"D**k watchers" - Joakim Noah reveals inconvenient protocols behind NBA drug testing
The NBA tests players randomly for drugs and former Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah shared how the testing process goes. Noah, who had been suspended by the league once after failing a dope test, came on 'All The Smoke' show. One of the things he discussed there was the league's drug policy.
Specifically, he talked about how the NBA conducts these random tests on players, with former Golden State Warriors champion Matt Barnes. Both Noah and Barnes had been tested for drugs by the league before.
According to them, this is how the testing goes.
"Well," you just get p*ss tested all the time and you got a guy just looking at your d**k," Noah said. "Like making sure that it's you that's pissing, the d**k watchers."
Afterwards, Barnes and Noah both agreed that it was a job that they wouldn't wish on any person owing to how "weird" it was. They then burst out laughing, likely thinking about their weird experiences with the NBA's drug testing program.
Fans often hear about players getting randomly drug tested. While the process can be inconvenient, it has also resulted in some hilarious reactions from players who have gone through it.
In 2019, Danny Green was drug tested after a highlight putback dunk off a LeBron James miss. Green was better known for his defense and perimeter shooting so seeing him hit a slam dunk off a putback was quite rare. Later, Green himself posted on X that he was being tested for drugs.
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Joakim Noah was once suspended after failing a drug test
Towards the end of the 2016-17 season, Joakim Noah was dealing with an injury that kept him sidelined. However, that did not stop him from being subjected to a doping test.
The league found out that Noah had violated the league's anti-drug policy through that test, which resulted in him receiving a 20-game suspension. However, since he wasn't playing due to injury, the league decided that his suspension would begin on the first game where he was eligible to suit up once more.
In April of that year, it was also reported that Joakim Noah had to undergo shoulder surgery due to a torn rotator cuff. The report also stated that he was not expected to miss training camp.
When the season started, fans barely caught a glimpse of Noah on the court. He did not debut until Nov. 27 when the Knicks battled the Portland Trail Blazers. He saw just a little under three minutes of action and had two points, one rebound and one block.
Joakim Noah only played seven games for the Knicks that year and averaged only 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. The Knicks tried but ultimately failed to reach a buyout agreement with him before the 2018-19 season. This resulted in him being waived.
As a free agent, Noah signed with the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 2018.