Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back when responding to Team USA track star Noah Lyles’ comments about NBA players calling themselves world champions.
Noah’s remarks, which criticized the NBA’s use of the term “world champion,” didn’t sit well with Smith.
Noah stated, “What bothers me the most is seeing the NBA Finals with ‘world champion’ emblazoned on their heads. World champion of what? The United States?” He continued, “Don’t get me wrong, I love the U.S. at times, but that’s not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here competing, thriving, proudly representing their flags. The NBA doesn’t have that.”
Smith initially criticized Noah, labeling his opinion as ignorant.
However, a text message from his friend, actor Boris Kodjoe, opened his eyes to a different perspective.
In the text, Kodjoe clarified that Noah’s comments weren’t intended to belittle any player or their skills.
Instead, Noah was highlighting the American tendency to label a national competition as a world championship. Kodjoe explained that true world championships involve global contests where individuals and teams represent their respective countries, vying for a world title.
Watch SAS explain below:
Kodjoe used the Premier League in England as an example, acknowledging it as arguably the best football league globally. Yet, no one would refer to a team like Manchester United as world champions because it would be factually incorrect.
Smith, upon realizing Kodjoe’s point, promptly apologized to Noah Lyles for previously calling his perspective ignorant. He acknowledged that although the NBA boasts many international players and global viewership, this doesn’t equate to them being world champions.
Smith learned the importance of listening to differing viewpoints and remaining open to the possibility of being wrong. He concluded by emphasizing that just because something is a tradition doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right, and in this case, labeling NBA champions as world champions was indeed incorrect.
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