Silent Over Noah Lyles Complains, Adidas Honors Anthony Edwards’ Olympics Triumph in Paris

Noah Lyles has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and after the “World champion of what?” drama with the NBA in 2023, it looks like the world’s fastest man has found himself a new sparring partner: “Ant-Man” himself, Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves’ star guard and Team USA’s golden boy in Paris has been shining bright, earning his first Olympic gold medal and quickly becoming a rising star in basketball.

But before either Lyles or Edwards were making headlines in Paris, Lyles decided to take a jab at the young hooper, and their mutual connection to Adidas was the spark. Before the Paris Olympics, Time ran a story on Lyles on June 27, 2024, diving into his intense preparation for the Games. During his 2023 Adidas contract extension negotiations, Lyles said the company tried to throw him a bone, but it felt more like a snub. They invited him to attend Anthony Edwards’ shoe-release event. While Edwards has undeniable talent, Lyles couldn’t help but notice the difference—unlike him, Edwards isn’t a six-time world champion.

Lyles wasn’t having it. He couldn’t believe that Adidas was rolling out the red carpet for Edwards—a guy who, as Lyles pointed out, “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? 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?’” Lyles clearly felt ignored, and the sting just got sharper!

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Despite Noah Lyles bringing home not just a gold medal but also a bronze while battling COVID-19 at the Paris Olympics, Adidas seems to have turned a blind eye to the track star’s achievements. Instead, the brand threw a lavish party in Paris for Anthony Edwards, celebrating his first gold medal. Nice Kicks couldn’t help but highlight the event with a post on X:

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Polls of the dayDo you think Adidas should have honored Noah Lyles instead of Anthony Edwards?

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What do you think about Devin Booker being spotted at Noah Lyles’ event?

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Meanwhile, Lyles is left wondering when his big moment will come. But reflecting on this moment for 23-year-old Edwards, it’s worth noting that after Noah Lyles shared his thoughts with Adidas in 2023, he went on to sign a blockbuster deal with the brand in February 2024, which is reportedly the most lucrative track-and-field contract since Usain Bolt hung up his spikes.

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On February 26, Lyles took to X to drop the big news about his renewed Adidas contract. The post had a line that caught everyone’s attention: “Details of the contract are not available, but the agreement involves extensive commitments both on and off the track and is the richest contract in the sport of track and field since the retirement of Usain Bolt.” Naturally, the internet went wild, with one user, Tee (@realtalkwithtee), asking the burning question, “So if Usain Bolt signed with Puma for 10 million per year, whatttttt the hell did Noah Lyles just sign for yalll???”

The speculation was intense, and even Lyles couldn’t resist jumping in on the fun. With a wink and a nudge, he replied, “That is definitely the 10 million dollar question,” tossing in a speculative emoji for good measure. This playful exchange set social media on fire, with everyone buzzing about just how much Adidas is shelling out for their star sprinter!