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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Noah top defender

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday in front of friends and family. “This is very humbling to be in this situation right now,” Noah said at a news conference where his family was in the front row. He told coach Tom Thibodeau: “Without your system, this wouldn’t be possible.” Noah joins Michael Jordan in 1988 as the only Bulls players to win the award. Noah has improved in a big way in that area since he was drafted out of Florida in 2007 and was the Bulls’ most valuable player this season, averaging career highs of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists. The recognition comes at a difficult time for Noah, whose mentor and second father figure, Tyrone Green, recently died. – Associated Press