Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has taken a dig at 200m world champion Noah Lyles. Lyles and Edwards have shared a history of their own, rising from their sponsorships with the billion-dollar apparel brand, Adidas, a few years back.
What Did Anthony Edwards Recently Say About Noah Lyles?
The controversy between Lyles and Edwards arose in 2023, when the American athlete declined to attend the basketball star’s Adidas shoe launch event. According to reports, Lyles also wanted a shoe line from the brand, but the brand didn’t pay a high price for it, leaving the track athlete discontent with the decision.
Moreover, during that time, in an interview with The Times, Lyles also called out Adidas’ decision to offer Edwards a shoe line while ignoring him, despite Edwards’ achievements in track and field. Lyles later clarified that he had a Hugo Boss fashion event in line, so he had to forgo Edwards’ shoe launch.
However, this led to a bit of a cold relationship between the two, as evidenced by Edwards’ recent Instagram post. The post features a list of nominees for different sections of his personal creation, Believe That Awards. In the “Hater of the Year” section of these awards, Lyles found himself in the top position.
Moreover, in another gesture, Edwards has reserved all four nominees for the “Sneaker of the Year” award for his signature Adidas AE1 shoes. The caption of his post read:
“Believe That Awards on YT at 4pm! Lock in! Tap In! Subscribe! Like! All da above!”
Notably, Lyles isn’t the only prominent figure on Edwards’ “Hater of the Year” list. NBA legends such as Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley have also found their place in this list.
Lyles Expressed His Discontent With Adidas Amid Edwards Controversy
Lyles made his feelings known about his discontent with Adidas amid the controversy surrounding Edwards. In an interview with Cam Newton, Lyles revealed that he is still “frustrated” with the brand, as they blatantly ignored his proposal for a signature shoe line. He said:
“I said (to Adidas) that Anthony Edwards has a shoe, and I already am a six-time World Champion, and I am prophesying that I’m going to be the Olympic champion. I believe I have done enough to prove that my worth is given a signature shoe — or at least to have the conversation about it. They said that it was not their department. At that time, I was frustrated with them, still am.”
Besides his controversies, Lyles has had an impressive 2025 season, during which he was crowned the 200m Diamond League and world champion.