Sports

Joakim Noah faces new reality as Knicks bench him again

TORONTO — Joakim Noah admits he’s not the same player he was in 2014, when he was first team All-NBA and the Defensive Player of the Year. But the center said he still believes he can contribute to the club.

Noah chose his words carefully, admitting he’s attempting to make the best of a rotten situation and adding, “This is my reality.”

On Friday, Noah was inactive for the third straight game since his return from a drug suspension, and coach Jeff Hornacek said he has no plans to change up. The Knicks, who were blown out, 107-84, by the Raptors, have three centers ahead of Noah on the depth chart: Enes Kanter, Kyle O’Quinn and Willy Hernangomez.

“I’ll be all right. I’ll be all right,’’ Noah said in his first comments since being reinstated. “I understand the situation. I’m going to make the best of it.”





When asked if he forsees a role, Noah said, “What can I bring? I don’t know.”

When asked if he still feels he can be close to the player he was in his 2013-14 campaign, Noah said: “Probably not. Probably not. You know. I can help. I feel like I could help this team and that’s just my reality. But I just want to just be the best that I can be.

“It’s not about trying to be what I was three, four years ago, because it’s not the reality.”

If the reality is he wants to be released so he can play somewhere else, he wouldn’t say. Noah’s $72 million contract makes him untradeable — even more so after this banishment.





“I just think I’m trying to take it day by day,’’ Noah said. “Just stay in it and go from there.”

Noah, 32, last played in early February when he went down with a hamstring injury. Nearly two months later, his season officially ended with a drug suspension.

“Listen, man, you guys understand the situation right now,’’ Noah said. “I’m just trying to be the best that I can be. I don’t know what that is. I’m not playing. I haven’t played in 10 months. I’ve gone through some injuries. I’ve gone through a lot of things. But at the same time this is not — I’m not making an excuse. This is my reality.

“I’m going to do my best in a team setting. That’s always been who I’ve been. I just want to be true to myself.”





The Knicks can use the stretch provision on Noah after the season to open up more cap space in 2018 and 2019, but only if it would make a difference in signing a free agent.

Hornacek made him defensive captain upon his return Monday. But that title and four bucks will get him a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

“It’s just like I’ve gone through a lot in this league — a lot of ups and downs,’’ Noah said of the title. “Been in big games. Big playoffs games. I’ve experienced a lot of things. I tried to be helpful to the guys through my experience. It’s different when you’ve gone though it compared to someone who hasn’t it.’’





Noah was asked his emotions, knowing he can’t even put on a uniform.

“I’ll be all right,’’ Noah said, but didn’t sound convincing.





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