Bulls' Joakim Noah reflects on grandmother's passing

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah played in the Bulls preseason-opening victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday after missing three days of practice due to the passing of his grandmother.

After the game, Noah talked about what his grandmother meant to him. Noah said that she introduced him to basketball and was the first member of his family to play the game. His grandmother played on the Cameroon national team and was the team secretary. Noah said it has been a hard week for him, but that he was happy to be back playing basketball again. He scored 10 points and added seven rebounds in the 92-88 Chicago win.

Noah averaged 10.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for the Bulls last year. He injured his ankle in the Bulls' playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers last season, causing him to miss the Olympics for the French national team, but he is healthy heading into the season.