined him in the final top five with Erriyon Knighton scooping the silver and Kenneth Bednarek finishing fifth.

This story first appeared in The US Sun and was republished with permission.