Before the 2023 FIBA World Cup finals in Manila and after winning gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Noah Lyles expressed a controversial view about whether NBA champions should be called World Champions.
Despite facing criticism from many NBA superstars, the Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo supported Lyles in a recent episode of the ’48 Minutes’ podcast.
“I wanted to back him up so badly,” Antetokounmpo said. “He received so much backlash for saying the obvious, but some people don’t understand it. Maybe there’s just an arrogance in it.”
Following Germany’s victory in the Philippines, the Bucks superstar commended them, echoing Noah Lyles’ initial statement.
“Germany won the 2023 FIBA World Cup and they can say ‘We are the World Champions.’ They beat the USA and then they beat the Serbian national team.”
During the 2023 #FIBAWC, American athletics superstar Noah Lyles shared his opinion on whether NBA winners should be called "World Champions" 🤔
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 13, 2023
Giannis Antetokounmpo totally stands with him, explaining Germany is the only team that can do it now 🇩🇪https://t.co/I6S7yGGniY
