Derrick Rose: Superstar Continued
Remember the early years of Derrick Rose, the premier superstar of the NBA that was destined for greatness? Remember a powerhouse Memphis basketball team that came within a miracle shot of winning the NCAA Championship? Remember when Rose led the Chicago Bulls to be a perennial threat in the Eastern Conference? We may not have to look as far back anymore to see this Derrick Rose.
Rose excelled on the court from an early age, dazzling fans and foes alike with his prowess, athleticism, and skill. Born and raised in the dangerous Englewood area in Chicago as the youngest of four sons, Rose found fame early in his basketball career and led Simeon Career Academy to back-to-back State Championships. He went on to join John Calipari’s Memphis Tigers in 2007, helping to claim a Conference USA championship and a Final Four appearance before being selected first overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. He continued his success in the NBA, winning Rookie of the Year and revamping the Chicago Bulls into a top contender for the NBA title. Achieving comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, Rose indeed proved himself as a “killer” in the sport of basketball.[1]
Then, tragedy struck. In the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, Rose tore his ACL in a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The injury was the first of many that would hamper his ability to play, effectively sidelining him for two seasons. By 2014, we regularly asked ourselves the question: would Rose ever be able to return to his star-studded gameplay?
On October 31, 2018, Rose scored a career-high 50 points in a win against the Utah Jazz for the Minnesota Timberwolves, his fourth NBA team in as many years. In an emotional postgame interview, Rose reflected on his “hell of a game”, shedding tears as he spoke of his performance.[2] Rose, drafted ten years prior, put on a show that made all fans watching feel the emotion. Though not the first glimpse of heroism and talent that we saw since 2012, Rose proved that he can still be a fearsome opponent in the NBA.
When he retires, we will undoubtedly ask ourselves yet again of what might have been if Derrick Rose remained healthy. We will wonder how many championships the Bulls could have had, how many records he could have broken, and how great of a legacy that he could have left among many other questions. While we may only have his 50 point performance, his game-winning bank shot in Game 3 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals against Lebron’s Cavaliers, and the release of a Lil Pump banger as his highlights since 2012, we should not think of his later career as one that could have been, and instead consider it to be one of the most inspiring comebacks in all of sports. Perhaps his achievements and expected success in the future may not merit a Hall of Fame induction as his critics argue. But if there is one thing on which we should all agree about Derrick Rose right now, it is that we still may see something spectacular when he sets foot on the court.
[1] https://www.si.com/nba/2015/05/03/derrick-rose-chicago-bulls-mvp-2011-michael-jordan-killer-instinct
[2] http://www.nba.com/video/2018/10/31/0021800107-uta-min-rose-postgame-crying