Bulls' Noah arrested on pot, alcohol charges

Bulls center Joakim Noah could face a suspension at the start of next season after he was charged with marijuana possession and an open-container alcohol violation early Sunday morning in Gainesville, Fla.

A team spokesman said general manager John Paxson spoke to Noah and expressed disappointment in the incident. The Bulls had no further comment.

Noah could not be reached for comment. The voice mail box on his cell phone was full.

A police spokeswoman told the Gainesville Sun that officers spotted Noah on a public sidewalk at around 1:50 a.m.

Police reported he was carrying what appeared to be a clear plastic cup with an iced, amber-colored beverage inside. Noah put the cup down when the officers approached. They checked the cup and felt it smelled like an alcoholic beverage, the spokeswoman said.

Noah was taken to a nearby station, and police said during a routine search a cannabis cigarette was found inside a package of tobacco cigarettes in his pants pocket.

The former University of Florida star was issued a notice to appear in court sometime in June to face misdemeanor charges. He could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.

Noah had mixed success during his rookie season with the Bulls. He averaged 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and started 31 games, missing the NBA's all-rookie second team by a single vote.

He was suspended in January for a verbal tirade toward assistant coach Ron Adams, an incident that garnered even more publicity because Noah's teammates voted to recommend a two-game punishment after he was originally docked one game.

Noah helped lead Florida to a pair of NCAA championships. After being drafted No. 9 by the Bulls last year, he boasted that no one had a better college experience than he did.