It's all systems go for Joakim Noah in a Memphis Grizzlies uniform. Noah has officially signed a contract with the Grizzlies after undergoing a team physical. The 33-year-old bruising big man is making an NBA comeback after the New York Knicks waived him before the start of the season.
The @memgrizz have signed Joakim Noah. Press release below: pic.twitter.com/LOE4vC4Isl
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) December 4, 2018
Noah will serve in a backup role behind Grizzlies All-Star center Marc Gasol. Gasol recently expressed his excitement about the team's acquisition of Noah:
“Noah will give us experience, physical play, capability as a passer and creator, and another voice in the locker room. He’s the type of player that will adapt perfectly to our team. He plays with a lot of intensity, with a lot of passion and he places a lot of emphasis on defense. I liked [the signing] a lot. He knows how to make players around him better.”
Indeed, Noah perfectly fits into the culture of grit and toughness. The two-time All-Star garnered the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014 and also made it on the All-NBA first team that season.
While defense will still be his greatest asset, Noah's knack for playmaking and offensive rebounding will be important for the Grizzlies' second unit. During this recent offseason, Noah also bared that he has improved his range through a posted video showing his shooting drills.
However, it remains to be seen if Joakim Noah will maintain his injury-free status, as he has had a history of injuries for the past couple of years.
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