After clinching an Olympic gold medal by the slimmest margin in the 100-meter dash Sunday, American sprinter Noah Lyles' past remarks mocking the NBA has resurfaced.

ATHLETICS-OLY-PARIS-2024-MEDALS
Gold medallist US' Noah Lyles celebrates on the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 100m athletics event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP) (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)

The 27-year-old criticized the NBA for labeling winners of a season championship "world champions" despite competing solely against U.S. teams and one from Canada. Lyles made the controversial comments last August at the World Championships in Hungary where he secured three gold medals.

Initially, NBA fans were critical of Lyles' statements, but following his Olympic victory in Paris, some have started to agree with him. "The thing that hurts me the most is I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have 'world champion' on their head," Lyles said. "World champion of what? The United States?"

"Don't get me wrong, I love the US, at times, but that ain't the world," Lyles added. "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 ain't no flags in the NBA."

Athletics - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 10
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 05: Gold medalist Noah Lyles of Team United States (C), Silver medalist Kishane Thompson of Team Jamaica (L) and Bronze medalist Fred Kerley of Team United States (R) celebrate on the podium during the Men's 100m medal ceremony on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Many fans argued NBA teams compete for cities or states' bragging rights, as some teams feature jersey colors resembling their city's flag, like the New York Knicks.

"The cojones of this guy calling out NBA stars for pretending to be world champions - when they're not! - then beating the world to be Olympic 100m champion - are gigantic," British broadcaster Piers Morgan tweeted on Sunday.

"Congrats @LylesNoah - you talked the talk and just walked the walk," Morgan, 59, continued with several hand-clap emojis.

The NBA isn't the only American sports league using this term, as the NFL and MLB also call their champions "world champions."

Eiffel Tower, Olympics 2024
A general view of the Eiffel Tower ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 22, 2024 in Paris, France. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The MLB has one non-American team, while none of the NFL's 32 franchises are outside the U.S.

The Florida native now shifts his focus to the 200-meter dash, where he holds the title of reigning world champion.

The reigning world champion recently discussed the potential of surpassing Usain Bolt's world record.

Usain Bolt
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

In a conversation with Olympics.com, Lyles reflected: "When you reach the top, you start to ask yourself, 'What do I need to do to be considered the greatest when I leave the sport,' " asked Lyles after winning the 200 meters at the US Olympic Team Trials 2024. "Breaking a world record is one of two goals I still want to achieve: winning an Olympic gold and setting a world record."

To achieve his first goal, he must outperform competitors like Jamaica's Bryan Levell and Canada's Andre De Grasse. Then, he will aim to break Bolt's 15-year-long 19.19-second world record to make history.

Tags
NBA