“Hey bro we not doubling in open gym. I get that s–t all season. Come on man. Let’s work on our game.” – Devin Booker at an open run. ??? (via @swishcultures_) pic.twitter.com/8hgKFLo4ak
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) August 20, 2019
Joakim Noah’s competitive fire was on display in a short clip from an open gym. Devin Booker wasn’t a fan of Noah’s defensive scheme.
New York Knicks fans didn’t see Joakim Noah at his best. He wasn’t the same competitive son of a gun that he was with the Florida Gators and Chicago Bulls.
However, it looks like Noah still has a fire in his belly. During an open gym with multiple NBA players on hand, Noah called for a double team on Devin Booker in the corner. The Phoenix Suns shooting guard didn’t take kindly to the move and he let Noah hear about it.
There are two distinct sides to this video. On one hand, Booker is trying to work on certain things and a double team means he has to give up the ball immediately. That can be frustrating in a pickup game.
With that said, double teams are a part of the game and Booker is going to deal with them a lot in his career. Noah doesn’t back down an inch when Booker begins whining after the play. That’s why it can be so easy to love Noah at times.
It’s a shame that his career with the Knicks ended in horrific fashion. He admitted that he was “too lit” to play in his hometown. That, plus the fact that former team president Phil Jackson gave Noah a gigantic contract, led to the two sides ultimately parting ways before the 2018-19 season.
Noah later hooked up with the Memphis Grizzlies where he averaged 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 42 games. He played mostly spot minutes off the bench, but he flashed some of that old-school Chicago-style Noah in tiny spurts.
The two-time All-Star is still a free agent although the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking at the 12-year veteran, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
