French · New York City, United States · Born 25 February 1985Joakim Noah is a French-American former basketball player who won the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award as the emotional leader of the Chicago Bulls.
Joakim Noah won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013-14 while recording five triple-doubles in the same season — the most assists by an NBA center in a single year since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968 — a combination of defensive impact and playmaking from the pivot that his position had rarely delivered at that level.. He lived in Paris from 1988 to 1998 before returning to New York, and starred at the University of Florida, leading the Gators to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007 and being named the 2006 Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. The Chicago Bulls selected Noah ninth overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, and he developed into one of the league's most respected defensive players and emotional leaders over a decade in Chicago. His signature season came in 2013-14, when he recorded five triple-doubles — the most assists by an NBA center in a season since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968 — earned his second consecutive All-Star selection, and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, becoming just the second Chicago Bull to win the award after Michael Jordan. Noah went on to play for the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2020, finishing his 13-season NBA career with career averages of 8.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Holding French, American, and Swedish citizenship, Noah represented France internationally, making his senior national team debut in 2009 and helping the team to a EuroBasket silver medal. The Chicago Bulls honoured him with 'Joakim Noah Night' in 2021, naming him a Bulls ambassador.
2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and emotional leader of the Chicago Bulls
How They Played
High-energy defensive anchor with elite rebounding, shot-blocking, and unusually strong passing for a center
Lasting Impact
Remembered as one of the most passionate, defensively dominant centers of his generation and a fan-favourite in Chicago
Career Honours
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2014)
- All-NBA First Team (2014)
- 2x NBA All-Star (2013, 2014)
- 2x NCAA champion (2006, 2007, with Florida)
- 2006 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | 2007–2016 | — |
| New York Knicks | 2016–2018 | — |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2018–2019 | — |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 2019–2020 | — |
French Athletes