Joakim Noah Trivia: 26 fascinating facts about him!

Joakim Noah is a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Let’s see some interesting facts about him!

1. Joakim Simon Noah was born February 25, 1985, in New York City.

2. His parents are Cameroonian−French singer and former world No. 3 tennis player Yannick Noah, winner of the French Open in 1983, and Cécilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden and fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 1978.

3. His grandfather Zacharie Noah was a Cameroonian professional soccer player, winner of the Coupe de France in 1961.

4. Noah lived in Paris, France from 1988 to 1998 and returned to New York City at age 13.

5. He played high school basketball for the United Nations International School, Poly Prep Country Day School and Lawrenceville School.

6. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Noah was listed as the No. 19 power forward and the No. 75 player in the nation in 2004.

7. Noah accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators men’s basketball team from 2004 to 2007.

8. Noah was a member of Donovan’s 2004 recruiting class, a group that included four freshmen who would have a dramatic impact on the Gators basketball program during the next three seasons.

9. During his 2004–05 freshman year, he played 9.4 minutes per game, and averaged only 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

10. During Noah’s 2005–06 sophomore year, he was listed as power forward but was moved to center to replace Al Horford, and in that position he led his team in points (14.2 ppg) and blocks (2.4 bpg), while ranking second in rebounds (7.1 rpg) behind teammate Al Horford (7.6 rpg).

11. Almost unknown at the beginning of the season, Noah’s projected draft position improved over time. By the end of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, he had declared for the 2006 NBA draft.

12. However, Noah, along with teammates Al Horford and Corey Brewer, announced at the Gators’ national championship celebration that they would return for their junior seasons.

13. Noah and the Florida Gators would go on to repeat as 2006–07 national champions.

14. Noah was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the NCAA Tournament’s Minneapolis Regional after leading the Gators over top-seeded Villanova in the final game with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

15. On April 3, 2006, 2006 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship Game Noah paced the Gators to a 73–57 victory over the UCLA Bruins for the school’s first NCAA basketball championship, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

16. In the final game, he scored 16 points, made 9 rebounds, and blocked a championship game record 6 shots.

17. The next year after the Gators won the 2006 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, they went forward to the next year with five returning starters.

18. With the help of Noah on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, the Florida Gators were able to win their second NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship in two years.

19. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators, winning back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. The Chicago Bulls selected Noah with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

20. Noah is a two-time NBA All-Star, and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2014, when he also was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

21. On May 25, 2008, Noah was arrested for having an open container of alcohol and misdemeanor possession of marijuana in Gainesville, Florida.

22. A few hours later, Noah was also cited for driving with a suspended license and not wearing a seat belt.

23. He was sentenced to six months probation, a $200 fine for the marijuana and open container charges, and a $206 traffic fine.

24. Since 2008 Noah has lived in Bannockburn, Illinois.

25. In 2010, with his mother, an artist, Noah founded the Noah’s Arc Foundation to help engage children with positive self-expression through arts and sports.

26. The foundation has a special focus on at-risk youth in Chicago.