Derrick Rose perhaps knows struggle better than several other people in the world. Rose came from humble beginnings, like a lot of NBA players, and worked extremely hard to become the youngest MVP in league history. And while his life became comfortable after he made it, injuries robbed him of being able to turn his career into what could have been an all-time great one.
Having struggled at every level, Rose has developed a strong understanding of what it takes to become the best. And in his visit to the Senegal Men’s National Basketball Team, Rose gave an inspiring speech that has lots to think about. He spoke about the great sacrifice players have to make to become the best, in what is one of the more inspiring speeches in recent memory.
“I knew at a young age my living condition was fu**ed up. I could tell my mom wasn’t happy. She was getting [her paycheck] and putting the money out on the table. She’s got only $20-$50 for the next two weeks after she paid all her rent and bills with four kids. [I knew] I had to change something.
“I was shoveling snow to play basketball outside by myself. I’m out there in the rain. I didn’t care. If you want to be regular, just make a sacrifice. A great sacrifice is locking in and everybody is looking at you like you’re crazy. You got to fight. That’s life. Even when you get the money you still have to fight. I’m still fighting right now… for knowledge.”
There are levels to success, and Rose is talking about what it takes to become the very best in the world. The work and intensity required to make it happen usually mean that the player has to be consumed by their desire to succeed. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and all of these players are excellent examples of this, and Rose has followed the footsteps of the greats, even if he may have been unable to fulfill his full potential.
