It's been over a month since the Chicago Bulls decided to part ways with their former number one pick and franchise player, Derrick Rose, and move him to the New York Knicks. Now, the 27-year-old spoke about how he felt when he found out he was traded and what the most difficult thing that comes with it was.
Derrick Rose's initial reaction
Per The Vertical's Nick DePaula:
“I couldn’t believe it. I was kind of hurt at first, of course, coming from my hometown and moving, period. Being away from my kids and away my family, that’s going to get to you, no matter who you are. You’re going to be emotional about it.”
The move by his former team was not surprising for many as the 2011 MVP has been plagued by injuries year after year since winning the top player award. Derrick Rose has not played a complete season but managed to appear in 66 games last season – the most in his last four years.
When healthy, Rose has the skills to be one of the elite point guards in the NBA. He has career averages of 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 35 minutes per game. His explosiveness and quickness when driving to the basket has been his strong point in his 8 years in the league. However, after a multitude of knee injuries, he has not been able to play at the same level during the start of his career.
Big Apple, big dreams
Now that he is in the Big Apple, he hopes to put his injury woes all in the past and sees this as a new lease of life. The Memphis product is very positive and knows he is a great fit to his new team.
He had this to add:
“I’m going to a great market, and to a city where they love basketball and basketball is a culture there, They just love players that play hard, and I think that I fit that personality. I’m a person that’s going to play hard and give the game everything that he’s got.”
After adding key players to their roster in addition to Rose, including Courtney Lee and Joakim Noah, to play alongside Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks are geared for success with the hopes of making the playoffs and competing in the Eastern Conference.
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