New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson was asked to pick between some of the finest point guards in modern NBA history by Simply British Ballers, and he made it clear he is on Team Derrick Rose. Brunson picked Rose even over the likes of Stephen Curry and his former teammate Luka Doncic.
Q: “D-Rose or Allen Iverson?”
Jalen Brunson: “I’mma say D-Rose.”
Q: “D-Rose or Russell Westbrook?”
Brunson: “I’mma go D-Rose.”
Q: “D-Rose or Kyrie [Irving]? It’s not meant to be easy.”
Brunson: “I’mma say D-Rose.”
Q: “Let’s go D-Rose or James Harden?”
Brunson: “D-Rose.”
Q: “D-Rose or Luka Doncic?”
Brunson: “Luka’s still playing, so I’mma say D-Rose.”
Q: “D-Rose or Steph?”
Brunson: “D-Rose.”
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Rose is unfortunately one of the greatest what-ifs in NBA history. The Chicago Bulls selected him with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and he became an All-Star in just his sophomore season.
Rose went a step further a year later, becoming the youngest player ever to win MVP in 2011, aged 22 years and seven months. He looked set to have quite a decorated career with the Bulls, but it wasn’t to be.
It all started to go downhill for Rose after he tore the ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. He missed the entire 2012-13 campaign and then tore the meniscus in his right knee in November 2013.
Rose just wasn’t the same after those injuries, and the Bulls decided to trade him to the Knicks in 2016. The change in location didn’t change his fortunes. Rose’s 2016-17 campaign would end in April when he tore the meniscus in his left knee. It was another hammer blow for a guard who had already suffered so many.
Rose bounced around in the NBA in the years that followed but returned to the Knicks in 2020. He spent three seasons with the team, and his last campaign with them was Brunson’s first. In case you were wondering why Rose was selected over all of those big names, the time these two spent together as teammates played a part in that.
The Bulls celebrated Derrick Rose Night on Jan. 4 when they played the Knicks. Rose had a beautiful message for the fans that night, and Brunson later spoke about what it meant for him to be in Chicago for the occasion.
“I can’t put it into words,” Brunson said. “I’m so thankful to have him as a role model, as a mentor. That’s my man, and I love him to death.”
Brunson and Rose originally forged a relationship when the former’s father, Rick, was an assistant coach for the Bulls from 2010 to 2012. The bond then strengthened in New York during the 2022-23 season, and Brunson is grateful for all Rose has done for him.
If we put emotions aside, though, you would pick all the other options Brunson was given over Rose if we look at their careers.
Curry, in particular, would get the nod. He has won four titles, a Finals MVP, two MVPs, and two scoring titles with the Golden State Warriors. Shaquille O’Neal has even demanded that he be put in the GOAT conversation.
As for Doncic, he doesn’t have a championship or MVP to his name, but he has won a scoring title and is a five-time All-Star. He has also made the All-NBA First Team on five occasions, and it’s only a matter of time before he wins an MVP and a championship.
