More Breaking Sports:

Noah is earning Bulls' leadership role

| No Comments
Thumbnail image for PX00245_7.JPG

By Fred Mitchell

The Bulls are looking for leadership on and off the court as they prepare for Saturday night's home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Better fourth-quarter shooting wouldn't hurt, either.

When Joakim Noah was a rookie three years ago, he was chastised by then-Bulls coach Scott Skiles for offering a blunt assessment of what the team needed to improve. Skiles indicated that such commentary should not be articulated by a first-year player.

"I don't think I really said that much as a rookie, but you (media) guys just asked me questions and I just answered them," Noah said today after practice at the Berto Center. "I don't think there is just one specific person, though. I think there is a lot of leadership on this team."

In his third season, Noah has elevated his game. He is averaging 11.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and, equally significant, 32 minutes per game and his stamina increases and his energy level remains high. He clearly is stepping up to fill the role of a team veteran.


"The more experience you have, the more you can talk to somebody who maybe has less," Noah said. "I know I try to talk to the rookies more than anybody because I know they haven't been there before. But a guy that is older than me ... they understand what's right and what's wrong. Sometimes you speak up and speak your mind, and that's it."

Leave a comment

ADVERTISEMENT

CINESPORT VIDEO

CHICAGO BULLS PHOTOS

BREAKING SPORTS BULLS RSS

CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM SPORTS

BULLS ON CHICAGO NOW

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

@ChicagoSports on Twitter
Get our updates on Twitter.