Two-time world champion Sha’Carri Richardson endorsed six-time world champion Noah Lyles’ sentiments about NBA players labeling themselves world champs when they compete nationally during the regular season.
At a press conference, Lyles got candid about NBA players calling themselves world champions when their competitions are national.
Noah Lyles has had just about enough of US sports teams calling themselves world champions. pic.twitter.com/CTgNawYRLi
— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) August 25, 2023
“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,” Lyles said. “World champion of what? The United States.”
The track star continued, “Don’t get me wrong, I love the US at times, but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There are no flags in the NBA. We gotta do more. We gotta be presented to the world.”
Richardson supported Lyles’ statement in a quote tweet.
“I’m standing with Noah on this one! @LylesNoah, the organization have players from different countries, but do they compete against different countries? You have to go against the world in order to be a world champion.”
I’m standing with Noah on this one !! @LylesNoah the organization have players from different countries but do they compete against different countries. You have to go against the world in order to be a world champion!! https://t.co/UYlEBgKIdg
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) August 28, 2023
She tweeted after defending Lyles that she was a world champion.
I am a world champion !!!
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) August 28, 2023
The NBA is a United States-based organization that grew internationally during the mid-1980s. NBA teams do play globally with the NBA Global Games, a series of games NBA teams participate in outside of America and Canada. However, the global games occur during the pre-season, which doesn’t count toward the teams’ regular season record.
However, the pre-season record can help determine how the regular season will go.
