New York (AFP)

French pivot Joakim Noah, who was injured at the start of the season, finding himself without a team at 35, told himself during a "very lucky" press conference that the Clippers' franchise trusted him offering him a contract until the end of the season.

"You know, in September, I had a weird accident and I cut my Achilles tendon, and I thought that this was not how I wanted to end my career," said on Saturday veteran, who was then in discussion with several clubs, including the Los Angeles franchise.

Joakim Noah said he needs to have a training session with the Clippers before the season, but the injury prevented him from doing so.

"I was supposed to train with them in September, just before the start of the season. I was ready. I was really excited about this opportunity, and then I cut myself off every minute. the Achilles tendon, "he said.

The Frenchman stressed that he had never lost sight, during his rehabilitation, of his goal of having a chance with the Clippers.

"The day after the operation, I was in the gym training in the hopes of joining this team. I knew that if I did not continue training and that I would receive a call from the Clippers, but that I was not ready, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life ", he explained, he who was selected twice in the All-Star Game (2013, 2014) and was designated best defender in the League in 2014.

"I feel very, very fortunate to be in my place now," continued the Frenchman, who had been recruited in early March for ten days by the Clippers.

The Covid-19 pandemic did not allow him to show that he still had good minutes to offer on the floor, the California franchise decided to keep Noah in its workforce to compete for the end of the season from July 30 in the Disney World bubble in Orlando (Florida).

Third pivot in the Clippers rotation, behind Montrezl Harrell and Ivica Zubac, Noah, who has not played since March 23, 2019, will try to bring his combativeness in defense and his experience to this franchise which aims for the NBA title, never touched by Noah.

© 2020 AFP