Joakim Noah
Encyclopedia
Joakim Simon Noah (born February 25, 1985) is a professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). Born in New York City to a Swedish mother and French father, he holds American, Swedish and French citizenship. He played college basketball
for the University of Florida
, and was a key member of the Florida Gators
' starting five that won two consecutive NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments in 2006
and 2007
. In 2007, the Chicago Bulls
selected Noah in the first round (ninth pick overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft
.
, and Cécilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden
1978. His paternal grandfather Zacharie Noah
was a Cameroonian professional soccer player, winner of the Coupe de France
in 1961. Noah lived in Paris, France from 1988 to 1998 and returned to New York City at age 13.
He competed on basketball teams at several high schools: the United Nations International School
, Poly Prep, and The Lawrenceville School.
During his freshman year at Florida (2004–2005), he played sparingly, clocking in just 10.3 minutes per game, and averaged only 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest.
Noah made significant improvement in his sophomore year (2005–2006), leading his team in points (14.2 ppg) and blocks (2.4 bpg), while ranking second in rebounds (7.1 rpg) behind teammate Al Horford
(7.6 rpg). Almost unknown at the beginning of the season, Noah's draft stock improved continually. By the end of the NCAA tournament he was considered by many to be the top college prospect in the country, and had he declared for the 2006 NBA Draft
he very likely would have been taken first or second. However, Noah, along with teammates Al Horford
and Corey Brewer
announced at their national championship celebration that they would return for their junior seasons. Noah and the Gators would go on to repeat as champions.
(MOP) of the NCAA Tournament's Minneapolis Regional after leading the Gators over top-seeded Villanova
in the final game with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks. On April 3, 2006, Noah led the Gators to a 73–57 win over UCLA
for the school's first NCAA Basketball Championship, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. In the finale, he posted 16 points, 9 rebounds, and a championship game record 6 blocks.
selected Noah as the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft
. Noah and his teammates at Florida, Corey Brewer
and Al Horford
, became the highest picked trio from the same college in the history of the NBA. Horford was chosen third overall by the Atlanta Hawks
, and Brewer was chosen seventh overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves
. On November 6, 2007, Noah made his regular season debut off the bench after missing the first three games with a sprained ankle. He posted 2 points and 4 rebounds. Noah averaged 6.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during the 2008–09 regular season.
Noah played a key role in game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference first round playoff series between the Bulls and the Boston Celtics
. In the final minute of the game's third overtime period, with the score tied at 123–123, he stole the ball from Paul Pierce
and dribbled down the court (unusual for a center) for a dunk, drawing Pierce's sixth foul in the process. The Bulls went on to win the game 128–127, though they would lose the series in Game 7.
damage in Noah's hand, he would have surgery and miss 8 to 10 weeks. Noah was averaging 14 points and 11.7 rebounds in the 24 games prior to his injury. He returned to action in the 55th game of the season on February 23 after recuperating from right thumb surgery. He scored 7 points and had 16 rebounds in just over 24 minutes. He returned to the inactive list for games 74, 75 and 76.
, although he also could have been eligible for the American or Swedish team. "The French National team is definitely something that has been in my dreams for a while," he said. He was officially made a French citizen on April 11, 2007. Noah speaks fluent French.
Noah made his first appearance for the French national basketball team
on August 9, 2011 in the friendly match against Spain
where he scored 6 points with 3 rebounds.
Noah then joined the French team at EuroBasket 2011
.
possession of marijuana in Gainesville
, Florida. A few hours later, Noah was also cited for driving with a suspended license and not wearing a seat belt. He was sentenced to six months probation, a $200 fine for the marijuana and open container charges, and a $206 traffic fine.
Noah divides his time between Chicago and Florida during the off-season.
Noah, along with Bulls teammate Luol Deng
support the Barclays Premier League team Arsenal F.C.
.
and currently wears their basketball shoes. Noah is also sponsored by the BSN supplement brand.
