Longtime Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah to retire, per report

Joakim Noah, whose game helped usher in the era of versatility for big men in today's NBA, is "effectively" retiring from basketball, The Athletic reported Monday. 

Noah, who turned 36 last week, spent the first nine nine seasons of his career with the Chicago Bulls and it is expected he will retire as a member of the organization, according to The Athletic. He was a two-time All-Star and won Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014. 

Chicago drafted Noah ninth overall in the 2007 draft out of the University of Florida. With the Bulls, he first served as a complement to Derrick Rose, but became more of a focal point under coach Tom Thibodeau after Rose injured his knee and never returned to MVP form. 

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) dives for the loose ball during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. (Photo: Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)

The 6-foot-11 center could score down low, step outside the paint for jumpers, distribute the ball to teammates for scoring opportunities and protect the rim on the defense. His first All-Star campaign arrived in 2012-13, when he averaged 11.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and four assists. The next season, he went for 12.6-11.3-5.4 and finished fourth in MVP voting. 

Noah will also be remembered for being a foil to LeBron James, starting with James' first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010, as the two exchanged words during free throws. Noah then famously disparaged the city of Cleveland. Their feud lasted through the 2015 playoffs, when James was called for a technical after dunking on Noah and they confronted each other once more. 

After the 2015-16 season, in which he started two games, Noah signed a four-year contract with his hometown New York Knicks. He eventually was assigned to the G-League before being waived in October 2018. He played the rest of that season with the Memphis Grizzlies

Last year, Noah joined the Los Angeles Clippers for one game prior to the NBA suspending its season due to the coronavirus. He appeared in five games in the bubble and appeared in two games (1:52 total playing time) during the postseason. 

He was waived by the Clippers on Dec. 1. 

Noah's professional career followed back-to-back national championships with the Florida Gators men's basketball team. 

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

Source: Read Full Article