Report: 'Unlikely' Nerlens Noel plays this season but coach will not confirm
His hair game is ready to see NBA action, but his knees may not be.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Nerlens Noel continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered in February 2013, and the reviews coming in from coaches have to leave fans excited.
However, it continues to seem like a long-shot that Noel will be able to flash his talent at the NBA level this season. CSN Philly reports:
With just eight games remaining it seems unlikely Noel will participate in a contest this season. However, Brown would not confirm that. The coach simply reiterated the special ability he sees in the center and how that bodes well for the franchise’s future.
The season is almost over, and if the 76ers aren't hyping a potential Noel return now, it seems unlikely they'll do an about-face down the stretch. It's hardly worth the risk. And when he does return, there will be a learning curve.
“He’ll do what everybody does -- he will play too fast,” 76ers head coach Brett Brown explained. “He will try to rush things. He won’t let the game come to him. He will try to impose himself on the game. He will be very erratic. He will be turnover prone and foul prone."
The report also suggests that Noel will likely suit up for the 76ers Summer League team this summer, which would be must-see viewing for any Philly fan.
As for those glowing reports, here's a snippet from Brown:
The first thing that I have fallen in love with is that he is beyond competitive. There is a dog in him, a toughness in him that I misjudged.
He doesn’t talk a lot, but he is a fantastic listener. You go through all those months shooting one-handed with him and then you see him come out here.
...
He is a fierce competitor and that is the number one quality for me that makes someone special. Then you get into the athleticism. He has a bounce. People that can block a shot, hit the floor and go back up are special and he can do it with both his right hand and left hand.
Add Noel to a core that includes Michael Carter-Williams, Thad Young and possibly two more lottery picks from the 2014 draft, and the 2014-15 76ers are going to be a lot of fun to follow.