Counting down the five most memorable moments of Joakim Noah‘s time in Chicago.
It doesn’t seem right that 31-year-old big man Joakim Noah would end his NBA career in any city other than Chicago.
However, the nine-year NBA veteran enters unrestricted free agency this summer, leaving his future in Chicago in question.
The answers he provided in a recent interview with Sportando.com during an adidas camp in Italy further diminished the possibility of him re-signing with the Bulls this summer.
Although nothing becomes official until July 1, all signs seem to point to an imminent divorce between Noah and the Chicago Bulls.
Because Noah is my favorite player, I feel obligated to write some sort of appreciation post. If he leaves, this post serves as a type of tribute.
If he stays, this still serves as a fun reminder of all the great memories Noah has provided Bulls fans over the years.
This slideshow will identify the five most memorable moments of Joakim Noah’s career in Chicago.
I judged moments by the degree to which they affected the trajectory of Noah’s career or the Bulls season when the event occurred. I considered moments in the playoffs as more memorable than those that happened in the regular season.
Each moment occurred within a larger context. This context also influenced my decision when I compiled this list.
Next: 2007 NBA Draft
Draft Day Outfit in 2007
Joakim Noah took an uncharacteristic approach in terms of his draft-night wardrobe.
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The ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft donned a black-striped vanilla suit, a bow tie and his signature crazy hair on draft night. As he posed for a picture with former NBA commissioner David Stern, he flashed a peace sign with his fingers and a crazy smile.
He looked like a freak, a nut job, and a goof.
Many pundits criticized the pick, questioning both his on-court skills and the immaturity he displayed in his college days. His actions and choice of clothing on draft night seemed to confirm these feelings.
Nine years later, Noah has established himself as an outstanding NBA player with a unique way of going about his business. His brash personality and his passion for life and basketball are some of the main reasons why the city of Chicago wholeheartedly embraced him during his time with the Chicago Bulls.
He foreshadowed these personality characteristics perfectly on draft night.
Next: The 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year
Noah wins Defensive Player of the Year Award (April 21, 2014)
The 2013-14 NBA regular season couldn’t have ended in a more fitting way for Joakim Noah.
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At the end of the season, the NBA presented him with the Defensive Player of the Year Award. It was a well-deserved moment of recognition for all Noah did that season for the Bulls.
After Bulls point guard Derrick Rose went down with another devastating injury ten games into the regular season, it looked as if the team would begin to fall apart. Some fans wanted the Bulls to purposely tank so the team could select Chicago-born Jabari Parker in the 2014 draft.
However, Noah wasn’t having any of this.
He took the leadership reins, rallied his teammates around him and helped lead a team with limited talent to 48 wins and a fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Noah also anchored an outstanding defense that finished first in opponent points per game, second in opponent field goal percentage and second in defensive efficiency that season.
Noah’s award was memorable because it provided a tangible benchmark for how far he had come as a player and a person. He went from a player with major personal and skill-based limitations to the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and a fourth-place finish in the NBA MVP voting.
The often-maligned player now had tangible proof that he had made it as an NBA player. He had silenced all those people who had criticized him for so many years.
Next: 'You think Cleveland's cool?'
Joakim Noah vs. Cleveland (April 2010)
Perhaps this no longer applies, but it was funny when it happened.
In a television interview with TNT before Game 1 of a playoff series between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, Noah didn’t hold back when expressing his thoughts on the city of Cleveland.
"I don’t know about this place, man. I just stayed in my hotel room. Every time I look out my windows, it’s pretty depressing here man. It’s bad. It’s bad. No — no going out in Cleveland, man. It’s all factories. (CBS Chicago)"
Later in the press conference, Noah had this to say:
"When asked by a reporter whether the boos he endured during a 96-83 Game 1 loss on Saturday bothered him, he responded: “What? That Cleveland sucks?” (Nick Friedell, ESPN)"
He defended these comments in a post-game press conference after the Bulls dropped Game 2 in Cleveland to go down 2-0 in the series.
"You think Cleveland’s cool? I’ve never heard anybody say, ‘I’m going to Cleveland on vacation.’ What’s so good about Cleveland? (CBS Chicago)"
Part of Noah’s charm is his willingness to say what is on his mind. He keeps it real 100 percent of the time.
