Joakim Noah To Play For France In European Championships

Joakim Noah will play for France in the European Championships, according to an AP report. France begins play in the tournament against Latvia Aug. 31.

Noah fulfills a longtime dream of his. Back in 2007, he had an interview with Jonathan Givony of Draft Express during which he discussed his desires to play for the French National Team:

My priority right now is the NBA draft, but that is something I'm definitely going to do in the future, and it will be with the French team. Like I said, right now it's about being focused on the draft. That's how I'm going to be able to pay for my hamburgers.

The clear implications of that last statement notwithstanding, Noah will serve the country that gave birth to his father, Yannick, a French Open tennis champion, and granted Joakim citizenship in 2007.

Tony Parker has not agreed to join the French National Team because of insurance issues as a result of the NBA lockout. European teams could be forced to pay up to $2.9 million in insurance for career-ending injuries alone, 

according to USA Today.