NBA NEWS - JOAKIM NOAH WINS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah - NBA photo

First Bulls player to receive the honor since Michael Jordan in 1987-88 -- Noah, who appeared in 80 of Chicago's 82 games, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg), 12th in blocks (1.51 bpg) and added 1.24 steals - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK,

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, the centerpiece of a defense which held opponents to a league-low 91.8 ppg, is the recipient of the 2013-14 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. Noah becomes the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan in 1987-88 to earn the honor.

Noah received 555 of a possible 1,125 points, including 100 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Indiana's Roy Hibbert (166 points, eight first-place votes) and the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan (121 points, eight first-place votes) finished second and third, respectively. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received.

Noah, who appeared in 80 of Chicago's 82 games, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg), 12th in blocks (1.51 bpg) and added 1.24 steals. He was one of just three players (Detroit's Andre Drummond and New Orleans' Anthony Davis) to average at least 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals. Behind Noah, the Bulls held opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, second-stingiest in the league.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

April 22, 1947 The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Chicago Stags 83-80 in Game 5 to take the NBA’s first championship series 4-1.

April 22, 1987 The NBA granted expansion franchises to Charlotte, Miami, Minneapolis and Orlando. The Hornets and Heat joined the league in 1988-89, and the Timberwolves and Magic in 1989-90.

April 22, 1988 Charles Oakley of the Chicago Bulls grabbed 35 rebounds, the most in one game in the 1980s, in a 107-103 loss to Cleveland.

April 22, 1989 Utah guard John Stockton won his second straight NBA assist title, picking up a total of 1,118 assists (13.6 apg), becoming the first NBA player to record consecutive seasons of over 1,000 assists. Stockton stretched that 1,000-assist per season streak to a total of five seasons, up through the 1991-92 campaign.

April 22, 1990 San Antonio defeated Phoenix 108-93 to finish the season at 56-26, the Spurs’ 35-game improvement over the previous season being the greatest one-year jump in NBA history.

April 22, 1994 New York defeated Milwaukee 125-85 at the Bradley Center, as Pat Riley became the 11th coach in NBA history to compile 700 career victories.

April 22, 2000 Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone (36 years, 273 days) became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points or more in a playoff game when he recorded 50 points in Game 1 of the first round against Seattle.

April 22, 2000 Miami’s Pat Riley records his 150th career playoff coaching victory after a 95-85 victory over Detroit in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.