Li Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images

Knicks' Jalen Brunson Reacts to USA Star Noah Lyles' Comments on Anthony Edwards

Scott Polacek

Noah Lyles is drawing reactions from NBA players again.

Comments the track and field star made in June during a discussion with Sean Gregory of Time resurfaced Sunday when New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson responded:

Lyles appeared to take something of a shot at Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards when he took issue with Adidas inviting him to a shoe-release event:

"'You want to do what?' says Lyles. 'You want to invite me to [an event for] a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals? In a sport that you don't even care about? And you're giving him a shoe?' No disrespect: the man is an amazing athlete. He is having a heck of a year. I love that they saw the insight to give him a shoe, because they saw that he was going to be big. All I'm asking is, 'How could you not see that for me?'"

Lyles first drew the attention of the NBA world in August of last year when he said teams that win the Larry O'Brien Trophy should not call themselves "world champions" since the league is made up of teams in just the United States outside of the Toronto Raptors.

"You know the thing that hurts me the most is that 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 U.S., at times, but that ain't the world."

That led to plenty of reaction from players around the league:

Lyles seemed to still be on the minds of the United States men's basketball team considering its post following its victory over France in the gold-medal game on Saturday:

The Americans defeated France 98-87 thanks in large part to Stephen Curry putting on a show. The Golden State Warriors star finished with 24 points and five assists on 8-of-13 shooting from deep and drilled four triples in the final three minutes.

Lyles earned himself some hardware as well, taking home the gold medal in a thrilling 100m race and then capturing bronze in the 200m run. However, it was revealed after the 200m that he competed despite being diagnosed with COVID-19, and he was visibly struggling in the aftermath of the race.

While his comments about Edwards happened months ago, Lyles has been in the news because of the Olympics.

That led to them being resurfaced and even more reaction from the NBA world.

   

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