A few days ago, we gave you Joakim Noah's thoughts on Yi Jianlian (or something in that neighborhood). Perhaps emboldened by not getting the snot beaten out of him by the Triad, Noah went on the record one more time on draft prospects opting not to compete head-on with the Gator. Asked if he thought prospects insisting on noncompetitive workouts seemed odd considering they are auditioning for physically competitive jobs, Noah answered with a question of his own.This soft glimmer of cajones-tugging came in response to Brandan Wright's refusal to participate in competitive workout for the Celtics. Noah went through the workout along with nominal prospect Courtney Sims of Michigan, while Wright waited until those guys were done to show off his skills for Danny Ainge.
"Is that what you think?" he asked a reporter. When told, "Yes," Noah said, "I feel you."
I'm not trying to demonize Noah, far from it. He's received a tremendous amount of ridicule around the blogosphere despite his fantastic collegiate accomplishments. He's deserved a good bit of that. But he's a competitor of the top flight, and some NBA fan base is going to be damn pleased with him, I'm sure.
But keep slipping in comments belittling your fellow players, Joakim, and you'll wind up right behind Bruce Bowen on the PLEASE PUNCH ME List handed out by Billy Hunter at rookie orientation.
(Via Green Bandwagon.)
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Can you picture anything dumber than Brandon Wright sitting going to dinner with the GM. Chating with Noah and then sitting on his hands during the workout? And of course the reporter with the question was trying to get a good soundbite trying to egg a comment out of Noah.
Posted at 12:48PM on Jun 13th 2007 by Gail
2. Joakim Noah is annoying, but I don't see what was wrong with that comment. He just said he agreed with the reporter, and the reporter is right. Alot of these guys coming out an incredibly underized to be playing in the post, they should want to prove they can at least handle going up against the other top prospects.
Posted at 12:49PM on Jun 13th 2007 by Gina
3. noah is desperate, he must realize he is not lottery talent. He just a energy guy with no shooting touch. he can whine and cry all he wants but any team that picks him in the lottery needs their head examined. Yi would abuse Noah in the post and outside.
Posted at 5:54PM on Jun 13th 2007 by Joey
4. Are we kidding here? Whats the point of auditioning players if you cant see them compete against other players? Maybe we should accept giving all draft prospects some time on nba 2008 or some other video game to see if theyre good...the bottom line is this... Im 6' tall, 200 lbs and can stand at the top of the key and hit 8 out of 10 threes every time...but put a real person, especially an nba lottery pick, infront of me and alots going to change. Defense should be key to some NBA teams( especially my ny knicks) and "non-competitive workouts" seems rediculous! Tell Joakim NY fans would LOVE to see him here.
Posted at 5:56PM on Jun 13th 2007 by bradley silverman