Bulls Joakim Noah: Im an emotional roller-coaster Joakim Noah long has been one of the NBAs most fiery players. Now the Chicago Bulls center has emerged as one of the best. What motivates him? Winning, family, teammates and more. CHICAGO — Joakim Noah walked into his house after taking his dog to the park and plopped down on a chair in his living room. The room is filled with art created by his mother and a family friend. The art symbolizes life and energy, a perfect metaphor for the guy whose energetic passion for living is on display during every Chicago Bulls game. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, the Bulls All-Star center was reminded he once said, Im not a very skilled player. Im not talented. I used to say Im not gifted, but I take that back, Noah told USA TODAY Sports. I feel more and more gifted, and Im feeling more and more confident in what Im doing and I feel I can still get better. That confidence and belief in his abilities and on-court production has thrust Noah into the MVP discussion, an idea that would have seemed preposterous two seasons ago but a notion supported by coaches, including the Bulls Tom Thibodeau and Boston Celtics Brad Stevens. Its interesting because he has made small steps. Its been incremental, Thibodeau said. And sometimes you dont realize it until you look back and think about where he is today vs. where he was four years. Its significant. With his endearing emotion and endless energy on the court, Noah is an unorthodox MVP candidate. He barely cracks the top 100 in scoring (12.5 points a game) but is sixth in rebounding (11.1), 25th in assists (5.2), 12th in blocks (1.5) and 42nd in steals (1.2). His game is the combination of many offensive and defensive skills, and he has been invaluable to the 45-32 Bulls who are in position to finish in the top four of the Eastern Conference and have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, mostly without injured Derrick Rose and traded Luol Deng. The basketball season, the Bulls, its everything to me, Noah said. One needs to look no further than a play in a recent victory against the Indiana Pacers to see that. Noah defended center Roy Hibbert, forced a missed shot and grabbed a rebound. He let out a primal scream. Later in the game, he walked to the sideline and encouraged fans to get into it. Noah feeds off the crowd, the crowd feeds off Noah and United Center becomes one big circle of flowing energy. Hes a character, Thibodeau said. In a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports, Noah explained the root of his passion (his parents), his bond with Bulls guard Derrick Rose (Hes real), his sometimes contentious but always grateful relationship with Thibodeau (Me and coach butt heads all the time) and his desire to improve the lives of Chicagoans through philanthropic work (Theres a lot of hardship in this city). I see a young man who is developing into who he really is, his mother, Cecilia Rodhe, said. Hes growing into his consciousness and awareness of being responsible and being a leader and being dedicated not only to his passion for playing basketball but also for his dream and I respect that. Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has emerged into a star this season. Click through to take a look at his career. Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has emerged into a star this season. Click through to take a look at his career. Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports FULLSCREEN Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has emerged into a star this season. Click through to take a look at his career. Noah put his name on the map with a stellar performance during the 2006 NCAA tournament, winning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award as a sophomore and leading Florida to their first national championship. Noah decided to forego the 2006 NBA draft and return to Florida for his junior season. He and his teammates were the first to win back-to-back NCAA championships since Duke in 1991 and 1992. Noah and then-NBA Commissioner David Stern after being chosen by the Chicago Bulls as the ninth pick at the 2007 NBA Draft. Noah had an up-and-down rookie year but showed signs of promise towards the end. He averaged 6.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 20.7 mpg on the season. In 2009, Noah shined in his first playoff series, pushing the then-reigning champion Boston Celtics to seven games, including a Game 6 triple overtime thriller which the Bulls won 128-127. In his third season, Noah solidified himself as a starter and became a double-double machine, averaging 10.7 ppg and 11.0 rpg. Noah has grown into one of the leagues premier defenders since being named to the NBAs All-Defensive 2nd Team after the 2010-11 season. In the 2011 playoffs, Noah helped the Bulls reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the Jordan era. Noahs 2012 postseason was cut short when he sprained his ankle in Game 3 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers. With former MVP Derrick Rose mending an ACL injury during the 2012-13, Noah began orchestrating more of the offense with his passing. His 4.0 apg was the highest average for a center since Brad Miller in 2007-08. Noahs elevated level of play earned him his first All-Star nod during the 2012-13 season. Noah battled through a foot injury in the 2013 playoffs but managed to carry the Bulls to a playoff series victory over the Brooklyn Nets, highlighted by a monster Game 7 line of 24 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. Noah is having arguably his best season this year, doing it all for the playoff-bound Bulls. Hes averaging 12.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg and 5.2 apg while being a front-runner for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Inside Noahs house in the Chicago suburbs, pictures of his mom and dad holding him when he was child are prominently displayed. His father is former professional tennis player Yannick Noah of France, and Rodhe is a former model and Miss Sweden 1978. Noah admits the passion for the things he does stems from both parents but in different ways. During a recent Bulls game on TV, a courtside reporter interviewed Yannick as play continued on the court. A fathers pure joy was on display as Yannick smiled, cheered and clapped as his son grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled. If you ever watched the elder Noah play tennis, you see where Joakims passion comes from. Two summers ago, the son watched his fathers 1983 French Open final victory against Mats Wilander. I was just surprised. I saw so many similarities in the way he played tennis and the way I play