Ranking the five best Chicago Bulls players of the decade
By Luke Askew
2. Joakim Noah
To this day, Joakim Noah is one of the most beloved Bulls of all time.
Noah had awe-inspiring passion for the game, a tornado-like jumper (this was truly a spectacle), unmatched defensive tenacity, point guard-esque playmaking skills and phenomenal hair. He was the people’s champ.
Not only was Noah an amazing character and player, but he was the perfect Robin to Derrick Rose’s Batman. While Rose did most of the scoring and fancy stuff, Noah did the dirty work, anchored Tom Thibodeau’s defense and stepped up as the team’s best player during D-Rose’s injury saga.
Noah never averaged more than 12.6 points per game, but that didn’t stop him from being one of the league’s most valuable players. In fact, he finished fourth in MVP voting for the 2013-14 season, finishing behind three offensive juggernauts in Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Blake Griffin.
Jo’s 2013-14 season was one of the most impressive seasons ever put together by a Bull. He averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in 35.3 minutes per game. Noah’s advanced stats were pretty impressive, too. He led the league in Defensive Win Shares with a monstrous 6.6 (no one has surpassed that number since then).
Noah also ran away with the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2013-14 season. It wasn’t even close.
There isn’t much in the basketball world that would make me happier than a Joakim Noah reunion with the Bulls before he retires. That would be fantastic.