Joakim Noah's year is likely over after the Bulls announced the big man will undergo surgery to stabilize the dislocated left shoulder he suffered Friday night.
Noah is expected to miss four to six months, the Bulls announced in a press release Saturday. Details of when Noah will have the surgery have not yet been determined.
Noah, 30, suffered the injury after getting tangled up with Mavericks center JaVale McGee. He grabbed his shoulder in obvious pain and immediately went to the Bulls' locker room. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game and left the United Center without speaking to the media.
[SHOP BULLS: Get your Bulls gear right here]
Noah previously missed nine games earlier in the year after suffering a left shoulder strain on Dec. 21 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Furthermore, this might be the end of Noah's career in Chicago. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and the Bulls' surplus of big men could mean the Bulls move on from Noah, who was drafted ninth overall by the team in 2007.
Noah was relegated to the bench for the first time since his rookie season under first-year head coach Fred Hoiberg. In 29 games he averaged 4.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game.
NBA
In his absence, the Bulls will rely heavily on Taj GIbson and promising rookie Bobby Portis on the second unit.