Track and field star Noah Lyles has shown that time and good conversation, can heal even the sharpest of sporting disagreements.
The reigning world champion, known for both his blistering speed and outspoken personality, made headlines in 2023 when he boldly called out the NBA over its use of the term “world champions.”
During a press conference with letsrun.com at the 2023 World Championships, Noah Lyles remarked.
“The thing that hurts me the most is I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head. World champion of what? The United States… I love the U.S…but that ain’t the world.”
His statement sparked immediate backlash from the basketball world, with NBA stars and legends weighing in. Among them was Lakers icon and 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Carmelo Anthony, who addressed the controversy on his podcast.
Anthony fired back at the time, saying,
“The reason why we call ourselves world champs over here is because of what I said earlier, this is our game. The world comes to us to get the game.”
The exchange seemed to cement tension between the two sporting greats. However, nearly a year later, the narrative has taken an unexpected and refreshing turn.
From Criticism to Connection
In a recent video shared by Sports Business Journal on LinkedIn, Noah Lyles spoke openly about a conversation he’d had with Carmelo Anthony. Surprisingly, the two now appear to share mutual respect, with Lyles revealing a personal connection that goes beyond the headlines.
“I had recently had a talk with Carmelo Anthony, and he’s been here since the first one. Well, it’s funny because we have the same attorney, and he told me about his wine company,” Lyles said, referring to VII(N) The Seventh Estate, Anthony’s wine label.
Despite their public disagreement last year, Lyles seemed genuinely impressed by Anthony’s ventures off the court.
“Yeah, and I was like ‘what, that’s so cool’, here you are, an athlete who has his own wine company, because so many people think you’re just there. But I’ve also played with the same concept. Why is it that I’m not finishing a race, popping a bottle of my own champagne into the crowd?” Lyles reflected.
Eyes on London and Beyond
Noah Lyles is gearing up for the London Athletics Meet on July 19, a key stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit. It’s a city that holds special memories for Lyles.
In 2023, he clocked a stunning 19.47 in the 200m, besting Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo in a memorable showdown before embarking on a historic World Championships sweep in Budapest.
Last year, he struck gold again in London, this time in the 100m, with a personal best of 9.81, later bettering it to 9.79 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Now at 27, Lyles is sprinting full throttle toward the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, with London poised to be a crucial milestone in his journey.
