The NBA will suspend New York Knicks center Joakim Noah 20 games for violating the terms of its anti-drug policy, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The suspension will start on Saturday, per Woj.
The 32-year-old center was reportedly using a banned over-the-counter substance. The suspension will end his season and keep him out of the first ten games next year. Of course, Noah had already been out since February due to knee surgery. The 10 game suspension for the remainder of this season will effectively remove his salary for those games in which he would not have played anyway.
According to Woj, the NBPA has investigated the claims and maintained that Noah did not knowingly take a banned substance. They have cooperated with the league office through the process.
Noah was signed by the Knicks this summer to a massive four-year deal. He has not lived up to that contract, to say the least, averaging five points and 8.7 rebounds per game while looking aged.
Noah’s signing has been a disaster for the Knicks as it is perhaps one of the worst deals currently in the NBA. The suspension will serve to amplify that tragedy even if it is fairly unimpactful in the grand scheme of things.
