Excessive partying may have been responsible for Joakim Noah‘s downfall in New York, the former Knicks center says in an interview with Chris Vernon of Grind City Media (hat tip to Chris Iseman of USA Today).
Noah has looked much better since signing with the Grizzlies last week, averaging 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds through five games. While those are modest numbers, they are far better than what he posted during two frustrating years with the Knicks.
“I remember after the first game (in New York) I probably had like 60 people in my house,” Noah said. “I’m too lit to play in New York City. Memphis is perfect for me.”
Noah, 33, admits he had the same party habits earlier in his career, but added, “We were lit in Chicago, but I was young. You recover faster, you know?”
Noah was a two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year with the Bulls before receiving a four-year, $72MM offer to join the Knicks in 2016. He battled injuries in his first season with the team, appearing in 46 games, then played just seven more last year before being suspended following an altercation with former New York coach Jeff Hornacek in practice.
The Knicks waived Noah before the start of this season, using the stretch provision on the remainder of his contract.
“It happened so fast,” Noah recalled. “One year I’m playing 35 minutes a game. And then injuries started piling up. I got this crazy deal with the Knicks, and then the next thing you know I’m not playing anymore. Get kicked off the team. It was a crazy time. I wasn’t sure I was gonna get an opportunity to play again.”
“I got the call from Memphis. … I decided that this was a good fit,” Noah said. “I’m just really, really happy to be here.”
Lmao can’t believe Phil Jackson ever gave this clown all that money.
Scam artists pay attention. Here we have a very stupid human being with millions of dollars. Do your business.
That guy grabbed hold of the man bun look and never let go.
Just to be clear, I’m pretty sure he just admitted to not holding up his end of the contract by failing to properly prepare. If I’m the Knicks, I go after him to recoup some of the contract.
Great idea. Get into a protracted legal battle over whether or not Noah tried his hardest. Involve the courts and the union and the league office – whatever it takes to recover a few million.
Will it scare away free agents? Sure. Will current player agents try to get their clients traded from the Knicks for fear of getting sued? Probably. Will NY media make a big deal out of this, further alienating fans? Definitely.
But a few million dollars makes all of that worthwhile, even for a billionaire like Jimmy Dolan.
Lit?
Only losers speak like that.
Lol imagine really thinking you’re better than people based off your choice in vocabulary.
Nice, the Knicks gave you all that money and you didn’t think it was your duty to get in shape and perform. Oh well.
There is a word for guys like Noah….thief.
And there’s a word for teams that sign them…
Knicks were way too accommodating to Noah from the start, and that never ends well when dealing with a child or a child like adult. They never suspended him for things they easily could have (apart from PED tests that led to the league suspension). Most egregiously, the Hornacek altercation (nobody could have questioned a suspension of at least 30 days, or about 17% of his salary). Waiving him before the season, vs warehousing his contract, was another gift to him.
Won’t be able to get any cash back, sure there wasn’t a clause in his contract regarding this.
What a piece of garbage, stole $72M and adds just enough on to the cap next year that the Knicks needs to make a move to get to max salary range.
What an idiot to admit that…He should be penalized hard! Null and void his due monies and ban him from the NBA
Once a nitwit, always a nitwit.
He’s talking like he’s 60. Dude, you’re 33. Still extremely young…..especially for a guy.
And you take care of yourself like a well-oiled machine.
I’m 34 and I party the same as when I was 23, and I’m fine.
Sounds like an excuse.
This guy is clown shoes.