Los Angeles—French international Joakim Noah announced his retirement from basketball on Monday, ending a 13-season NBA career.
Noah, 36, confirmed earlier reports he planned to retire in a statement on Instagram.
“It was a hell of a ride,” Noah wrote. “Thank you to all those who show me love throughout my journey.”
The two-time NBA All-Star, who was named the league’s 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, eventually plans to retire as a member of the Chicago Bulls—the team that picked him in the 2007 Draft.
Noah, the son of French tennis great Yannick Noah, enjoyed the best years of his career with the Bulls during nine seasons in Chicago.
He joined the New York Knicks in 2016 but his appearances were limited by injury as well as a 20-game suspension for a doping violation.
He joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2018-2019 campaign, averaging 7.1 points per game in 42 appearances.
He signed a short-term contract with the Los Angeles Clippers last year but was waived by the club in December after making only five appearances for the team.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks fired head coach Lloyd Pierce on Monday following the team’s lacklustre start to the season.
A statement from the Hawks said Pierce had been “relieved of his duties” as the team attempted to reinvigorate their season.
Atlanta are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with 14 wins and 20 defeats, just outside the playoff places.
“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta,” Hawks president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk said in a statement.
“We have high expectations for our team on the court and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season,” Schlenk added.
Pierce took over as Hawks head coach in 2018, compiling a 63-120 record in his 183 games in charge.