Joakim Noah likes Les Bleus chances at Paris Olympics

Joakim Noah likes Les Bleus chances at Paris Olympics

FRENCHMAN JOAKIM Noah has a lot of reasons to be excited for the coming men’s basketball tournament of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Not only is it going to be held in his native land, but also because France will be fielding a formidable roster that may include Victor Wembanyama, the rookie NBA sensation playing for the San Antonio Spurs, as well as Minnesota Timberwolves' star center Rudy Gobert.

Noah also once donned the French colors in the FIBA Eurobasket 2011. He played for the Florida Gators and won NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007.  He was the ninth overall pick of the 2007 NBA draft and was a two-time NBA All Star and named to the All-NBA First Team in 2014 when he was also the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

joakim noah

PHOTO: Ivy Ferrer

"We are hoping for the best. It’s going to be a lot of talent playing. I’m excited for France," said Noah, who was recently in Manila for NBA and Jr. NBA activities.

Another reason why Noah will have his eyes on this coming Olympics is that his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Luol Deng, is now the president of South Sudan’s basketball federation whose country will play in the Olympics.

Under Deng's watch, South Sudan, a country which gained independence in 2011, has undergone dramatic improvement over the years. The team played in Manila during the FIBA World Cup in 2023, beating China in the preliminaries, and then Angola, to become the best African team and earning its first Olympics.

Deng, an NBA All-Star, and Noah played together for the Bulls from 2007 to 2014.

"I’m excited for my brother Luol Deng as well who I played with and who is representing the youngest country in the world, South Sudan. He was building the first basketball courts in the country and now, they get to represent South Sudan in the Olympics. Very beautiful story," said Noah, whose father, Yannick, won the French Open tennis championship in 1983 and later was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

"USA, obviously, is very tough as well. A lot of talent in the upcoming Olympics," Noah added.

Filipino fans surprise Noah

In Manila, Noah, 40, was pleasantly surprised with how Filipinos still know him  although he last played in 2020, briefly, for the Los Angeles Clippers.

"It’s beautiful. Right when I got off the plane, I couldn’t believe how many people knew that I haven’t played in a basketball game for a long time. People were all, ‘Chicago Bulls.’"

"I heard that it was a basketball culture. I didn’t know to what extent. It’s beautiful to see a culture that loves basketball," said Noah.

Noah also shared his knowledge in the Jr. NBA camp at the Gatorade Hoops Dome where he advised players to stay away from their mobile phones when they are on the court so that they can focus on their dreams.

"It starts with your work, work, work," said Noah. "Not everybody is going to be Kobe Bryant. Sometimes, you have a role to play. What are you going to do in winning the game. This is a team sport. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice. Sometimes, it's about being a good teammate. Sometimes, it's about playing defense."