Rose’s basketball career still alive
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Derrick Rose dribbles against Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder in their Nov. 5 game. Rose has played in seven of 19 games this season.
November 27, 2017
In a career filled with high expectations, disappointments and countless injuries for one of Chicago’s native sons, Derrick Rose is contemplating if continuing a career in basketball is still worth it. Rose has come too far to drop everything and quit now.
It was reported Rose is taking a break from basketball to evaluate his future in the NBA, and his numerous injuries are taking a mental toll on him, according to a Friday Bleacher Report.
Rose has a long list of injuries, including major injuries of two ACL tears and a meniscus tear, but his latest one is an ankle sprain, which is currently sidelining him for a couple weeks from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The fact something as small as an ankle sprain is having such a mental impact on Rose proves one simple truth he can’t hide from — the man just cannot stay healthy.
As the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose was selected by his hometown Chicago Bulls and got to live out his childhood dream of playing for his favorite team.
Rose was one of the best things that happened to Chicago basketball since Michael Jordan. In his third year, Rose became the youngest MVP in league history, leading the Bulls to a 62-20 record and a conference finals appearance.
Rose had an up-and-down 2011-12 season with injuries, but an ACL tear in his left knee on April 20, 2012, in the first round of the playoffs was the beginning of something more for Rose.
Since the year following his MVP season in 2011-12, Rose has played in 237 of a possible 495 regular season games, according to ESPN.
A man who was just a kid from Chicago has become one of the NBA’s saddest stories.
This season, Rose’s latest injury could possibly be the boiling point. Cavaliers Head Coach Tyronn Lue feels for his point guard.
”We want him to take his time,” said Lue, according to a Friday Fox Sports article. “Just know the team, the coaches, the organization all have his back and wish him well. I reached out to him and texted him and told him that we support him. We know he’s going through a tough time right now.”
What makes Rose different than any other veteran who struggles with injuries is the expectations he has for himself and others have for him, given what he has accomplished in his career.
Rose needs to stop trying be the best player on the floor and assume his role as a backup on a contending basketball team like the Cavaliers.
After playing for a laughable, unstable environment with the New York Knicks last season, Rose is in the best situation for his career right now — he’s playing with LeBron James and a championship organization.
With all of Rose’s setbacks, he still shows signs of being one of the fastest and most explosive players in the league. In only seven games this season, Rose is averaging 14.3 points and a career-high .448 percent from the field, according to ESPN.
“With the injuries that he’s gone through his whole career, we hope this [is not] the end, but if it is, I was happy I got an opportunity to spend a couple of months with him and watch him be the great point guard that he once was,” said James, according to a Saturday ESPN article. “No matter if he comes back [or] if he doesn’t, we want him to be happy with whatever decision he makes.”
The NBA is a better league with Derrick Rose as a part of it, and he should continue fighting to end his career on a more respectable note.