Paris (AFP)

The Franco-American pivot Joakim Noah has been released from his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and is heading towards an end of career after thirteen seasons spent in the NBA, explained his agent to the American television channel ESPN.

Noah, 35 (2.13 m), is heading "very likely to retire", admitted Bill Duffy on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

"What an illustrious career for Joakim, starting with two national titles at the University of Florida, to become the best NBA defenseman of the year, and eventually evolve as one of the most passionate players we have known in this game. sport. It was an honor to represent Joakim during this adventure ", recalled the agent of the son of Yannick Noah, the last French to win Roland-Garros.

Drafted in June 2007 in ninth position, "Jooks", his nickname in his family, joined the legendary Chicago Bulls franchise, where he played for nine seasons between 2007 and 2016. With the Bulls, he played in the play-offs NBA for six seasons (2009-2014), reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011, beaten by LeBron James' Miami Heat (4-1).

After his adventure with the Bulls, they played for the New York Knicks (2016-2018) then the Memphis Grizzlies (2018-2019).

In March 2020, he signed a contract with the Clippers, and played at the end of the season in the health "bubble" of Disney World.

The player had an additional year of unsecured contract, but the California franchise decided to release him.

- Uncompromising defender -

An intractable defender (he climbed to 618 rebounds with the Bulls in 2013/14), he participated twice in the All-Star-Game in 2013 and 2014, becoming the second French after Tony Parker to shine at this event of flagship gala of American basketball.

In 2014, he was voted best defenseman of the year in the NBA.

A player with a little academic and often mocked shooting technique, especially on the free throw line, Noah still managed seven triple-doubles in his career in the NBA, and 218 double-double, including 22 in the play-offs, sign he was also capable of scoring, with a personal best 30 points in the regular season and 25 points in the play-offs.

Joakim's history with the France team was written in dotted lines.

Born in New York in February 1985, he was authorized to wear the Blues jersey in 2007, when he was officially made a French citizen.

He is also American and, through his mother Cécilia Rodhe, Swedish.

He finally engages with the France team.

Between 2009 and 2011, he was called up 22 times in the selection, winning silver in the 2011 European Championship including Tony Parker, beaten in the final by Spain (98-85).

His career has also been marked by many injuries that kept him away from the prosecution for several months: affected by an Achilles tendon in September 2019, he could not join the Clippers who had already approached him.

He had been operated on on his left knee in April 2014, then on his left shoulder in April 2017.

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