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Chicago
| 74 || 31 || 20.7 || .482 || .000 || .691 || 5.6 || 1.1 || .9 || .9 || 6.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Chicago
| 80 || 55 || 24.2 || .556 || .000 || .676 || 7.6 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.4 || 6.7
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Chicago
| 64 || 54 || 30.1 || .504 || .000 || .744 || 11.0 || 2.1 || .5 || 1.6 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Chicago
| 48 || 48 || 32.8 || .525 || .000 || .764 || 10.4|| 2.2 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 11.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 266 || 188 || 26.2 || .516 || .000 || .714 || 8.4 || 1.6 || .7 || 1.3 || 8.5
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Chicago
| 7 || 7 || 38.7 || .510 || .000 || .760 || 13.1 || 2.3 || .9 || 2.1 || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Chicago
| 5 || 5 || 36.6 || .528 || .000 || .947 || 13.0 || 2.6 || 1.8 || 1.4 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Chicago
| 16 || 16 || 33.1 || .411 || .000 || .725 || 10.2 || 2.5 || 1.0 || 2.1 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 28 || 28 || 35.3 || .461 || .000 || .779 || 11.4 || 2.5 || 1.1 || 2.0 || 10.1
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). Born in New York City to a Swedish mother and French father, he holds American, Swedish and French citizenship. He played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and was a key member of the Florida Gators
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
' starting five that won two consecutive NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments in 2006
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
and 2007
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
. In 2007, the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
selected Noah in the first round (ninth pick overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
.
Early life
Noah was born in New York City in 1985 to French singer and former professional tennis player Yannick NoahYannick Noah
Yannick Noah is a former professional tennis player from France. He is best remembered for being the last French man to win the French Open in 1983, and as a highly-successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams...
, and Cécilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden
Miss Sweden
Miss Sweden , is the title of the Swedish beauty pageant, which ran from 1949-2003, by the female magazine VeckoRevyn and production company Strix in partnership with MTG. The competition qualified delegates to the global contests Miss Universe and first runner ups to Miss World...
1978. His paternal grandfather Zacharie Noah
Zacharie Noah
Zacharie Noah is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who won the Coupe de France in 1961 with UA Sedan-Torcy. Noah, who played as a defender, had previously played for Stade Saint-Germain....
was a Cameroonian professional soccer player, winner of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
in 1961. Noah lived in Paris, France from 1988 to 1998 and returned to New York City at age 13.
He competed on basketball teams at several high schools: the United Nations International School
United Nations International School
The United Nations International School is a private international school in New York City. It was founded in 1947 by families who worked for or were associated with the United Nations. The school was founded to provide an international education, while preserving its students' diverse cultural...
, Poly Prep, and The Lawrenceville School.
College career
Noah made significant improvement in his sophomore year (2005–2006), leading his team in points (14.2 ppg) and blocks (2.4 bpg), while ranking second in rebounds (7.1 rpg) behind teammate Al Horford
Al Horford
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso is a Dominican professional basketball player who is a center and power forward for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association...
(7.6 rpg). Almost unknown at the beginning of the season, Noah's draft stock improved continually. By the end of the NCAA tournament he was considered by many to be the top college prospect in the country, and had he declared for the 2006 NBA Draft
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
he very likely would have been taken first or second. However, Noah, along with teammates Al Horford
Al Horford
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso is a Dominican professional basketball player who is a center and power forward for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association...
and Corey Brewer
Corey Brewer
Corey Wayne Brewer is an American professional basketball player who is a small forward and shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association . He played college basketball for for the University of Florida, where he starred on the Florida Gators teams that won...
announced at their national championship celebration that they would return for their junior seasons. Noah and the Gators would go on to repeat as champions.
2006 NCAA Tournament
Noah was named the Most Outstanding PlayerNCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
At the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
(MOP) of the NCAA Tournament's Minneapolis Regional after leading the Gators over top-seeded Villanova
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in the final game with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks. On April 3, 2006, Noah led the Gators to a 73–57 win over UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
for the school's first NCAA Basketball Championship, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. In the finale, he posted 16 points, 9 rebounds, and a championship game record 6 blocks.
Early career
The Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
selected Noah as the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. Noah and his teammates at Florida, Corey Brewer
Corey Brewer
Corey Wayne Brewer is an American professional basketball player who is a small forward and shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association . He played college basketball for for the University of Florida, where he starred on the Florida Gators teams that won...
and Al Horford
Al Horford
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso is a Dominican professional basketball player who is a center and power forward for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association...
, became the highest picked trio from the same college in the history of the NBA. Horford was chosen third overall by the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, and Brewer was chosen seventh overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. On November 6, 2007, Noah made his regular season debut off the bench after missing the first three games with a sprained ankle. He posted 2 points and 4 rebounds. Noah averaged 6.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during the 2008–09 regular season.
Noah played a key role in game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference first round playoff series between the Bulls and the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. In the final minute of the game's third overtime period, with the score tied at 123–123, he stole the ball from Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
and dribbled down the court (unusual for a center) for a dunk, drawing Pierce's sixth foul in the process. The Bulls went on to win the game 128–127, though they would lose the series in Game 7.
