NBA hoops were at its peak when the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks dueled it out in the 90s.
Who could forget John Starks’ dunk in 1993?
Then there’s Xavier McDaniel’s smack talk in ’92…
What about Charles Smith missing four straight?
You can’t forget about Scottie Pippen and Patrick Ewing jawing……
These are all snippets of memorable NBA Playoff moments that have been ingrained in the mind, hearts and souls of not just Bulls and Knicks fans, but of NBA fans globally.
Just as cool? Those classic moments shaped the career of former Bull and Knick legend Joakim Noah when he was a child.
Drafted ninth overall by the Bulls in the 2007 NBA Draft, Noah played nine seasons with the team and while there, he became a two-time NBA All Star and a two-time NBA All Defensive first teamer.
After vet years served in the Windy City, the native Manhattanite signed with the Knicks in 2016 where he played for roughly two seasons.
“It was always a pleasure to play in The Garden,” recounted Noah to Scoop B Radio.
“I think that those 90s teams were very inspiring to me and it’s the reason why I played the way that I play because those were the teams I grew up watching.”
The son of 1983 French Open tennis winner Yannick Noah, Joakim developed a basketball jones at age 12 when he attended the 1997 McDonald’s Championship.
The tournament featured six teams and the tourney’s headliner featured a bald gentleman with a signature Nike shoe.
You might have heard of him. Yep, his name is Michael Jordan.
“Michael Jordan was playing in that game and it was an inspiring moment for me,” recounted Noah.
“I don’t remember any highlights from that game, but I remember Manute Bol was on the court; the tallest man in NBA history. I remember Chris Mullin being on that court.
Noah was hooked!
“Just being a 12 year old kid and seeing your heroes, your super heroes playing live,” he said.
For Those Keeping Score At Home: Jordan’s Bulls beat Olympiacos in the Championship Finals.
“Just seeing Michael Jordan. It was just very inspiring. Then I got to play for the Bulls for ten years. So it was a full circle moment for me.”
While Noah played for the hometown Knicks toward the end of his career, hoop lifers remember him for his work as a Chicago Bull.
“Playing against the Knicks was always weird because I grew up a Knicks fan,” recounted Noah.
“Growing up in New York City, but, Chicago is a special place to play as well. Very nostalgic.”
Statistically, Noah was a force to be reckoned with in the Chi during the 2013-14 NBA season.
Under then-head coach Tom Thibodeau, he averaged 12.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per game and was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Noah’s performance for the Bulls in Game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics was memorable.
With under a minute left in the third overtime, Noah jumped the passing lane. He stole the ball from Paul Pierce and went coast-to-coast for an and-1 dunk.
Noah’s quotable moments as a Bull were just as impressive.
During the 2010 NBA Playoffs, Noah talked about how Cleveland is a boring city leading up to the Bulls’ 2010 playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When asked about it after a loss, Noah responded with the most direct question of all time.
“Do you like it,” Noah asked reporters.
“Do you think Cleveland is cool?”
“I mean I never heard anybody say I’m going to Cleveland on vacation. What’s so good about Cleveland?”
Years later, Noah upped. the ante on his logic: “I never left my hotel,” he told Scoop B Radio.
“And I haven’t been in Cleveland since. So, I can’t tell you too much about it.”
But, Noah does give Cleveland, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love their props for putting the 216 on the map after winning the 2016 NBA Finals. “They definitely did,” Noah said.
Speaking of LeBron James, the Akron Hammer and Noah almost became Los Angeles Lakers teammates during the summer of 2019.
Imagine a world where two Eastern Conference rivals in James and Noah joined forces and then hoisted the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy the following year.
“I tried, but they picked Dwight instead,” joked Noah.
“You can’t beat that!”
With Howard as a key role player, the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals in the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Florida. Noah watched and says he has no regrets.
“I don’t think so,” he said.
“Everything happens for a reason. They were a great team. I think LeBron James did a really good job of leading that team; in the bubble especially. You’re away from your family or you didn’t have your family. I think he did a really good job.”
Post-NBA career, Noah’s staying busy. A Bulls team ambassador, he’s spearheaded his non-profit, Noah’s Arc, a Chicago based initiative which zeroes in on violence prevention initiatives with sports-based programs.
Noah’s still got his eyes on today’s NBA and the youth movement.
Million Dollar Question: Does Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and his on-court game remind him of his former Bulls and Knicks teammate, Derrick Rose? “I think so,” he said.
“I see it. I see a lot of similarities. They’re definitely hood favorites. It’s cool. I think there’s similarities in their explosiveness. Physically I think D-Rose is a little bit more explosive. There’s definitely differences in their game.”
Noah also weighed in on which current NBA players remind him of his style of play during his hey-day. “I don’t think there’s another Joakim,” he said.
“Everybody’s different. You have similarities and certain things. But, maybe Draymond. I would say. Draymond would be the closest. I think he can shoot it a little better. But I think the way he leads, the way he passes the ball, the energy I see that he plays with I think those are all similarities.”
