Jamal Crawford (C) of the Atlanta Hawks goes between Carlos Boozer (L) and Joakim Noah, both of the Chicago Bulls, during the first half of Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference second round playoff basketball game in Chicago May 4, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Noah grew up in Manhattan and attended a private United Nations school but there is nothing genteel about his game, which was influenced by New York City streetball tournaments where he was dubbed "The Noble One."

There is more to Noah's sporting lineage than just Yannick, who besides his grand slam singles and doubles crowns at the French Open also captained France in Davis Cup and Fed Cup.

Noah's paternal grandfather Zacharie Noah became a professional soccer player in France after emigrating as a child from Cameroon, and his Sedan team won the 1961 Coupe de France (French Cup). His grandmother, Marie-Claire, was the former captain of the French national basketball team.

Winning fuels his passion

After leading the Florida Gators to victory over UCLA in 2006 for the school's first NCAA Tournament title and being named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, he decided to return the next year, where he won another title.

He will try to get one step closer to an NBA title when the Bulls host the Heat for Game Two of their series in Chicago on Wednesday.

Heat Head coach Erik Spoelstra was impressed with Noah in Sunday's opening game.

"(Noah's) effort exceeded ours on many occasions and it impacted the game," Spoelstra told reporters. "That's what this series is about -- endurance, mental and physical endurance."