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New York Knicks Center Joakim Noah Suspended 20 Games

By Kenneth Teape

Jan 16, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after the Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Hawks won 108-107. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after the Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Hawks won 108-107. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks center Joakim Noah will be handed a 20-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

New York Knicks center Joakim Noah has found himself in some hot water with the NBA. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Noah is going to be suspended for 20-games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

Wojnarowski reports that the league is expected to announce the suspension on Saturday. According to a league source, Noah tested positive for an over-the-counter supplement that is on the banned substance list. Noah could be the last player suspended for this supplement, as it is a banned substance on the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is on its way out.

The investigation that the National Basketball Players Association launched found that there was no malice from Noah. He did not knowingly or willingly break the rules according to sources, and was very cooperative with the investigation.

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Noah’s suspension is expected to begin right away. The Knicks next play tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. That should be the first game of the suspension that Noah serves. The Knicks only have 10 games remaining in the regular season, so Noah’s suspension will carry into the 2017-18 season regardless of when it starts.

Noah has not appeared in a game for the Knicks since February 4th when he was injured against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Noah underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on February 27th, which many people believed was the end of his season. But, he was beginning to work out and get his conditioning up according to Wojnarowski’s league sources.

The 32-year old Noah signed a huge contract with the Knicks this offseason, agreeing to a four-year, $72 million deal. That deal has proven to be a disaster thus far, as Noah played in only 46 games his first season, constantly being injured.

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This suspension is just the icing on the cake of what has been a disastrous first season for Noah with the Knicks. His first year with the team is now officially over, as he ends the season with averages of 5.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 22.1 minutes per game.

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