Joakim Noah Skips Knicks' Military Dinner With West Point Cadets

Joakim Noah answers questions during a news conference at the Knicks’ training facility on July 8, 2016. (AP)

Colin Kaepernick's protest of the national anthem has sharped a focus on athletes around the country, young and old, are are expressing their views on sociopolitical issues. This week, New York Knicks big man Joakim Noah has done an action that may cause just as much, if not more, controversy than Kaep.

Noah, who just joined the Knicks after nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls, skipped his team's annual dinner with Army cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point and missed a speech from a retired Army colonel. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year said he had "mixed feelings" about the camp because he opposes the idea of young troops fighting in war.

"It's hard for me a little bit. I have a lot of respect for the kids who are out here fighting. But it's hard for me to understand why we have to go to war, why kids have to kill kids around the world," Noah said. "So I have mixed feelings about being here. I'm very proud of this country. I love America, but I just don't understand kids killing kids around the world.

"At the end of the day, I'm not anti-troops. It's just not comfortable for me to see kids going out to war and coming back having seen what they've seen, having done what they've done," he added. "It's sad for me. It's sad for me because they're just sent out for things that I don't really want to get into it to be honest with you. It's hard for me."

New York Daily News pointed out that during his time in Chicago, Noah started the Noah's Arc Foundation to fight gun violence and engage at-risk youth in the city. So this isn't the first time that he has expressed passion for taking weapons out of the hands of young people.

Lt. Col.  Christopher Kasker, a spokesman for West Point, still believes Noah's decision was "inappropriate."

"The U.S. Military Academy at West Point develops leaders of character for the defense of our nation," Kasker said. "We are disappointed and feel Mr. Noah's choice of West Point to make a statement is inappropriate because of the great sacrifice that has originated from this institution over our nation's history."

Jeff Hornacek, the Knicks' head coach, said he respected Noah's decision.

“That’s his right. He wants to be a part of the team group and do everything the team is doing. He just didn’t feel comfortable,” Hornacek said. “We’re not going to pressure him into doing that.”