The saying money can't buy happiness might seem borderline unrealistic to most "common" people, but this expression is particularly true in the case of former Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah . During his time in college, Noah was one of the most interesting and energetic players coming out of his junior year — he won two NCAA titles with the Florida Gators, played on one of the most beloved teams in recent college history, and became a national star.
But as he was about to declare for the draft, where he was projected to be a top-tier lottery pick, he and a bunch of his teammates realized something very real. Yes, their dreams were about to come true and they were about to secure massive paychecks… but those "dreamy" college days were officially over. And that's when reality kicked in.
"If you look at that press conference when we declared for the draft… Everyone's crying. I'm like, 'We are supposed to be happy. Everybody is about to get paid and you guys are crying?'" Noah recalled on the "Run It Back" podcast.
Florida's legendary run is still talked about to this day. Billy Donovan's Gators won back-to-back national championships in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons and became one of the most iconic college teams ever. Featuring Al Horford , Corey Brewer , Taurean Green and Noah himself, they were a perfect blend of chemistry and basketball skill — a group that genuinely loved playing with and for one another. So when Noah was selected as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and signed a rookie deal worth just over $10 million, the moment was huge. It was the culmination of a dream, the entrance into a new world and the confirmation that all the hard work had paid off.
But the feeling was… different. Maybe Noah wasn't exactly "sad" that instant, but the reality of stepping into a business-first environment hit him in a way that money simply couldn't patch up. The expectations set in, and they were heavier than ever.
"We had a great time. And you can't underestimate that, you can't take that for granted, you know. When I was making a lot of money, it was the most sad I was in my basketball career," the retired center pointed out.
For nine seasons, Noah was a key pillar of the iconic Bulls squad featuring Derrick Rose , Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer . In the Windy City, he became a fan favorite almost instantly because of his grit, energy, and willingness to sacrifice everything for the greater good. He wasn't the flashiest guy, nor the most skilled offensively, but he was the never-stopping motor of those Tom Thibodeau squads.
Noah won the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year award, became a two-time All-Star, and helped the Bulls stand toe-to-toe with the LeBron James –led Miami Heat superteam during their heated Eastern Conference wars. For a while, Chicago looked like a legit threat to win it all.
But injuries, timing, and fate had different plans. Rose went down, and soon followed the rest of the team. That entire generation walked away with nothing more than broken dreams and "what ifs." And for Noah, that journey brought him back to his earlier realization — that joy in basketball can come in very different forms.
While Jo never lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy, he still earned around $143M during his 13 seasons in the league. So it is safe to say that that specific sadness was worthwhile.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
