Why Ex-Knicks Center Didn't Enjoy Tenure

During the show, he discussed his time at Florida University and how the fun decreased once he entered the league. However, one quote alludes to his happiness disappearing once he signed with the Knicks. 

“When I was making the most money, it was the most sad I was in my whole basketball career," Noah said. 

Noah made $142.9 million in 13 NBA seasons. Although Noah finished fourth in MVP votes during his Chicago Bulls tenure, his Knicks tenure marked his most lucrative. 

The New York native signed a four-year, $72.5 million contract in 2016. In the first mark of a bad omen, Noah's time with the Knicks aligned with NBA legend Phil Jackson's tenure as the team's president. Although the Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis during Jackson's "reign," his negatives outweigh the positives. 

Noah made the playoffs seven consecutive times. Once a player is accustomed to making the postseason, missing the playoffs for the next two seasons will likely cause an adverse reaction regardless of how much money you're making. 

Furthermore, Noah played 53 games in two seasons with the Knicks and didn't finish his contract with the New York franchise. Noah averaged only 19.9 minutes, indicating his worth to the Knicks. 

Considering Noah's time with the Knicks began his fall from grace as a star to fringe rotation player, it's understandable for him to have such a stance on making the most money in his career compared to winning NCAA championships with the Florida Gators.