Noah ready to work overtime
DEERFIELD | Joakim Noah walked slowly around the Berto Center, somehow outmaneuvering the TV cameras, blinding spotlights, people dashing about with microphones and tape recorders, crowds converging upon him whenever he stopped.
If Monday's Bulls Media Day were any more wild, the first-round draft pick from Florida would've needed a whip and chair.
"It's like a dream come true to be in this situation," Joakim Noah said. "It's awesome. This team has a lot of history, a lot of tradition. I put in a lot of hard work this summer and it's finally here."
You can't miss him at 6-foot-11, 232 pounds and with more hair than a Michigan Ave. salon. Did we mention those ridiculously high expectations?
"My expectations are how hard I'm gonna work," said the son of Hall of Fame tennis star Yannick Noah. "My expectations aren't a set goal like how many points I'm gonna score or how many minutes I'm gonna play because those are things I can't control.
"For me, even at Florida, it wasn't about points. It was about winning basketball games and sacrificing for the betterment of the team. That's what it's all about."
You like hearing that, don't you?
Joakim Noah is a 24-7 live wire seldom seen without an ear-to-ear smile. His hustle is straight from the Pete Rose School of Busting It. On an emotional scale of 1 to 10, Joakim Noah is a 12.
"My whole game is based on emotion," he said. "I get excited when I'm on the court. I love to play basketball and it shows. People say it's emotion but I think it's more like I'm just passionate about winning.
"That's how I see it."
The obvious concerns are possible emotional and physical burnout. Coach Scott Skiles noted his rookie loves to bang bodies inside, but will be lighter than many opposing big men. That can be frustrating for veterans as well.
"I'm not gonna lie to anybody. I'm just being who I am on the court," Joakim Noah said. "If I'm burned out, you'll probably see it right away."
Joakim Noah almost sounded apologetic, but no one is asking him to change his approach or pace himself. Too many professional athletes already do that -- on the way to the bank.
"It's my job and it's a pretty good job," Joakim Noah said. "I'm very fortunate to be in this situation. I feel there is no reason why you shouldn't give 150 percent on the court."
The Bulls' coaching staff, the team's front office, and most certainly the fans would have it no other way. And Joakim Noah's being honest. There's nothing phony or pretentious about this kid.
"You can fall in love with a player in September and October can be very humbling," Skiles said of rookies in general. "But he runs the floor very well, he's got good hands, he's an excellent passer, he can guard two or three positions, and he's got a relentless style we like."
Those crowds Joakim Noah encountered at the Berto Center on Monday night? This is just the beginning.
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