Nerlens Noel may have been languishing in a limited capacity for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his ability as a rim protector still manifests itself from time to time – particularly against Malik Beasley and the Denver Nuggets, as the 6-foot-11 center rejected what could have been a ferocious two-handed slammer.
"He went up for the tomahawk slam, and Noel said, 'Not on my watch!'"
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/g5fKDyJwYF
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) March 30, 2019
Quite surprising given that at a questionable 220 pounds, you would think Noel would have easily been on the receiving end of a SportsCenter highlight or a poster compilation. But the former Philadelphia 76er lottery pick answered the call and met the upstart Nuggets guard up top and won the battle.
Noel has seen his minutes plummet catastrophically since being ousted out of the Sixers due to perceived attitude problems and the emergence of Joel Embiid, eventually landing with the Dallas Mavericks via a trade deadline deal. While Noel's initial performances were promising and made Mavs fans salivate at having such a young defensive-oriented big man that conjured memories of Tyson Chandler, his decision to play for the qualifying offer and spurning a 4-year $70-million deal led to a diminished role for the then 23-year-old.
The former Kentucky Wildcat sought to bounce back from a disappointing 2017-18 campaign by signing a two-year deal (with an early termination option) with the Thunder, hoping to not only make the postseason but also rehabilitate his game anchoring the middle. Unfortunately, his gamble hasn't paid off yet again as he's averaging career lows in minutes, rebounds, and steals.
Still, we could expect Noel to churn out the occasional impressive block or steal that belie his frame.
Follow Us
Subscribe