Derrick Rose is probably one of the biggest “what ifs” in NBA history. In his prime, he made 3 All-Star teams, won an MVP, and was widely considered one of the best point guards in the game.
And while we’ll likely never see Rose at his best again, there are many who still remember what it was like to play against him at the height of his powers.
In a recent chaat with Matt Branes and Stephen Jackson, on “All The Smoke” podcast, 4x All-Star Rajon Rondo spoke on why going up against prime DRose is incomparable to any other player he’s guarded.
“No, man, nobody,” Rondo responded when Barnes asked if prime Rose compared to any player he had faced. You got a whole scouting report on him for sure.
“And he still getting in there and jumping over everybody. He was too explosive. He was for sure a one-man fast break every night.”
Coming from a 4x All-Defensive player, Rondo’s words are not to be taken lightly, especially considering all the other players he’s had to guard over the years.
What really separated Rose from the others was his insane, unprecedented athleticism. His speed, vertical, and strength made him virtually unguardable on drives — and made for one heck of a show for the fans.
Unfortunately, injuries took their toll on Rose, and he has yet to return to the level of play we saw in Chicago. Still, he remains one of the game’s most fan-favored players.
