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Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin share insights on meeting NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant after a heated controversy.
Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin recently opened up about their unforgettable experience meeting NBA superstars LeBron James and Kevin Durant at the 2024 Paris Olympics, an encounter that came after Lyles' controversial comments questioning the legitimacy of the NBA's claim to being "world champions."
The tension surrounding the controversy added a layer of suspense to the already intense atmosphere, especially when both sprinters found themselves on the same stage as some of the NBA's biggest stars during the opening ceremony.
In August 2023, Lyles became the center of a sports-world debate when he called out the NBA's self-proclaimed title of "world champions."
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His comment—"World champion of what? The United States?"—sparked a public uproar, especially within the basketball community.
With the NBA largely competing within the U.S., Lyles’ remark raised questions about the global scope of the league’s championship.
"When we were at the Olympics opening ceremony, we're on the boats. I was like, this is gonna be so freaking awkward because now we're all gonna be on the same f*** boat, and everyone's like KD's there, Bronze there, Jason Tatum's there. Bams there. Anthony Edwards there. And I'm just like, 'what the hell is gonna happen,' and like it was like a scene out of a movie, like an Italian mob movie. All went pissed up, and Noah like dapped him up and everything, and I was just like 'thank God,'" Benjamin recalled during an exclusive interview on the 'Beyond the Records' podcast.
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The incident could have easily escalated into an uncomfortable confrontation, but according to both sprinters, it turned out to be much more cordial than expected.
Lyles, who recently earned two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics—gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m—reflected on his earlier comments regarding the NBA’s "world champion" title with a mix of humor and sincerity.
"I have no animosity toward the NBA. Basketball was my first love. I'm not wishing for the downfall of anybody. The reason I brought that up was to show that the NBA does a good job, with its marketing strategy. They're actual world champions, but they've ingrained the idea so deeply that you can't tell anybody anything else," Lyles explained.
His perspective offered some clarity on his controversial remarks, pointing out that his words weren’t meant as a direct attack on the NBA or its players but rather as a critique of the league's marketing.
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Junelle Bromfield was heavily criticised for supporting American Lyles in Paris instead of compatriot Kishane Thompson, something that did not go down well with Jamaican,
Despite the tension, Lyles emphasized that both LeBron James and Kevin Durant were incredibly cordial when they met.
Lyles even mentioned how he was relieved by the lack of lingering hard feelings, as he had anticipated a more awkward encounter.
"It was like nothing ever happened," Lyles said, noting the respect shared between the sprinters and the NBA stars.
For Benjamin, the moment was a reminder of the complex dynamics between different sports communities, particularly when it comes to the limelight and media portrayal.
"At the end of the day, we're all athletes, we're all just trying to do our best," he added.
The conversation about the 'world champions' controversy continues to ripple through the sports world, but for Lyles and Benjamin, meeting the NBA stars at the Paris Olympics highlighted the mutual respect among athletes from different disciplines.
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