Joakim Noah can now add a suspension to his resume. The New York Knicks center tested positive for an over the counter supplement that is banned under the league’s current collective bargaining agreement.
The NBA made the announcement on Saturday and said the suspension is for 20 games and is expected to be split into blocks of ten games. The final ten games of this season and the first ten regular season games next season.
This incident is just another thorn in the side of the Noah acquisition by the Knicks. The 32-year-old went under the knife for his left knee last month and has been off the court since Feb. 4.
With that surgery, games missed with injury and suspension, the Noah signing must be feeling like a bust to Knicks fans. The team inked the former NBA All-Star to a $72 million four-year deal last summer expecting him to bring defensive swag to the team. But Noah has missed a lot of time with injuries, including a hammy and left knee, and has underachieved when on the court, averaging just 5.0 points and 8.8 boards per game (in 46 starts).
As a youngster, Noah idolized the Knicks and always dreamed of playing for the team. There’s still time for him to get his act back together on the court but at the moment, the Knicks hold a dismal 27-45 record and are sitting eight games behind the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Wasn’t Phil Jackson supposed to be the savior for this once great franchise?