UPDATE: Brian Windhorst has since clarified these comments, saying Joakim Noah has recovered from his injury and wants to sign with a contender.
The future of NBA center Joakim Noah has been put in jeopardy after he recently suffered a significant injury, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Noah had been one of the few available centers late in free agency, reportedly coveted by the Los Angeles Lakers before they signed Dwight Howard, and also the Los Angeles Clippers, who never signed him.
Now, Noah might unfortunately be finished:
“Jo, he hinted at injury. I don't know when he got injured, but he suffered a significant injury from what I've been told and his career is really in jeopardy,” said Windhorst on The Hoop Collective podcast.
Noah was forced to cancel his workouts with the Clippers in late September, which could hint that his injury likely dates back to months ago.
The Florida alum had a resurgent season with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in limited minutes (16.7) with the team. Following the trade of starter Marc Gasol, Noah put up 12.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in February and averages of 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest in March before leaving his last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Mar. 23 with right knee soreness.
Noah departed in the second quarter of the contest and did not return, effectively ending his 2018-19 season.
If it is the same issue plaguing him, it's likely that could have been the reason why he never worked out for the Clippers, who entered the season very thin at the center position.
Noah, a former Defensive Player of the Year, has career averages of 8.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game through his 12-year career.