Like most Americans who watch the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, New York Knicks guard Josh Hart felt overwhelming pride for the Stars and Stripes. That is, with the exception of one Team USA athlete.
During Thursday's episode of the “Roommates Show” podcast with his teammate Jalen Brunson, Hart admitted that there was one event, more specifically one person, who he hoped would see him go home empty-handed.
Josh Hart walks off the court after losing to the Indiana Pacers 130-109 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second round playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
“I feel like for most of these Olympics I was very patriotic. I wanted Team USA to win gold in almost every event,” Hart began.
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“Oh my God,” Brunson interrupted, apparently aware of what he was going to say. “You can save yourself and let it go and move on, bro, because there's no reason…”
“There's no reason to do this now. Just be patriotic, shut your mouth and move on,” Brunson added, before goading Hart. “You've said what you had to say. But if you had to continue your statement, what would you have said?”
“I really wanted him to lose,” Hart laughed. “I think that was the first time that everyone NBA Twitter “They came together and they were just hating. I was hating and I was like, 'Damn. You know what, respect. I can't even hate anymore. You can talk all you want.'”
Josh Hart of the New York Knicks watches the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in game seven of the Eastern Conference second round playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
So who was the mystery athlete? The Knicks duo Is this a reference to American track star Noah Lyles?
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LETSILE TEBOGO SUBTLY CRITICISES 'ARROGANT' AND 'LOUD' NOAH LYLES AFTER 200 METRES FINAL
Lyles, 27, took gold in the men's 100 meters before settling for bronze in the 200 meters final after contracting COVID-19, ending his Olympic run there. However, the apparent feud between Lyles and Hart dates back to Lyles' dig at NBA players last year.
After winning three gold medals at the 2023 world championships, she has come under fire for suggesting that other athletes, such as NBA players, have the right to call themselves world champions.
American track star Noah Lyles celebrates winning the gold medal after winning the men's 100m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have the word 'world champion' in their head. World champion of what?” Lyles said at the time. “Of the United States? Don't get me wrong. I love the United States sometimes, but that's not the world. That's not the world.”
The comments did not sit well with the NBA community at the time, and those feelings apparently still linger.
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While Lyles claimed the United States' first gold medal in the men's 100 meters since 2004, the men's basketball team continued its dominance, winning its fifth consecutive gold medal. It was its 17th gold medal in 20 Olympic Games.
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