Bulls' Noah Earns All-NBA First Team Honors
(CBS) Bulls center Joakim Noah was named to the all-NBA first team, the league announced today.
Noah earned the elite honor alongside Thunder forward Kevin Durant, Heat forward LeBron James, Rockets guard James Harden and Clippers guard Chris Paul. It's the first all-NBA honor of any sort in the 29-year-old Noah's career. He's the fourth player in Bulls history to earn first-team status, joining Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Derrick Rose.
Noah garnered 551 points, far ahead of Houston's Dwight Howard, who was the second-team center with 226 points. Howard was joined on the second team by Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Spurs guard Tony Parker.
The third team was comprised of Pacers forward Paul George, Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Bobcats center Al Jefferson, Suns guard Goran Dragic and Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
Durant was the lone unanimous first-team selection, garnering all 625 voting points. James had 623 points, as he was placed on the second team on one ballot.
Noah averaged career highs of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds (sixth in NBA) and 5.4 assists. He also averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. Behind Noah, the Bulls held opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, second-best in the league.