basketball, Noah said. He was very aggressive in his approach and the way he played, and played with a fire that you didnt see often. He got the crowd into it and pumped up. Noah spent a majority of his teen years living with his mom in New York City after spending ages 3 to 13 in Paris. She nurtured a his mellow, compassionate side while appreciating his love of basketball as kid. It marvels me to see that same passion that made him wake me to make sure he went to practice, Rodhe said. He has that same fire today as he had back then. Passion is a wonderful, marvelous thing. The fire has been enhanced, and its beautiful to watch. Most of the time, the passion manifests in positive ways. Sometimes, it does not, as reflected in his 10 technical fouls this season, tied for ninth-most in the league. He was ejected from a playoff game against the Heat last season and in February he was ejected after two calls didnt go his way against the Sacramento Kings. Noah works on controlling those emotions. But … I take losing really hard, and I really enjoy winning. On the court, Im an emotional roller-coaster, He said. Im definitely somebody who deals with a lot of ups and downs on the court. I put so much into it. In telling symmetry, guess who else has 10 technical fouls this season? Thibodeau. They are not cut from the same cloth, but their desire to win is equal. Oddly, they are a perfect player-coach match, the free-spirited Noah and the buttoned-up Thibodeau. Our coach is the hungriest person Ive ever been around in my life. Period, Noah said. Ive never met somebody who is as competitive as Tom Thibodeau. He wants to win as bad as anybody Ive ever been around. Thibodeau is demanding. Its one reason he is able to extract so much production from his roster. Preparation and effort — Thibodeaus hallmarks — make it tough to beat them. The biggest thing is he wants to win, Thibodeau said. Anybody who is serious about winning youre going to enjoy coaching. Of course, that passion leads to conflict, such as Thibodeau getting on Noah for not rotating on defense or not making the right play on offense. He treats every situation like its a Game 7. Its non-stop, Noah said. Sometimes, Im not like that. Sometimes for players, it cant be Game 7 all the time. And at the same time, you still have to be pushed by your coach, and I understand that. I have great respect for him because I know how much he puts into it. … I know I wouldnt be in the position Im in today if it wasnt him. Noah is one of the best centers in the league, and his offensive improvement this season has been marked, especially in his role as a distributor and playmaker. He is averaging career highs in points and assists and is tied for second in the league with three triple-doubles. Pacers coach Frank Vogel called him a point-center. Hes got the ball in his hands a lot more, Vogel said. Hes obviously a triple-double threat every night. Thats probably the biggest difference. Not that he wasnt capable of doing that last year. With Derrick out, their running their offense through him. Noah leads his team in assists (a rarity for a center), leads all NBA centers in assists and leads all players in assists in the fourth quarter, more than guards John Wall, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry. Hes been their second point guard, Hibbert said. He pushes the pace. He gets people involved. Hes their floor general out there even at the center position and you dont see that a lot. With gangly limbs, long hair and scraggly facial hair, Noah is awkwardly versatile. Hes not the greatest dribbler, but there is Noah, rebounding and going coast to coast for a layup. Hes not the greatest shooter, but there he is taking and making a 16-footer with a knuckleball shot only Noah can love. Hes not a flashy passer, but there he is bouncing a perfect pass to a player cutting to the basket. If people sit on his pass, hes comfortable, Thibodeau said. He can put it on the floor and score. He can post it. He can shoot the 15-, 16-footer and hes making much quicker decisions. Noah gives Rose credit for helping him improve. With Rose sidelined because of injuries, he encouraged Noah to be more aggressive, take more shots and pass with the idea that it will lead to a basket. 4-8-joakim-noah-dunk Noahs offensive strides have come at the right time for the Bulls.(Photo: Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports) Those are things I probably wouldnt have done a couple of years ago, Noah said. With Derrick going down, Im more comfortable making plays now than I ever was and Im getting the ball a lot more. Noah has a deep appreciation for Rose. As Rose has missed all but 10 games of the past two seasons, Noah has been his staunchest supporter, defending him at every chance. He loves the idea of playing with Rose in the city where Rose grew up. He loves being a part of that dynamic. He shares that connection between Rose and city. Hes true to himself, and hes a worker. Hes grinder. Ive been with him since the beginning, and Ive gotten to see him grow, Noah said. Taking basketball away from him, theres nothing tougher. To be out for two years, to have the mental strength hes had through the rehab process. I see him workout out every day just grinding his ass off. I respect that. I cant wait until he gets back. Because of inclination to help others and because of Roses Chicago roots, Noah is active in charitable causes. He and Rodhe started Noahs Ark Foundatio,n which encourages children to strengthen personal identity through art and sports. His mother handles the art, and Noah handles the sports. He has a strong commitment to his community, Rodhe said. The foundation is an important factor that keeps him grounded and keeps it real. Giving back and being engaged in the needs of where he lives is something that gives him strength and gives him a strong sense of balance. Noah is also active with the Peace Tournament, an event which brings gangs together in an attempt to foster peace and reduce violence and murder. He became involved after watching a documentary about Chicagos violence called The Interrupters. Attending the Peace Tournament was probably the most powerful thing Ive ever been a part of it, Noah said. I want to something impactful in Chicago and try to slow down the violence. Thats something Im really interested in. Thats one of my focuses. Its all about balance at the end of the day — doing things to help this city, being involved in the community and being the best I can be on the basketball court and finding time to get on beach and drink a Corona.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 19:01:21 +0000
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