Derrick Rose believes he’s far from done and made his intent clear that he intends to continue playing.
Speaking to Marc J. Spears for Andscape, “I still got a lot left in the tank, so it’s about being patient,” Rose said. “I killed my ego long ago. It’s not about the ego thing anymore. It’s about enjoying where I am at right now because there are a lot of older guys and younger guys that wish they were in my position.”
“I’m still in the mix,” the former MVP added. “It’s like someone asking you to reflect on yours if you’re still in the game. That’s how I feel. I still feel like I’m giving them my all. I still feel like I’m getting better. It may sound crazy, but it’s true. I still feel like I’m getting better.”
Rose has largely been out of the rotation for New York and has been in a limited role. But he still continues to generate deafening roars from the crowd whenever he plays — a phenomenon that’s occurred a few times this season.
The ongoing season has seen him play 27 games averaging 5.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists — the lowest numbers in his last seven seasons in the NBA. But the former Bulls superstar is still optimistic that he has enough to make a splash.
Speaking about his All-Star guard, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said, “He’s had, in my opinion, a Hall of Fame career. But he is a Hall of Fame guy as well.” Rose will next be seen in action in Game 2 of the second-round clash against the Miami Heat.
Derrick Rose Says He’s Invested In Giving It His Everything
The same interview saw Rose talk about being the locker room leader for the Knicks. “Give them everything. Coming in early. Being on time for everything. Keeping my routine the same after 67 games when I’m not playing but two or three minutes,” Rose said. “Talking to the young guys. Being vocal. I’m fully invested in everything to be here. And if I [wasn’t], I wouldn’t be on the team.”
He added that he was grateful that New York hadn’t traded him away. “There aren’t too many 15-year vets just sitting around benches. You have to give some type of value. I’m thankful that they didn’t trade me or buy me out or waive me. I’m happy I have some type of value.”
Earlier, former Detroit Pistons guard and Chicago native Isiah Thomas said the Windy City was most proud of Rose.
“The guy that we’re the most proud of out of Chicago is Derrick Rose,” Thomas said. “He lived all of our dreams. And then he plays for the Chicago Bulls, right? And then he becomes the youngest MVP in the league at 20. C’mon man, I mean everybody is like, when ‘D-Rose is walking to the room, it’s like fame music be playing.'”
As far as his future goes, the Knicks have a club option on the player for $15.5 million next season with a June 24 deadline. And even if they do trade him, at 34, he’s still confident of delivering, and his impressive CV will see him find a suitable team.
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