While teammates and fans were shocked and saddened to learn that big man Joakim Noah will be out for up to an estimated 10 weeks after he undergoes surgery for a nagging thumb injury Thursday, no one was more upset than Noah himself.

“Man, I can’t believe I’ll be out for 10 weeks!” said Noah after the Bulls’ convincing 110-93 win in Toronto Wednesday night. “That’s like a whole month, right? Man, I can’t believe it.”

When a trainer explained to Noah that a 10-week layoff means he won’t return until March, he was nearly inconsolable.

“Dude, March?” said Noah. “That sucks. That’s like four years from now, right?”

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