The NBA stars’ feud with athlete Noah Lyles reached its peak during the 2024 Paris Olympics Games.
New York Knicks star Josh Hart recently made a confession during an appearance on the Roommates Show with teammate Jalen Brunson.
While discussing the Paris Summer Olympics, Hart revealed that he had been rooting against American sprinter Noah Lyles, who has infamously drawn the ire of NBA fans over his past comments.
The Knicks shoot guard told Brunson: “For most of these Olympics, I was patriotic, I wanted Team USA to win gold, but I really wanted him [Noah Lyles] to lose. I think this was the first time all of NBA Twitter really banded together”
Lyles had stirred up a storm last year when he publicly questioned the NBA’s use of the term “world champion” to describe the winners of the NBA Finals.
In a now-famous comment, Lyles said, “You know what hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head.
“World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S. ā at times ā but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world.”
The sprinterās comments did not go down well with many NBA players, including Hart, who felt that Lyles had undermined the league.
Despite his initial feelings, Hart ultimately gained a new level of respect for Lyles, after the sprinter claimed gold in the 100-metre race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hart revealed his newfound respect for Lyles, saying, “I was just hating, but then I was like, dang, respect, I can’t even hate it anymore.”
Although Lyles was unable to claim a second gold medal in the 200 metre race, settling for a bronze medal after a bout with COVID, it seems the 27-year-old has done enough to earn the respect of his sworn enemies.
