Joakim Noah was recognized by Windy City legend Dennis Rodman during his time with the Chicago Bulls. As an electrifying and competitive player during his active years in the league, Rodman also saw the same qualities in Noah.
Rodman believed that Noah still had the potential to be a more well-rounded player. However, one thing The Worm emphasized was that the French center had to be consistent both physically and mentally.
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For Dennis, the Bulls already had a great player in Joakim. He viewed Noah as a key figure who could help lead the team to further success if nothing goes south in the future.
“His energy is off the charts,” Rodman said of Noah in 2012. “I like the fact that he is 6-11, he can still move, and he’s agile, he’s smooth on the floor, and he’s not clumsy like a lot of tall guys.”
“He’s as important as anyone on this team, I think,” he continued. “If he keeps his mind straight and keeps this team together, they’ll go a long way.”
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Rodman likened the 2012 Bulls to his former teams
At the time, the Bulls were on a roll. The team has achieved remarkable success under the leadership of Derrick Rose, with Noah functioning as a reliable supporting cast.
For two consecutive seasons, the Bulls dominated the East, finishing first in 2011 and 2012. Based on Rodman’s assessment, Chicago’s road to the NBA title looked quite familiar. According to the former NBA bad boy, he could see some parallels between the 2010s Bulls, the ’90s Bulls, and the ’80s Detroit Pistons.
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Rodman noted that, like his former teams, the D-Rose and Noah-led Bulls were capable of winning the championship, but they had to beat their toughest rivals first, such as the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, the two teams dominating the league with their respective big 3s.
“I see the same thing,” Rodman assessed. “And it was just like for us, too. When I was in Detroit, we had to get past Boston. Once we got past Boston, we had to get past the Lakers. After we did that, we were two-time champions. Then all of a sudden, the Bulls came on. Once they dethroned us, it was all uphill for them. They won six championships, and it was all good.”
“If they can get over that hump, they can win the whole thing,” he predicted.
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Noah was no Rodman
Just when the Bulls thought they were finally equipped with the right tools to win a championship, Rose suffered a devastating ACL injury in the very first game of the postseason. With Derrick out, the Bulls ultimately lost in the first round.
Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season, while Noah blossomed into an All-Star player. Like Dennis back in the day, Joakim established himself as one of the most tenacious defensive big men in the league. He rightfully won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014.
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However, Noah wasn’t as durable as Rodman. He suffered injuries and was eventually traded to the New York Knicks. At that point, what Dennis once sensed in Joakim finally happened. In New York, Jo struggled to focus on playing. His game dwindled and gradually faded into obscurity.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.