Report: Nerlens Noel already had multiple drug strikes before suspension

Nerlens Noel has been suspended for the rest of the regular season due to a violation of the NBA’s anti-drug policy, and it turns out that it was not exactly an isolated incident for him.

On Tuesday, the league announced a five-game ban for the Dallas Mavericks center along with Utah’s Thabo Sefolosha, per The Vertical’s Shams Charania.

Dallas' Nerlens Noel and Utah's Thabo Sefolosha have both been suspended five games each by NBA for violating anti-drug program.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2018

After the suspension was announced, SB Nation’s Tim Cato reported that it was “pretty well known” around the NBA that Noel had already accumulated multiple drug strikes that flew under the radar since they weren’t suspensions.

it was pretty well known around nba circles that nerlens already had a couple drug strikes on his ledger. first two infractions aren't public since they aren't suspensions.

— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) April 3, 2018

Noel, 23, finishes the season with 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in just 30 appearances for the Mavs, often finding himself as a healthy scratch. He will be entering unrestricted free agency in the summer but did himself absolutely no favors this season, especially with this latest incident on top of an infamous December episode that called his professionalism into question.