Retired from the courts for four years now, Joakim Noah nonetheless remains active behind the scenes of the basketball world. Ambassador of the Bulls or active promoter at the BAL, the former French international still manages a particularly full schedule while he awaits the birth of his second son…
In the bathrooms chatting with D-Rose
Voted best defender in the League in 2014, Joakim Noah obviously had strong words to talk about the disappearance of one of his elders, Dikembe Mutombo, who recently died at the age of 58.
“Dikembe is a person who influenced a lot of people during his life. What struck me most about him was his patience and his kindness.” admits Joakim Noah in the podcast All The Smoke. “I remember seeing him early in his career and he was always giving his fans his time. And then, for me, he embodies the idea that we must never forget where we come from. A kid from Kinshasa who started playing basketball at 18. When he arrived at Georgetown, he was studying medicine to become a doctor. I was able to meet him often with the BAL. I will never forget Dikembe, I called him uncle! He deserves all the love he gets. »
The other news that affects him a lot is obviously the retirement of Derrick Rose, his partner with the Bulls. Noah and Rose long embodied the revival of the Chicago franchise, before both ended up succumbing to repeated injuries…
“He is an extremely introverted person. He could put 30 points in your face, and be afraid of post-match interviews with the media. He was incredibly talented and remained true to himself throughout his career. But he wasn't my rookie. He had no task because he was already so good. Our relationship really grew when we started smoking some weed together when he was injured. He had already signed a big contract with the Bulls, with Adidas, but he was injured! We spent a lot of time together on the road, in bathrooms [à fumer ensemble] to put towels on the doors [pour bloquer la fumée]. That’s how we really started to get to know each other. We knew it was forbidden but we needed it to disconnect. It was nothing incredible: we were in the bathroom, talking while smoking. I cherish those moments, that’s when our friendship was born. Until his wedding where I officiated as a priest! [rires] I had never been so stressed in my life! »
Very close to Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah actually played the role of master of ceremonies for the wedding of his former teammate. As silent as possible, while Joakim Noah was very vocal and liked to participate in “trashtalking”, Derrick Rose kept the bills. To fix them later!
“I remember when Brandon Jennings scored 55 points against us. There was a lot of talk on the plane home [à Chicago]showing that Jennings was perhaps going to get the title of rookie of the year. Derrick hadn't said anything. He had closed his mouth. But during a bathroom session together the following season, he admitted to me that it had made him too drunk to hear that at the time. It had motivated him enormously… but, at the time, he said nothing at all! »
Brad Miller changed his life!
Inspired by Derrick Rose's journey in his hometown, Joakim Noah was also advised by another Bulls player, a certain Brad Miller. The pivot ended his career with a stint in Chicago in 2009/10, when Joakim Noah was only in his third season. A freelance which was greatly beneficial to the young Frenchman.
“Duck was the kind of guy who played a game with chewing tobacco in his mouth. He still stood there… Chewing tobacco while you are filling the baskets is not something that everyone can do! “, remembers Joakim Noah. “I will never forget this moment, once, after training, when I was terrible. At the time, I didn't yet have a role on the team. I didn't have many minutes. He took his chewing tobacco and started talking to me, even though I didn't understand half of what he was saying. He's in the high post and he says to me: 'Joakim, listen, you'll never be a low post player, man. What are you doing down there? Come to the high post on hand-to-hand, and if the defense is too aggressive, send the pass to the baseline. It'll open up your game, trust me'. And it actually changed my life. »
Having increased to 11 points and 11 rebounds this same season, Joakim Noah will indeed go on to five years of “double-double” average with the Bulls, including two All-Star caps in 2013 and 2014 and even a presence in the best five of the League, nothing less!
Today, he defends the importance of the development of basketball on the African continent. As Dikembe Mutombo did throughout his career, and as Luol Deng does today.
“Manute Bol sent his salaries to the country so that his village could buy weapons. To fight against genocide. Just talking about it still gives me chills! It's incredible to think of that, of these pioneers from African countries. And behind it, there are guys like Luol Deng who helped build fields in his country and even managed to get his country represented on the biggest world stage in sport, at the Olympic Games. It’s a huge inspiration! And not just for their country, but for the entire continent! »
| Joakim Noah | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | CHI | 74 | 21 | 48.2 | 0.0 | 69.1 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 6.6 |
| 2008-09 | CHI | 80 | 24 | 55.6 | 0.0 | 67.6 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 6.7 |
| 2009-10 | CHI | 64 | 30 | 50.4 | 0.0 | 74.4 | 3.4 | 7.6 | 11.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 10.7 |
| 2010-11 | CHI | 48 | 33 | 52.5 | 0.0 | 73.9 | 3.8 | 6.6 | 10.4 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 11.7 |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 64 | 30 | 50.8 | 0.0 | 74.8 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 10.2 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 66 | 37 | 48.1 | 0.0 | 75.1 | 3.9 | 7.2 | 11.1 | 4.0 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 11.9 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 80 | 35 | 47.5 | 0.0 | 73.7 | 3.5 | 7.7 | 11.3 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 12.6 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 67 | 31 | 44.5 | 0.0 | 60.3 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 9.6 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 7.2 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 29 | 22 | 38.3 | 0.0 | 48.9 | 3.0 | 5.8 | 8.8 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 4.3 |
| 2016-17 | NYK | 46 | 22 | 49.0 | 0.0 | 43.6 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 8.8 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 5.0 |
| 2017-18 | NYK | 7 | 6 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
| 2018-19 | M.E.M. | 42 | 17 | 51.6 | 0.0 | 71.6 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 7.1 |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 5 | 10 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 2.8 |
| Total | 672 | 28 | 49.1 | 0.0 | 70.0 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 8.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
