Dear Derrick, I started following NBA towards the back end of your 2011 MVP campaign.
I did not follow a team, but watched basketball on occasion. This was before I fell in love with your play.
You attacked the rim with a certain ferocity and athleticism I did not think possible, and the excitement of the United Centre Crowd every time that you sliced through a defence was special.
Too big. Too strong. Too fast. Too good.
I watched you be praised as the youngest MVP in NBA history. As the home-town hero in Chicago, the successor to Michael Jordan and the best player in the league, there was nothing you could do wrong.
I bought a poster the length of my bedroom wall and framed it, and bought many other small ones like it to display in my bedroom. This is how I fell in love with the Chicago Bulls, and ultimately, the NBA.
The 2012 season, my first full season following the league, was up and down. You missed multiple stretches of the lockout-shortened season with injuries, most notably severe back spasms.
The Bulls managed the first seed in the East, however, and you were available for game one of the playoffs. Game one went perfectly for the most part, with Chicago playing beautiful basketball and having a double digit lead with time dwindling.
Then you fell. And you grabbed your knee. And you didn’t get up. Until you were helped off the court by staff and players, and the entire city of Chicago drew a collective gasp.
This was the beginning of your demise, and Chicago’s demise, and we all know the story of how it ended. You showed flashes of your MVP self in 2014-15 and 2015-16, but it was clear the pressure placed upon your shoulders by fans became too much. You were unable to return to that MVP-mentality of attacking the rim with authority.
You are my all-time favourite player, and I wish you nothing but the best. I believe you can accomplish special things in New York, if the mind is willing. With Joakim Noah, your best mate, you can take home a championship.
I will feel the joy as if the Bulls had won it themselves. You will always be from Chicago, and Chicago should always typify the manner in which Derrick Rose rose to stardom.
As Stacey King has famously stated, big time players make big time plays. Go get ‘em, Derrick.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
Yep.. well put Swampy. Agree with your assessment! Hopefully for his sake he can get back to playing at an all-star level. He will take more jump shots I believe to extend his career, and should look to average 6-7 assists in that offence if he stays healthy!
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
Agree with everything you said there! Rose, for me, would be happy to play 65-70 games. The pick and roll with Porzingis should be dangerous, considering the good floor spacing around them. Celtics can cause trouble in the East, but ultimately will not have enough offensive firepower to contend with the Cavs in my opinion. Similar to Atlanta, but better due to their defence and home court advantage.
Mitchell Goldfinch
Roar Rookie
well put swampy! as long as he accepts his ability and his role, NY could well and truly flourish!
Swampy
Guest
Derrick Rose comes across very similarly to Gary Ablett. Indestructible as they attacked, seemingly unable to be stopped - but both have been crueled by injury and there are very similar rumours that abound as to how resistant they both were to doctor's advice and their respective rehabbing application. Both look as if they will never be the same again - Gary at least is much older than Rose and we did get to see the best of him for a longer period than poor Derrick. I hope that Rose is smart enough to work on the parts of his game that will help him be a very good NBA player in NY. His explosion is gone and unless he does something nefarious it will not come back (& he doesn't appear wired that way). But he still has a brilliant handle, can make great passes and can finish at the rack - even without his same athletic ability. If he can play with more control to cut down turnovers, work on hitting open jumpers, run the pick and roll better and play off the ball he will be a tremendous asset to NY. He would do well to emulate a Tony Parker type player - accept he's not the man anymore and just help his team win. In Chicago, Rose didn't have many 3 pt threats on court with him - in NY he has two big guys who have that potential and if he can bring himself to defer to Melo and Porzingas in pick and pop situations he will find he won't need to be the old Derrick Rose to be an asset
Mitchell Goldfinch
Roar Rookie
It is going to be interesting to see how they orchestrate things in New York, both Melo and Rose need the ball in their hands, and like it in their hands. Coming off a season playing 60 + games it will be interesting to see if he can push it to 70 + and really take the Knicks from the bottom of the east to the top. I don't know Derrick Rose, but from the outside looking in, he lacks the out and out determination that he had in his MVP season. Melo drifts in and out of games and also seems to lack the killer instinct. Its going to be interesting to watch. My Celtics have added All Star Al Horford and will bolster their position in the east around defense and team work. Losing only Sullinger and Turner.