Drake joins NBA players in firing back at track star Noah Lyles, who recently criticized the NBA Finals winners for being labeled world champions.

Lyles questioned the validity of the term “world champion” in the context of the NBA, as the league primarily represents the United States and Canada without broader international representation.

The rapper, Drake joins NBA players as he serves as an ambassador for the Toronto Raptors. He took issue with Lyles’ comments and expressed his support for his NBA friends.

Drake’s humorous response came in the form of a comment on a repost of Lyles’ remarks by Akademiks, indicating that Lyles’ speech didn’t have the impact he might have anticipated. Notably, other NBA figures also joined in criticizing Lyles’ perspective.

Kevin Durant, Aaron Gordon, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo, and Austin Rivers all responded with varying degrees of disbelief and criticism towards Lyles’ viewpoint.

They pointed out that the NBA is home to some of the best basketball players in the world and that winning an NBA championship is a significant accomplishment that warrants the “world champion” label.

While Lyles went on to achieve success at the 2023 World Championships by securing three gold medals and a 200-meter sprint double, he has yet to respond to the backlash and critiques from NBA players.

The episode highlights the pride and camaraderie within the NBA community and how statements about the league can spark spirited responses from both players and those affiliated with the sport, like Drake.