NBA: Noah out for the SEASON?!
Is another set back from the New York Knicks, veteran centre Joakim Noah will be out for a couple of weeks while he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Noah will be evaluated in three to four weeks time, to see if he can start playing again before the end of the season.
The operation could spell the end of the season for the 32-year-old, as the Knicks announced a timeline for his return would place his earliest check up would be on the 20th of March, three weeks before the end of the regular season.
After having issues with the same knee in previous seasons, in what could be a late reaction to the pound-the-court style of play employed by former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, the team will not be any rush to get him playing again, especially as he is having one of the worst seasons of his career to date. This could change if the Knicks do somehow manage to make it to the playoffs, but this seems unlikely, as they only have a two percent chance to do so, according to FiveThirtyEight.
After signing the former DPOY to a four-year deal that is worth over $72 million, the New York-born Noah has only managed an average of 8.7 rebounds and 5 points per game this season so far, with a true shooting percentage of 49.5.
Will this injury change his role in New York once he returns? I would like to see him come off the bench and act as in a supporting role behind Willy Hernangomez and Kyle O’Quinn for the rest of this season, and for whoever (if they do) sign or draft in the summer.
