Sixers head coach Brett Brown did his best on Monday to downplay reports that rookie Nerlens Noel would play for the first time on April 4th, instead sticking to the company line that the big man’s status remains up in the air. Per the Philly Inquirer:
Noel has not played this season after undergoing left knee surgery following his lone season at Kentucky. Brown said in October that Noel was unlikely to play this season. The Sixers have not made the 6-11, 228-pounder available to speak this season.
“I don’t know that much about the tweet we are talking about,” Brown said after Monday’s shootaround at MSG. “And I’m not sure anyone has been really able to define it.”
The coach was asked if he liked Noel’s eagerness to play despite this being a dismal season for the Sixers.
“Just in general, he’s all in in regards to the practices and the weighs,” Brown said. “He’s just come with boundless energy. And I really don’t want to go on record too much in regards to the tweet, because I really don’t know enough about it. I haven’t spoken to him about it. That’s that.”
