Over the past couple of weeks, American track and field sprinter Noah Lyles has become the first Olympian sprinter since the great Usain Bolt to become a triple world champion. Among his recent flourish of success, he seemed to have one thing on his mind that was eating away at him; that being NBA players using the title of “world champion” after winning the NBA title.
“Do you know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA finals, and they have ‘world champions’ on their heads,” Lyles said. “World champions of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong, I love the U.S. at times… But that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, and putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA.”
His controversial statement didn’t sit too well with a strong number of NBA players.
Kevin Durant, a former MVP, who also won three Olympic gold medals, along with one world championship gold, shared his displeasure when the American track star said this. “Somebody help this brother,” Durant wrote on Instagram. KD’s all-star teammate, Devin Booker, added facepalm emojis under the post to show his agreement amidst the controversial comments.
Among other notable NBA players, and perhaps some of the greatest to ever play the game, rumors are now circulating that LeBron James has committed to play on team USA men’s basketball team during the 2023-24 season next year. Notably, James has spoken to Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Draymond Green.
Also, Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, Dallas’ Kyrie Irving, and Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox have also been vocal about serious interest in committing to the team next year as well. On paper, it seems as if they have assembled one of the greatest teams in history.
Additionally, the team will star head coach Steve Kerr, arguably one of the greatest NBA coaches ever. If Team USA men’s basketball keeps the same coaching staff as this past summer’s coaching staff, legendary Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will also aid Kerr for the 2024 Paris Olympics, along with Clipper’s Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga’s Mark Few assisting them.
While the perennial all stars above are the most likely to commit to the 2024 USA men’s basketball team, some other stars such as Mikal Bridges, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and this year’s MVP Joel Embiid have shown some high interest in playing alongside the legends. Although Embiid was born in Cameroon, he holds dual citizenship from the U.S. and France, so if he does decide to commit to USA’s team next year, he would be an easy lock for the starting center position.
Now knowing all of this info, we might still remain with some questions. Can LeBron James successfully complete this journey since last suiting up for the Olympics in 2012? Of course, changes can happen from now to then, but if this team stays true, what do we call it? We’ve had the infamous Dream Team, the Redeem Team, so perhaps is this the The Supreme Team?
Sources: (theathletic.com), (www.gq.com)
