By Guillaume K. | Sports journalist
For a few years, Joakim Noah held the status of the highest selected Frenchman in the Draft with his 9th place in 2007. 17 years later, the former Bulls pivot viewed the images of this exceptional evening for the first time.
There are basketball players who have successful careers without necessarily making an impact, who move from team to team, from contract to contract, without having an impact off the field. Joakim Noah may never have been the most popular player, but he can boast being a legend in two separate organizations.
The first is the University of Florida, with which he won two consecutive NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007. He could also have joined the NBA after this first coronation, the franchises were just waiting for him and Al Horford . But driven by his desire to write history and experience an exceptional human adventure, he agreed to go back for a ride.
Joakim Noah weighs on the 2007 Draft
It was therefore after the back to back that he registered for the Draft and was selected by Chicago, the city in which he is still today, 17 years later. On the Bulls YouTube channel, Joakim Noah looked back on this exceptional evening alongside Derrick Rose. He shared some memories backstage at Madison Square Garden:
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I had a mustache back then… My god. During the evening I drank vodka with orange juice, I remember. I had never seen the images of that evening again… There was my grandfather, my mother, it was an exceptional moment. Being able to share moments with family is something that should never be taken for granted. Our ancestors and our parents are not eternal, so we must cherish them.
Joakim Noah had never seen the images of his Draft again, so it was with particular emotion that he commented on this video alongside Derrick Rose. He even seemed to rediscover certain elements, like the fact that he wore a questionable mustache or that he was accompanied by his grandfather and his mother.
Besides, at the time, the league’s cameras heard him say something pretty crazy: “I hope people don’t whistle at me when I get called up.” » Born in New York, Jooks wanted a proper welcome on the stage of Madison Square Garden. Whistled or not, this evening allowed him to fly to a city that would become his home.
Joakim Noah was one of the stars of the 2007 Draft, having won two consecutive NCAA titles with the Florida Gators. To relieve the stress, he obviously needed his loved ones and a pick-me-up…