For fans of opposing teams, this quality makes him unbearable.
However, for Bulls fans, it was one of the reasons he became so loved in Chicago.
The above quotes helped to define Joakim Noah as the edgy, passionate player that he has been during his time in Chicago.
It also created tension between Noah and LeBron James that blossomed into one of the best one-on-one rivalries in the NBA.
Next: Empire State of Mind
Game 7: Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets (May 4, 2013)
All U Can Heat
The injury-plagued Bulls capped off a thrilling seven-game playoff series by defeating the Brooklyn Nets in Game 7, 99-93.
Joakim Noah scored 24 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and recorded six blocks to lead the Bulls to victory.
The Bulls won without the services of Derrick Rose (injured during the regular season), Luol Deng (botched spinal tap), and Kirk Hinrich (bruised calf) for most or all of the series.
Behind the efforts of Noah, the tenacious Bulls put fourth a heroic effort to win Game 7. For a short-handed team with limited talent, winning a playoff series in any capacity was a fantastic accomplishment.
After the Bulls’ Game 7 victory, Noah told reporters how much this victory meant to him.
"I’m just so proud of this team. We’ve been fighting through so much all year and to be in this situation, play on the biggest stage in the world and to be able to win and now play against the Heat, all these experiences, I (don’t) take those for granted. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. (ESPN)"
Noah’s performance in this game epitomized the culture of perseverance, toughness and effort that allowed the Bulls to be successful during the 2012-2013 season.
The playoff series against the Nets was probably the most memorable playoff series for the Bulls during the Tom Thibodeau era.
Next: 'The Dunk'
Game 6 vs. the Boston Celtics: “The Dunk” (April 30, 2009)
The seventh-seeded Bulls took the defending champion Boston Celtics to seven games in a dramatic first round playoff series in 2009.
Joakim Noah recorded the decisive play in Game 6 that allowed the Bulls to force a Game 7.
With just over 40 seconds remaining in triple overtime, Noah stole the ball from Celtics star Paul Pierce. Noah proceeded to dribble down the length of the court and dunk with one hand on the trailing Pierce.
The game, the play and the dunk will forever hold a special place in Chicago Bulls lore. Noah’s dunk was arguably the most memorable single moment in Chicago Bulls history in the post-Jordan era of basketball.
"This series is a lot of fun for the fans, the people of Chicago, the people of Boston. It’s a lot of fun for us, too, playing in environments like this on the big stage. It’s special to be part of this, and I know that it’s a series people will be talking about for a long time. (ESPN)"
This play also bears personal significance for Noah as the moment when Chicago Bulls fans finally accepted him. Noah’s first two years in the league were tumultuous. He saw very little playing time because of injuries and off-the-court issues.
In January 2008, Noah’s teammates voted unanimously to suspend him for a confrontation at practice with assistant coach Ron Adams. Later that same year, Florida police arrested him for marijuana possession and having an open container of alcohol in his car.
These incidents, coupled with his spotty on-court production, caused many people to believe that the Bulls had made a mistake when they drafted Noah.
All of this changed during the playoff series with the Celtics. The dunk wasn’t a climax to Noah’s career, but an opportunity to foreshadow what he would continue to bring to this team for years to come.
The dunk was so Joakim Noah.
It showcased his hustle and toughness.
After he dunked, he let out one of his signature screams, letting fans know how passionate he is about the game.
The fact it came at such an important moment made it that much more special for Chicago Bulls fans.
Next: Conclusion
If Noah leaves Chicago this summer, it is going to be a very sad moment for the Bulls.
Unfortunately for Noah, the complexion and culture of this team right now is different from what it was throughout his career. His old coach left and many of the players he has played with the longest might also be on their way out the door.
Noah always made Bulls basketball fun to watch, even when the team had limited talent on their active roster. His presence as the emotional leader and spark plug of this team will make him nearly impossible to replace.
If Noah walks in free agency, that will leave the Bulls with more questions than answers regarding how to move forward this offseason.
Next: How to package Taj Gibson and the 14th overall pick for a higher draft pick
At least Joakim Noah fans can hold onto all the great moments he had as a Bull if he does choose to leave Chicago.