It hasn’t been easy for Nerlens Noel. After missing substantial time, Noel is back in action for the Dallas Mavericks as they tank play out the final stretch of the season. Whereas he found himself riding the bench early on, Noel is now part of the rotation and contributing nightly. After a season of questions, it appears that Noel is finally getting a chance to prove himself.
In the six games he’s played since returning to action on February 28, Noel is averaging 4.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 18.3 minutes per game. Almost across the board, these numbers are a marked improvement from earlier in the season. In his first 18 games, he averaged four points and 4.1 rebounds in 12.5 minutes. He didn’t average a whole number in any other basic statistic category, although his shooting percentage was significantly higher than it is now.
“It felt good,” Noel said after his first game back against the Oklahoma City Thunder. “You know, certain things will come back in a short period of time but overall I thought I went out there and did what I had to do and things will just continue to improve as everything goes along.
“I thought we established some chemistry with guys that have to get used to playing with me again—knowing where I’m going to be at, knowing where to throw it. It’s just all the easy things that will fix itself.”
The knock on Noel early was that those “easy things” weren't so easy for him. He drifted on defense, hedged too hard defending pick-and-rolls, and missed defensive assignments. Head coach Rick Carlisle was quick with his crook, yanking Noel from games when this happened. It contributed to a narrative—goaded by Carlisle—that Noel wasn’t the player the Mavericks thought he was when they traded for him last season, casting his future with team in doubt. Grabbing a hot dog at halftime during a game didn’t help matters.
Then came the biggest blow: His injury.
On December 6, Dallas announced that Noel sustained a torn ligament in his left thumb. He opted for surgery and missed the next 36 games. At the time, the injury was panned as an excuse to get Noel away from the team. Some, including myself, even questioned the validity of the injury and subsequent surgery. (Noel does have a visible scar on his left thumb.) The writing appeared to be on the wall. His days in Dallas were surely numbered. He’s still here, but that hasn’t kept the same narrative from dogging him.
“I thought he blew a couple of plays out of timeouts that he shouldn’t have,” Carlisle told reporters after Dallas’ recent loss to the Houston Rockets.
Even with Carlisle’s criticism still in full swing, Noel is seeing more playing time. He’s also making a positive impact on the floor from time to time. These plays that have some wondering why he wasn’t on the court more when he was healthy, especially if winning games wasn’t a priority. Regardless of the real reason—if it is ever revealed—Noel knows what he has to do when he’s in the game.
“Just running the floor, being an athlete, blocking shots, getting steals, changing the game,” Noel said recently. “Especially on defense, whenever I’m out there, I’m able to protect the paint, get out on the pick-and-roll, get some steals, just mix up the game and send it in a different direction that helps us with momentum. Just being assertive on offense in the pick-and-rolls, open up guys, open up open shooters. The lob will definitely come the more feel we get and the more time we get through the games.”
Noel’s situation in Dallas has been tumultuous. There are myriad reasons for it and both Noel and Carlisle deserve some of the blame for his fraught tenure. Nevertheless, Noel is making the best out of his situation. He’s a free agent this summer and is looking for a better deal than the one he signed with the Mavs last season.
No one can predict what the future holds for Noel or where he’ll be playing next season. Despite everything he’s endured in Dallas, Noel hasn’t closed the door on returning. At least not yet.
“I can’t say I can’t [return],” Noel told Mavs.com. “I will definitely be open. I am excited to see how the season ends and see what we can make happen.”
