Billy Donovan vouches for Joakim Noah
Billy Donovan doesn’t know what resulted in former pupil Joakim Noah being suspended for two games by the Bulls, but the Florida coach suspects it’s related to the Bulls’ continued on-court struggles.
The Bulls, who many expected to challenge for the Eastern Conference title this season, fell to 14-21 after Sunday’s 105-84 loss to the Hawks and rank among the NBA’s most disappointing teams this season.
“I know what Jo’s biggest problem is,” Donovan said, referring to Joakim Noah. “Jo’s biggest problem is that he just wants to win, and when he sees things that are getting in the way with winning he has a tendency to be somewhat demonstrative or loud.
‘‘I will never believe that his suspension has anything to do with him being selfish. He’s pretty smart. He understands the ingredients that can help a team win but there’s a certain level of responsibility he’s got to take on his part of what he can do to be a professional to try get Chicago to win.”
Noah was suspended for one game after his verbal altercation with assistant coach Ron Adams after Adams reportedly criticized him for not knowing his assignments during a closed practice session before Friday’s game against the 76ers.
Bulls’ players voted unanimously to extend that suspension to two games during a team meeting before Sunday’s blowout loss to Atlanta. Coach Jim Boylan upheld their decision, and Noah watched from the bench in street clothes.
Donovan said he left Noah a voice message Sunday and has also sent him a text message but has yet to hear back.
“I’m trying actually to catch up with him and I hope he’s doing ok,” Donovan said. “I don’t know all what’s involved other than that he has been suspended for two games and I’m trying to reach out as a friend and someone that coached him and try to reach out to him.
“I’d like to hear where he’s coming from on his end, what’s going on, not to say that he’s right or wrong. I think the one thing that all these guys have to understand is when you make the decision to become a professional, it’s a job. It’s like going to work. There are times, I’m sure, all of you sometimes show up at work and you don’t like somebody but you’re still supposed to be a professional and do your job.”
Noah was the heart and soul of the Donovan coached Florida teams that won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and ‘07. The excitable, sometimes controversial 6-foot-11, 232-pound forward was criticized earlier this season for calling for better effort from his older teammates. Then-coach Scott Skiles, who since has been fired, suggested to reporters the rookie should keep quiet.
“It’s so different in the NBA...,” Donovan said. “You’re late, you get fined. If it’s a continual thing, you get fined more money. If you don’t do what you’re supposed to be doing, you’re not dressed appropriately, you get fined. There’s a level that you have go out there, sometimes you don’t have the same cohesiveness and chemistry and bond. These guys have wives and they’ve got kids and they’re maybe not going to hang around in the locker room. So I think this is probably all new for Jo, but I think Jo’s frustration is nothing more purely than he just wants to win.’’
Noah, whom the Bulls’ selected with the ninth-overall pick in the draft, is averaging 3.1 rebounds and 4.2 points in 12.3 minutes this season.
“Whatever role, I don’t think he’s upset because he’s not getting shots,” Donovan said. “He just wants to win and [if] there’s one thing I’ve always respected and admired about Jo it’s that [he dislikes] losing more than anyone I’ve ever coached.
“But for me to pass judgment on what’s going on there, I don’t know. I just know that probably a lot of it, knowing Jo’s personality, stems from wanting to win and he might have come out and said some things that didn’t sit well with the team or the coaching staff.”
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