NBA legend Chris Paul is widely regarded as one of the greatest pure point guards the game has ever seen, but that doesn’t mean his 18-year run has been perfect. For basically his entire career, Chris Paul’s greatest struggle has been staying healthy, just like how it was for Derrick Rose during his prime. Interestingly, Paul and Rose have actually bonded over their common struggles and the Warriors guard has since expressed his appreciation for the former Bulls star.
“People wouldn’t know but over our careers, we only played each other a few times. But when I was in Houston, I got a chance to talk to him for a little bit and just told him how much I appreciate him as a hooper,” said Paul. “Because I’ve had injuries over my career, I know how it affects you mentally.”
.@cp3 shares his respect for Derrick Rose🌹 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/w2dYoIBcBh
— Point Forward (@pointforward) December 1, 2023
Chris Paul has spent his entire NBA career on the West Coast so it makes sense that he’s only crossed paths with Rose a few times over 18 years. Arguably the best of these matchups came in 2011, during Rose’s MVP season when he dropped 29 points and 16 assists against the Clippers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz_7K9pN-R8
Derrick Rose’s Incredible Perseverance
Drafted first by the Bulls in 2008, Derrick Rose was a stud on the court from the very beginning. For his debut season in Chicago, Derrick averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 0.8 steals per game on 47% shooting. Those numbers steadily improved until his MVP campaign in 2011, when he put up 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game on 44% shooting.
Sadly, it was just one year later when things took a turn for the worse. After playing just 39 games in the 2011-12 regular season, Rose suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the first round of the playoffs that not only cost him the entire following season but also cost the Bulls a potential title run. While Rose never reached his MVP level again, he refused to give up on the game and would go on to establish himself as a high-level NBA point guard during stints in New York, Minnesota, and Detroit. Today, Rose is still active in the NBA (even after all those injuries) and is currently averaging 9.7 points per game for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Chris Paul Is Still Going Strong
While Chris Paul’s injury history is not quite as dramatic as Rose’s, he’s also been plagued by durability problems throughout his career. Every year, it seems that Paul goes down at the worst possible time, including during the playoffs with a potential series win on the line. Somehow, despite the constant injuries, Chris Paul has managed to deliver a Hall of Fame career that is still alive in 2023.
This season, with the Golden State Warriors, he’s already missed a few games due to a minor tweak and he’ll probably miss more as the season goes on. But Paul is a valuable player when he’s on the court and even though the Warriors can’t count on him to stay healthy, he’s doing everything that’s been expected of him and the Warriors are more than happy with what he’s given them so far.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
