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Jeff Hornacek Shocked By How Good Joakim Noah Has Looked In Practice
Joakim Noah arguably has the worst contract in the league right now.
Last summer, Noah singed the Knicks’ 4-year, $72 million offer sheet, even though people around the league knew about his injury problems. The former defensive player of the league has also been on the decline, long before signing the contract.
All of this led to Noah only playing 46 games, while averaging an underwhelming 5.0 points, and 8.7 rebounds per game. He became the mirror image for the Knicks’ downfall, alongside former president of basketball operations, Phil Jackson.
Noah wants to rekindle his career and worked hard during this past offseason, and according to the New York Post head coach Jeff Hornacek is “shocked” at how Noah has been playing during the Knicks’ preseason workouts.
“Coming off those injuries, literally, I’m shocked of how well he’s played just because I didn’t think he was gonna be ready this early,” Jeff Hornacek said following practice Saturday. “I’m extremely happy with how he’s playing. He’s playing the right way. He sets great screens, he rolls hard, which opens up other things for guys if he doesn’t get it. He’s been finishing with driving layups. He’s been playing great. He wants to come back and show everybody what kind of player he is and he’s worked hard to do that over the summer. I give him a lot of credit so far.”
Noah has to improve if he wants to play regularly. If there is one position the Knicks are stacked at, it’s Noah’s center position. Hornacek already said that he plans on playing Kristaps Porzingis more on the center position this year, the same position Willy Hernangomez, who has majorly improved last season, is looking to have a career year in. That’s not all. The Knicks also acquired Enes Kanter in a trade, that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
