The Chicago Bulls made a major announcement today at 4 p.m. The last time the Bulls made an announcement like this, at the very same North Suburban resort, Derrick Rose took home the 2011 NBA MVP trophy. This time it was Joakim Noah winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. Noah’s parents, former tennis legend and French pop music star Yannick Noah and former Swedish runway model Cecilia Rodhe, were on hand with other friends and family.
“all the beautiful little hippies,” Joakim Noah said of his sisters who made the trip to the Chicago suburbs.
Joakim Noah named 2013-14 @Kia Defensive Player of the Year https://t.co/r6yRJMB2Gm #KiaDPOY pic.twitter.com/A49jEVea3B
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 21, 2014
“I appreciate you so much. All the work ethic, it all comes from you,” Joakim Noah said to his father, Yannick Noah. Joakim finished fourth in award voting last year, and he’s the second Bull to ever win it- Michael Jordan in 1988. Quite a few former Bulls have won the award, just when they played for Detroit or somebody else.
Joakim Noah finished sixth in the NBA in rebounding and 12th in blocks. He’s the centerpiece of a defense that led the NBA in 91.8ppg against. The very best defense in the league once again coached by Tom Thibodeau.
“We’ve definitely had our ups and downs, our hard times, but without your system, this wouldn’t be possible,” Noah said to Thibs tonight.
“When we hit tough times, there’s nobody you want in the trenches more,” Gar Forman said before joking:
“I want to thank Jo for sabotaging his draft workouts, so that he could fall to us at #9.”
It’s amazing how far Joakim Noah has come. With Derrick Rose again gone due to an injury, this Bulls team is without a superstar. Noah is the closest thing. In addition to the award today, he’s a two time NBA All-Star. Joakim Noah is one of the best centers in the game, and probably the best big man in the East, as well as the finest passing center.
In other words, he’s come light years since the clown college suit and overall silliness on draft night.
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also a frequent guest on national talk radio. Banks is a former contributor to NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, who’s been featured on the History Channel. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)