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After winning the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, Noah underwent major knee surgery that following summer. Since then, Noah wasn’t able to get his legs underneath him which caused him to have a major down year.
Joakim Noah’s bad knees caused him to lose confidence in his game. It felt almost rare at times watching Joakim Noah actually make a layup. His downfall could also be because Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah’s game weren’t compatible together on the court. After making back-to-back Allstar appearances, Noah’s stats dropped to 7.6 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game.
If there ever was a comeback left in the tank for Joakim Noah, he’d have to pull it out this season. Going into a contract year and entering a new system puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders. It’s unknown how Noah will fit in Hoiberg’s system, but he’ll have to carry the load defensively especially since Tom Thibodeau isn’t there to run defensive sets.
With the new salary cap put in place, players are walking away with deal that seem like highway robbery. Joakim Noah really hopes to be on that list after this season is over. The Bulls need to make a decision for trades between either Taj Gibson or Joakim Noah, and all indications point towards keeping Noah and deciding his fate next summer in free agency.
Noah claims he’s fully healthy going into next season, let’s hope he’s right for the sake of Noah and the Bulls organization.
