Joakim Noah is currently away from the Knicks, but he made his first public appearance in weeks during the All-Star break. The former Defensive Player of the Year was spotted at a party hosted by NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein. Marc Berman of the New York Post spoke to Goldstein about Noah’s rare appearance.
“I’ve known [Noah] a long time, I spoke to him last night,” Goldstein said to Berman. “I asked him if he was going to be all right, that I’m a little worried about you. He said don’t worry about him, everything’s going to be fine.”
We noted on Saturday that a confrontation in late January between Noah and head coach Jeff Hornacek allegedly turned physical. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Hornacek shoved Noah and the two men had to be separated, though Berman’s sources dispute that Hornacek pushed Noah. The veteran center has not been back with the team since then as the Knicks have tried him and the remainder of his near-$38MM salary for the next two seasons.
Check out additional Atlantic Division notes down below:
- This All-Star weekend has been just the latest chapter in Joel Embiid‘s improbable journey from third overall pick to oft-injured big man to NBA All-Star. Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post writes that Embiid contemplated retirement on several occasions as injuries mounted and doubt about his future grew. “At some points, I wanted to quit,” the Sixers‘ center said. “There were surgeries after surgeries, and I didn’t really believe in myself. I didn’t feel good about my body.” After a productive weekend in the Skills Challenge and All-Star game, Embiid’s once doubtful future is the most certain it has been.
- The deal between Mikhail Prokhorov and Joe Tsai for a 49% stake in the Nets will reportedly be finalized in the coming weeks, sources tell Net Income at NetsDaily. Per the reported details, Tsai will initially gain control of 49% of the Nets with an option to take full control in 2022.
I am so glad that Joel Embiid didn’t give up on his career. He is a transcendental player and a hilarious human being who deserves to be watched and appreciated during his lifetime. Actually his talking to Al Horford at the all-star game about who is actually the GOAT and Embiid saying that Wilt’s numbers and the fact that he was so athletic is a talking point lets me know that he is a true student of the game trying to make his own mark. Best wishes to you forever Joel Embiid, we don’t deserve you so please ball out and make us talk about it.
Embiid can legit become the best player. Team could be great too.. Need to scrub out 1 dimensional bench players though. Need forwards with higher % FT that rebound and can score a lil. If they miss out on any real FA… swing a low-key trade for Evan Fournier and make some moves below.
In – Ersan Illyasova
Out – Amir Johnson
In – Quincy Acy
Out – Trevor Booker (outlier year for FT%)
Out – Justin Anderson/Jerryd Bayless