32-year-old point guard Derrick Rose has been through unimaginable hurdles in regards to his NBA career. Battling injuries, dysfunction, and plenty of otherworldly obstacles, his path has been especially hard for a guy so widely beloved by the NBA community. So far, Rose has persevered through it all to remain a valuable and productive player — but even he doesn’t know how long that’s going to last.
Facing the last leg of his journey, Rose is out to win a Chip now, something he apparently made clear to the Pistons before his departure. According to Detroit head coach Dwane Casey, the former MVP pulled him aside to express his desire to get traded to a playoff-contending team.
“Coach, I’ve only got so many miles left in my legs. I want to make sure I go to a situation where I have the chance to make the playoffs this year.”
Derrick Rose reportedly told Pistons coach Dwane Casey before he was traded: “Coach, I’ve only got so many miles left in my legs. I want to make sure I go to a situation where I have the chance to make the playoffs this year.” (via @IanBegley)
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 11, 2021
🔊@DetroitPistons Head Coach Dwane Casey describes to @talkhoops, @badboyhorn44, & @LegsESPN the conversation he had with Derrick Rose days before his trade to the #Knicks #DetroitUp #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/d9Mk4afsEW
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 10, 2021
Rose got sent the Knicks which, under normal circumstances, would be a slap in the face. The Knickerbockers have been mired in drama and mismanagement for years now, and it’s not usually the place for an NBA vet to look for postseason glory.
This season, though, things might be different. With Julius Randle playing like an All-Star, New York is hovering at the 9th spot in the East, with a record of 11-15.
It’s too early to tell if they can sustain a high-level of play, but Rose seems excited enough to return to his former team (he played there previously for the 2016-17 season). As the fans root for his success, it will be interesting to see how far he’s able to take them.
