NBA Rumors: Now that Joakim Noah is all but out the door in Chicago, one can only wonder what spoiled what seemed to be a match made in heaven
The Chicago Bulls missed the playoffs this season, under first year head coach Fred Hoiberg, and the team was much different than the Tom Thibodeau led Bulls of the past.
Under Thibs, those teams battled injuries and fought till the very end, while these Bulls – under the tutelage of Hoiberg – lacked a true identity and simply underachieved. Meanwhile Joakim Noah, a mainstay of Thibs’ Bulls and their emotional leader, played in only 29 games and had his season ended by a shoulder injury.
Noah is going to be a free agent this summer and has reportedly already informed some of his teammates that this season was his final one in the Windy City.
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Although, it wasn’t too long ago that Joakim Noah was inseparable from the Chicago Bulls, and was at the heart of the team’s identity. Noah, a two-time champion at the University of Florida, was drafted with the 9th pick of the 2007 draft by Chicago. He started 31 games that year, 55 the next, and averaged a double-double in the third.
The man who goes by “Stick-Stickity,” or Sticks for short, proceeded to average a double-double for three of the next four seasons. He was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014, as well as the winner of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014. Noah has battled injuries throughout his career, always opting to play through them when possible, but doing so this season was impossible.
His passion and unwillingness to give up made him a fan favorite, while his tenacity on the court earned the respect of his teammates.
After Noah’s shoulder dislocation on January 15th against the Dallas Mavericks, his teammates were just as devastated as he was. Taj Gibson, a teammate of Noah for his entire career, said:
"[via ESPN]“It kind of hits you in the heart seeing him on the bench, seeing him on that table like that. I kind of got flashbacks to how when Derrick got hurt. You don’t want to see your man go down like that.”"
Derrick Rose, the teammate Gibson was referring to, added:
"[via Chicago Tribune]“It hurt. Just knowing how hard he works, how [much] he wants to be on the court, how much he means to this team. It’s devastating.”"
2015 marked the first time since Noah’s rookie season that the Bulls missed the postseason. Sticks may not have been the team’s leading scorer nor their leading rebounder, if healthy, since he was coming off the bench for coach Fred Hoiberg; but perhaps his intensity and passion was exactly what this team was missing in a highly disappointing season.
At the least he would have provided them with a defensive intensity and commitment which they lacked as a team. The Bulls just didn’t have the grit and fight which they had in years prior, which played part in their lackluster 42-40 record.
Will Joakim Noah return to his double-double average, and elite paint protecting form next season?
The real question is, where will Noah even spend the 2016-17 season? Jo, Sticks, or whatever his new fans will call him can certainly still have an impact. He plays solid defense, is a tenacious rebounder, and is a decent scorer.
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If Joakim Noah can find himself a favorable situation, whether it be off the bench for the young Timberwolves or possibly pitching in more valuable minutes for a contender, he could be a worthy addition to any team that needs front court help.