Where's the lie, though? The NBA isn't the world. Calling yourself "world champion" for winning a domestic league is so American.
NBA players infuriated over Noah Lyles’ ‘world champion’ comments
https://nypost.com/2023/08/28/nba-players-infuriated-over-noah-lyles-world-champion-comments/
@LiberalLibrarian MLB also says "world championship"... though it does at least include a second country (slightly).
@LiberalLibrarian Oh yeah... I forgot about them. But then I don't follow basketball much.