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NBA: 10 Players Who Must Prove Themselves In 2016-17

By Michael Saenz

Apr 5, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) reacts during the second half of Tuesday night
Apr 5, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) reacts during the second half of Tuesday night /
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Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Joakim Noah (13) complains about a foul call against him during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 130-105. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Joakim Noah (13) complains about a foul call against him during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 130-105. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

Joakim Noah, New York Knicks

Ironically, there’s another player in New York that needs to prove himself this upcoming season. Like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah will be playing for a ton in 2016-17. While Noah won’t be playing for a new contract like his teammate, he will be trying to prove that he’s worth the huge contract that he just signed this offseason.

With Robin Lopez now in Chicago, Noah will be asked to control the frontcourt and protect the paint on the defensive end. While he won’t be asked to do much, if anything, on the offensive end, that’s still a tall ask for a player that has seen precipitous drop in his game over the last two seasons.

While healthy has a lot to do with that, Noah is on the wrong side of 30 and has probably seen his best days in the NBA.

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