[Saba Sports News] US Olympic sprinter Noah Lyles ignited a debate about the term “world champions” when he criticized the NBA’s use of it during the World Athletics Championships last month. This debate still rages on, even after Team USA, featuring NBA stars, secured only fourth place at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
In an episode of the “Back On Figg” podcast released on Tuesday, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers reinforced his belief that NBA champions rightfully earn the title of world champions. He argued that if the top NBA team embarked on a global tour, they would outperform other leagues worldwide. Lillard countered critics by highlighting that many top players from other teams in the World Cup also play in the NBA.
While Lillard’s viewpoint is valid, as demonstrated by NBA players like Dennis Schroder and Bogdan Bogdanovic in the World Cup, the tournament also showcased standout performances from non-NBA players like Andreas Obst and Aleksa Avramović.
Critics of Lillard’s stance often emphasize the lack of a definitive global competition to settle the “world champions” debate.
While it’s widely accepted that an NBA team would be heavily favored to win in international competitions, the absence of a formal global tournament makes some question the validity of bestowing the title of “world champions” upon the NBA champion.