2009–10 season
During the 2009–10 season, Noah averaged 10.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He only played 64 games due to injury, though. The Bulls once again made the playoffs securing the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, Noah averaged 14.8 points per game and 13.0 rebounds, but the Bulls lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round in five games. On October 4, 2010, Noah agreed on a 5-year contract extension with the Chicago Bulls.2010–11 season
On October 4, 2010, Noah signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension with the Bulls. On December 15, 2010, the Bulls announced that due to ligamentLigament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
damage in Noah's hand, he would have surgery and miss 8 to 10 weeks. Noah was averaging 14 points and 11.7 rebounds in the 24 games prior to his injury. He returned to action in the 55th game of the season on February 23 after recuperating from right thumb surgery. He scored 7 points and had 16 rebounds in just over 24 minutes. He returned to the inactive list for games 74, 75 and 76.
International play
Noah plays for the French national basketball teamFrance national basketball team
The French national basketball team is the national basketball team representing France. It is administrated by the Fédération Française de Basket-Ball . The team has been competitive, but has yet to win a major international tournament...
, although he also could have been eligible for the American or Swedish team. "The French National team is definitely something that has been in my dreams for a while," he said. He was officially made a French citizen on April 11, 2007. Noah speaks fluent French.
Noah made his first appearance for the French national basketball team
France national basketball team
The French national basketball team is the national basketball team representing France. It is administrated by the Fédération Française de Basket-Ball . The team has been competitive, but has yet to win a major international tournament...
on August 9, 2011 in the friendly match against Spain
Spain national basketball team
The Spanish national basketball team is the basketball team representing Spain in international competitions, organized and run by the Spanish Basketball Federation...
where he scored 6 points with 3 rebounds.
Noah then joined the French team at EuroBasket 2011
Eurobasket 2011
EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's European Basketball Championship, held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Lithuania. This was the second time Eurobasket had been held in Lithuania, the country having also hosted the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to...
.
Personal life
On May 25, 2008, Noah was arrested for having an open container of alcohol and misdemeanorMisdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
possession of marijuana in Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, Florida. A few hours later, Noah was also cited for driving with a suspended license and not wearing a seat belt. He was sentenced to six months probation, a $200 fine for the marijuana and open container charges, and a $206 traffic fine.
Noah divides his time between Chicago and Florida during the off-season.
Noah, along with Bulls teammate Luol Deng
Luol Deng
Luol Deng is a South Sudanese-British professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls and the Great Britain national basketball team. He plays the small forward position.-Early life:...
support the Barclays Premier League team Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
NCAA
- 2006 Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(AP) All-SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
First Team - Named an Honorable Mention All-American by AP.
- Most Outstanding Player in the 2006 Final Four2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
- NCAA Men's Division 1 basketball champion – 2006,2007
Sponsorship
Joakim Noah is sponsored by Le Coq SportifLe Coq Sportif
Le Coq Sportif is a French company producing sports equipment such as shoes, shorts, and T-shirts. It was founded in 1882 by Émile Camuset, but the first clothing items branded with the rooster appeared in 1948...
and currently wears their basketball shoes. Noah is also sponsored by the BSN supplement brand.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
| 74 || 31 || 20.7 || .482 || .000 || .691 || 5.6 || 1.1 || .9 || .9 || 6.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Chicago
| 80 || 55 || 24.2 || .556 || .000 || .676 || 7.6 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.4 || 6.7
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Chicago
| 64 || 54 || 30.1 || .504 || .000 || .744 || 11.0 || 2.1 || .5 || 1.6 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Chicago
| 48 || 48 || 32.8 || .525 || .000 || .764 || 10.4|| 2.2 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 11.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 266 || 188 || 26.2 || .516 || .000 || .714 || 8.4 || 1.6 || .7 || 1.3 || 8.5
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
| 7 || 7 || 38.7 || .510 || .000 || .760 || 13.1 || 2.3 || .9 || 2.1 || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Chicago
| 5 || 5 || 36.6 || .528 || .000 || .947 || 13.0 || 2.6 || 1.8 || 1.4 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | Chicago
| 16 || 16 || 33.1 || .411 || .000 || .725 || 10.2 || 2.5 || 1.0 || 2.1 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 28 || 28 || 35.3 || .461 || .000 || .779 || 11.4 || 2.5 || 1.1 || 2.0 || 10.1
See also
- 2005–06 Florida Gators men's basketball team
- 2006–07 Florida Gators men's basketball team
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators basketball players