LA Clippers center Joakim Noah says he doesn't take this opportunity with his new team for granted.
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00:00 Joakim Noah knows there are no handouts in the NBA and that he would be with the
00:04 L.A. Clippers right now if it hadn't been for all this hard work. On a conference call
00:08 with reporters on Saturday afternoon, Noah discussed the process in which he
00:11 managed to make a return to the NBA. "You've ever suffered a freak injury last
00:14 September." He discussed how he had a freak accident with his Achilles where he cut
00:18 it and he told himself that's just not how he wanted to end his career. So Noah
00:21 said that the day after his surgery he was in the gym working out the hope of
00:25 making this L.A. Clippers team. He said he knew if he didn't keep on training, if he got a
00:30 call from Clippers and he wasn't ready, he said he would regret it for the rest of his
00:32 life. So he says now that being able to win a
00:35 championship, it's not something he takes for granted. Noah also added that being with the
00:38 Clippers quote "gives him hope" and that this is a class organization that he's
00:42 happy to be a part of. The veteran big has become a journeyman in recent years.
00:46 Clippers will be his third team in three different seasons. That said, the 35 year
00:50 old still brings a lot to the table, will be a solid contributor both on and off
00:53 the court for L.A. He's received plenty of praise from coach Doc Rivers who
00:57 specifically mentioned his high energy and basketball IQ. He also believes that
01:01 bringing him in will be fantastic for Ivica Zubac who will continue to develop in a major
01:05 way underneath Noah. The former Dements Player of the Year now has a lot of time on the floor
01:09 once the season picks back up in Orlando, but there's certainly an opportunity for him to play.
01:13 Having that physical seven-footer on the roster will be great for the Clippers
01:16 if they find themselves struggling with matchups. He's also a solid opponent to rely on if
01:20 Ivica Zubac or Montrezl Harrell get into foul trouble in important games.
01:24 Not only is Noah a happy member of the franchise, but it sounds as though he would do
01:27 anything to ensure he spends the rest of his career here.