DADDY’S HOME
New father Noah begins next chapter of career with Knicks
WEST POINT — Joakim Noah is not only a new Knick, he’s a new father.
The prize of free agency was excused from the first two days of training camp for the birth of his daughter.
After his first practice as a Knick on Wednesday, Noah said: “I was dealing with something beautiful. My daughter was born [Tuesday]. It was the most beautiful day of my life. I think I’m happy I was able to be there for that.’’
The Knicks’ $72 million center didn’t think it was beautiful, however, that Bulls longtime owner Jerry Reinsdorf recently said he didn’t believe Noah was “a frontline center’’ any longer. That led to the Bulls trading Derrick Rose to the Knicks and netting Robin Lopez to replace the 31year-old impending free agent.
Noah thought it was “a low blow.’’
“He’s entitled to his opinion,’’ Noah said. “I feel I have no regrets about my time in Chicago. I gave it everything I had. To me that’s all that matters. I did everything I could for that organization. I thought it was a little bit of a low blow, but at the end of the day I have nothing but respect for that organization. I’m just excited for this new chapter of my career.”
Noah, the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, is coming off a campaign in which he was limited to 29 games because of shoulder surgery. Two years ago, he played in 67 games, battling knee issues and plantar fasciitis, but said all his rehab has gotten him healthy for this season. Noah said he still does shoulder exercises.
The Hell’s Kitchen product has gone through playoff wars against LeBron James — when James was with the Heat and in 2015 after he rejoined the Cavaliers — and said he knows he will have to go through the King again for the Knicks to be a title contender. The Knicks open the season in Cleveland on Oct. 25.
“That’s the goal, that’s got to be the mindset,’’ Noah said. “We all know what it is. Right now it goes through him, through that guy to get where we want to get to. We got to beat them.’’
Noah, one of the league’s infamous agitators, and James have had their trashtalking moments. Noah once was quoted as saying, “Cleveland really sucks.’’ When a reporter asked him his reaction to the Cavs breaking the Cleveland sports curse, Noah looked perplexed.
“First day of training camp that’s really what you’re going to ask me?” Noah said. “I’m happy for them, I guess.”
Carmelo Anthony, a friend of James, said he is thrilled to have a tough enforcer of Noah’s stature by his side. Phil Jackson partly made the move because of Noah’s vocal leadership.
“He’s going to bring that mentality,’’ Anthony said. “If you’re not on his team you’re his enemy. That mentality is going to trickle down to everyone else. It’s a different mindset you have to have. He brings a different dynamic to the team. Mentally he forces you to compete at a higher level every time on the basketball court. It’s something we needed, the organization needed.’’
Coach Jeff Hornacek said he believes Noah’s shoulder injury last season was “a fluke.” The coach also said he already noticed a difference Wednesday after Noah missed Tuesday’s first session.
“His activity defensively helps sets a tone in practice,’’ Hornacek said. “His intensity if high. He does it all the time. He won’t slow down as the year goes on. You hope that’s contagious. Sometimes as season goes on you lose it a little bit but Jo will keep them on their toes.’’