Sprinter Noah Lyles Disses Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards Over Adidas Shoe Deal
U.S. track and field star Noah Lyles has once again voiced his opinion about the NBA, this time targeting Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.
The 27-year-old sprinter shared that he was thrown off when his sponsor, Adidas, invited him to a shoe event for Edwards's first signature sneaker, the Adidas AE1, during their contract negotiations.
"You want to do what? 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?," Lyles told Sean Gregory of TIME.
Lyles previously gained notoriety for his remarks questioning the legitimacy of the NBA champions' claim to the "World Champions" title last year.
"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?,” the 2024 Paris Olympics 100m event gold medalist added.
Edwards's AE1 sneaker was first released to positive reception in late 2023. Following the success of the shoe, the 22-year-old signed a contract extension with the German sportswear company last month, reportedly worth eight figures per year.
Noah Lyles Wants His Own Signature Shoe
The six-time World Athletics Championship gold medalist also signed a new deal with Adidas in February 2024. Although the terms have not been disclosed, it is reportedly the most lucrative track-and-field endorsement contract in the post-Usain Bolt era.
After winning the men’s 100-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lyles did not hesitate to express his desire for a signature shoe with the Three Stripes brand.
“I want my own shoe. I want a sneaker … Ain’t no money in spikes. Even Michael Johnson didn’t have a sneaker," he said after the event.
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