Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have a notable relationship dating back to their days with the Chicago Bulls. As Rose developed and became the NBA MVP in 2011 one of the most important players by his side was Joakim Noah. The smart screen-setting, great passing, and very passionate big man is always one player that had Rose’s back.
Through all the injuries and everything that came with it, Noah always supported Rose. When Rose was traded to the New York Knicks over the summer, it immediately made the team a top contender for Joakim Noah. The former defensive player of the year said it was a no-brainer for him to join the team, not only return home but play alongside his former teammate.
While both players might be headed towards the decline in their careers, they still might have one more run in them with the Knicks. Rose wasn’t able to get on the court during the Knicks preseason to see what this squad has to offer due to a civil rape trial taking place in Los Angeles. Rose was cleared of all claims yesterday but a criminal investigation is still underway, despite the lead investigator’s suicide.
Noah is happy to have Rose coming back to the team and happy Rose was cleared of all charges because he says the accuser was just looking for a money grab. Joakim’s Knicks tenure was already off to a controversial start and this just adds to it.
Following from Marc Berman of the New York Post.
“It’s a blessing to have him come back — it’s great the truth came out,’’ Noah said after the Knicks’ 121-96 preseason victory over the Celtics. “We didn’t have a point guard for all of (the) preseason. All because of a girl who was trying to make money off my friends. … [It] is just wack.”
Noah said Rose is “a tough kid but it was definitely a distraction, not just him but the whole team because some girl went out of her way to make money off of him.’’
Rose is expected to be with the team before their season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers next week. He hasn’t been practicing with the squad since training camp but now that the trial is over, he is expected to be a full participant in practices going forward.
