Joakim Noah received a hero’s welcome in his return to the United Center

On Monday night, Chicago Bulls hosted the San Antonio Spurs in a clash between two teams off to a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. Finally, the The Spurs outlasted the Bulls without Josh Giddy121-117, and Chicago has now suffered its fourth loss of the new season – a worrying sign considering how they started the season 5-0.

Regardless, the Bulls being able to keep up with the Spurs squad despite being without several of their key players, namely Giddy and Kobe White, bodes very well for their future prospects. This Bulls team seems to have fed off the underdog energy that one of their former key players in franchise history who was at the United Center on Monday has always displayed throughout his memorable NBA career.

Joachim Noahwho played for the Bulls from 2007 to 2016 and was part of many iterations of the team that reached the playoffs, was in the stands to witness their contest against the Spurs first hand. And as United Center crowds are known to do, they did embraced one of their own as if he hadn’t left.

Joakim Noah receives a standing ovation at the United Center during Bulls-Spurs 🔊

(via @draveszachari) pic.twitter.com/gIjCg3kkod

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 11, 2025

Noah was known for his hustleenergy and his ability to shake the opposition whenever he was on the court for the Bulls. He expanded his game on both ends after Derrick Rose’s career-altering ACL tear, and kept Chicago afloat in the mid-2010s before Jimmy Butler took over.

Noah will forever be loved in the Windy City and the reception he received on Monday will always be what he walks into whenever he visits the United Center.

Joakim Noah, Bulls legend

What the Bulls could have accomplished had Rose not torn his ACL remains the biggest what-if in franchise history. But Noah continued to contend every night, especially during the 2013-14 season, and even finished fourth in the MVP voting during that aforementioned season.

In nine seasons with the Bulls, Noah averaged 9.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He played in just 29 games in his final season with the team before signing a big-money contract with the New York Knicks in free agency.