Noah Lyles NBA Confusion: Get Your Ticket to the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Show

Noah Lyles criticized the NBA for calling their playoff champs "world champions," sparking jokes from NBA players.

In a surprising turn of events, Noah Lyles, the newly crowned fastest man in the world and a Team USA gold medalist, decided to criticize the NBA during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Lyles took issue with the NBA referring to their playoff champions as the world champions, stating that the moniker is unearned. This comment was met with amusement rather than offense from NBA players such as Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, and Juan Toscano-Anderson, who spent the weekend joking about Lyles' statement.

The question that arises from Lyles' comments is whether he truly understands the world of basketball. The gap between the NBA and other international leagues such as Spain's Liga ACB, the Turkish Basketball Super League, Russia's VTB Basketball Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, France's LNB Pro A, and Australia's National Basketball League is significant. Comparing it to the gap between MLS and the Premier League, one can see the vast difference in skill and talent.

One could argue that the NBA's reputation as the destination for Europe's premier talents speaks for itself. European MVPs often choose to play in the NBA as reserves or role players, maximizing their potential and earning lucrative salaries. The NBA pays higher salaries than almost any other sport in the world. One can't help but think of the movie Space Jam, where the fate of the world rested on the outcome of a basketball game. In such a scenario, it is clear that the NBA would be the league to represent the planet, not Real Madrid or CSKA Moscow.

If further evidence is needed to prove the NBA's superiority, one need only look at Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's performance against top European players. Hollis-Jefferson, who struggled to find success in the NBA, showcased his skills against Greece, scoring 24 points with incredible flair and smooth turnarounds. In another game against New Zealand, he continued to dominate, averaging 31 points and nine rebounds on impressive shooting percentages.

Hollis-Jefferson's success highlights the gap between the NBA and other leagues. In the NBA, he was a small-ball four who relied on his defensive skills and struggled to score consistently. The depth of NBA benches is evident when even a player like Hollis-Jefferson, who was never a contender for Sixth Man of the Year, can excel against international competition.

The flow of talent between the NBA and other leagues has been largely one-sided. The NBA attracts the best players from around the world, while other leagues struggle to compete. Occasionally, NBA players past their prime may choose to play overseas, but they are often seeking a league where they can still be the star. However, those who leave the NBA in their prime often become franchise players in their new leagues.

For example, Nikola Mirotić left the NBA after playing a role player role in Milwaukee and Washington, and he has already earned a Spanish League MVP and led FC Barcelona to Spanish League titles. Even reserve EuroLeague guards like Mike James and Shane Larkins have excelled enough to be celebrated with statues. Whether one agrees with Lyles' opinion on the NBA champions deserving the world champion label is a matter of basketball IQ.

When looking at the FIBA World Cup, it is clear that the NBA is the center of the basketball universe. The best players from highly-ranked teams all play in the NBA, and Team USA's roster is deep enough to dominate with their JV squad. The NBA's dominance is so significant that there is no need for a basketball Champions League.

In conclusion, Noah Lyles' criticism of the NBA as world champions is unfounded when considering the vast gap in talent and skill between the NBA and other international leagues. The NBA's reputation as the premier destination for basketball players, the high salaries it offers, and the success of NBA players in other leagues all point to its superiority. The NBA truly is the center of the basketball universe.