Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will not join France's national men's basketball team at the 2012 London Olympics due to a left ankle injury suffered during the NBA Playoffs. Noah told the French publication L'Equipe that he was "absolutely not ready. Not ready to run, not ready to jump."
Noah injured his ankle in Game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers in May. He has since spent his time rehabbing with trainers outside of Los Angeles. Bulls teammate Derrick Rose will miss the Olympics for the United States after tearing his ACL in the Bulls' first series of the playoffs.
France's squad could be severely shorthanded for the Olympics, especially if Tony Parker is forced to sit after scratching his cornea as collateral damage in the brawl between Drake and Chris Brown at a New York City night club. The 12 members of the French national team will be announced Thursday.
For more on Noah and the Bulls, head over to the SB Nation blog Blog a Bull.
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