New York Knicks center Joakim Noah will join the battle royale at the center position by playing in today's back-end preseason game against the Washington Wizards, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday.

The big man signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Knicks last season, and after one year with the team, he's been mired by injuries, poor performances, and a 20-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter supplement to recover from his injury.

Noah is still slated to miss the first 12 games of the season after serving the first eight in 2016-17 after being deemed ready-to-play.

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The 32-year-old noted he was excited and felt like a rookie again — enthusiasm he will need to regain his starting spot, now battling again last season's starter Willy Hernangomez, reserve Kyle O'Quinn, and newcomer Enes Kanter, who impressed during the preseason opener, scoring 17 points in 17 minutes for the home team.

Noah has looked at times more than a step slow, failing to show the defender in him that made him Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

The Knicks admittedly lack defense, so if Noah can have a couple of breakout games defensively, he could become part of the conversation again as New York is in dire need of a rim protector.