Joakim Noah: The Bulls are 'like a family to me'

After a disastrous 2015-16 campaign with the Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah — who signed a four-year deal with the New York Knicks earlier this summer — says he has no hard feelings toward the franchise where he spent his first nine NBA seasons.

"I have no anger towards nobody," Noah, who lost his starting spot last year and played in just 29 games before suffering a season-ending dislocated shoulder, told the Chicago Tribune. "If we had a couple rough years at the end, I'm just still so grateful for the opportunity the Bulls gave me. It's like a family to me. Even though it's a new chapter for the end of my career to be in New York, I think Chicago is always going to be a home to me."

Noah was taken ninth by the Bulls in the 2007 draft and quickly inserted himself into the upper echelon of NBA bigs, particularly as a high-post passer and rim protector. But after winning 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year and finishing fourth in the MVP race with 12.6-point, 11.3-rebound, 5.4-assist averages, the 31-year-old has taken a step in the wrong direction in each of the past two seasons, and hopes to find new life in the Big Apple — particularly when his former team comes to town.

"I think the Bulls-Knicks games are going to be good ones," Noah said. "I'm looking forward to it. I think everybody is. It's going to be a very competitive game with a lot of emotions. I'm trying to stay in the moment and focus on being as healthy as possible."

Noah won't have to wait very long to face off against his old squad, as the Knicks head to Chicago for their fifth game of the season on November 4. The Bulls make their first trip to Madison Square Garden on January 12.

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