Devin Booker, the talented star for the Phoenix Suns, has once again found himself at the center of a debate regarding NBA champions referring to themselves as ‘World Champs.’ This discussion was sparked by track and field athlete Noah Lyles, who recently expressed his belief that NBA champions should not use the title ‘World Champs’ as it inaccurately portrays the scope of their achievement. While Lyles’ perspective may have resonated with some, Booker remains firm in disagreeing with this viewpoint.
Booker, known for his sharpshooting and scoring prowess on the basketball court, has never been one to shy away from expressing his opinions. In a recent interview with The Athletic, he made it clear that he stands by the tradition of NBA champions being recognized as ‘World Champs.’
“I still don’t agree with the comment,” Booker told Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I feel like all the best talent in the world is in the NBA, and this is coming from an Olympic gold medalist [who believes] that being an NBA champion is probably harder to do.”
Lyles, who won gold in the 100-meter dash on Sunday, previously questioned why NBA athletes called themselves world champions after winning a title.
Following Lyles’ Aug. 2023 comments, Booker and several other NBA stars disagreed with his message.
Lyles became the first U.S. male athlete to win the 100 meters since Justin Gatlin in 2004, as he was declared the victor following a photo finish on Sunday. He narrowly edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and American peer Fred Kerley, as Thompson and Lyles recorded identical times of 9.79 seconds.
As for Booker, he’s serving as part of a U.S. starting lineup that has gotten off to a strong start during the 2024 games. Despite head coach Steve Kerr’s varying rotations, Team USA has jumped out to a perfect 3-0 record and advanced to the knockout stage with the No. 1 seed.
The Suns star was previously a member of the gold-medal-winning team during the Tokyo Olympics. While LeBron James and Kevin Durant have handled most of the scoring duties for the U.S. in Paris, Booker has thrived as a floor-spacing option.
While opinions may differ on this topic, one thing is certain – Devin Booker’s dedication to the game and his unwavering belief in the significance of winning an NBA championship will continue to drive him toward greater heights in his career.
Flip to the next page to watch Noah Lyes question NBA Champions why they refer to themselves as ‘World Champs’ and the reaction from Devin Booker and other NBA stars…
