New York Knicks center Joakim Noah made his 2017-18 debut on Monday, Nov. 27. The gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on Noah.
The loss to the Portland Trail Blazers is the primary story circulating around the New York sports scenr. The New York Knicks fell 103-91 to the Trail Blazers in a home game that left the Madison Square Garden faithful asking what happened to the team’s energy.
One of the brief moments during which the Knicks’ effort was a strength, however, arrived when Joakim Noah made his 2017-18 regular season debut.
Noah has become a polarizing figure during his first season in New York, but he debuted in 2017-18 to a round of applause. Noah rewarded the fans’ support by playing with the infectious tenacity that made him a household name in Chicago.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on Noah during his first game back at Madison Square Garden.
"“I’m never going to take any moments I step onto the court for granted. This is a special place to play basketball. I’m disappointed the way that we lost. But it felt good to be out there.”"
Noah has become a polarizing figure, but it’s worth noting that he played rather well during his brief time on the court against Portland.
Noah was active for just three minutes against the Trail Blazers, but he made a solid first impression. The Knicks struggled to do much of anything on offense, but it played a rare stretch of lockdown defense when Noah was on the floor.
During his three minutes of action, he tallied two points, one rebound, and a block—all of which occurred in an invigorating sequence.
Joakim Noah gets an ovation from the crowd as he heads to the scorers table to check in to a game for the first time since early February.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 28, 2017
It was a small sample size, but if Noah’s energy and defensive tenacity are signs of things to come, then he could be of value to the Knicks.
Noah is in the second season of a four-year deal worth roughly $72.6 million. Some have focused entirely on the contract, but the reality is that the dotted line has been signed and there isn’t much that New York can do to change that in the short-term.
For as long as Noah is in New York, the Knicks must find ways for him to contribute to the cause—both on and off the court.
Must Read: Pros and cons of potentially trading for Jahlil Okafor
The New York Knicks received an early glimpse at what Joakim Noah can provide in 2017-18 and beyond against the Portland Trail Blazers.