PARIS (AP) 鈥� Joakim Noah, like his father, is now a winner on .
The former Chicago Bulls center teamed with Gabby Williams of the WNBA鈥檚 Seattle Storm to beat former Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton and Spanish tennis player David Ferrer in a basketball game on the famed clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday night.
Noah and Williams won in three 鈥渟ets鈥� 鈥� the first two were to six points, the final set to three points.
鈥淚鈥檇 never played basketball here, for sure,鈥� Noah said after the game, part of the lead-up events for Thursday鈥檚 game between the Bulls and Pistons in Paris. 鈥淚鈥檝e hit some tennis balls a few times on this court. It鈥檚 a really special place.鈥�
Noah鈥檚 father, Yannick Noah, was the French Open men鈥檚 champion in 1983. Joakim Noah was born in 1985, won two NCAA titles at Florida and was a two-time All-Star in a career that spanned 13 seasons 鈥� mostly with the Bulls.
For the record, Joakim Noah says he鈥檚 not exactly good at tennis. But it was a special moment to be on the clay where his father once reigned.
鈥淓very time I see the pictures and the videos I know it鈥檚 it鈥檚 a part of my history,鈥� Noah said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 really proud of it. I know how hard it was and how much sacrifice went into being able to play at this level and to have that special moment of winning.鈥�
The game, a promotional event for Wilson Sporting Goods, was 2-on-2 on half a tennis court, using the baselines and sidelines as out-of-bounds.
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Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press
