Derrick Rose. Oh, Derrick Rose.
Let’s face it, Derrick Rose’s career has been going downhill since the 2011 NBA Season. I’d love nothing more than to see the 29-year old stick with the game, but his long list of injuries is going to hold him back moving forward.
Once the league’s youngest MVP, Rose was an explosive, shifty guard who got to the rim with ease. His cross-over would leave you shook, because he had one of the quickest first steps in the league. At his peak, he was an elite superstar, gaining attention league-wide that put Chicago back on the map since the Jordan Era. He was an incredible player to watch. He got the team involved. One of the rarest aspects to his game is that he played both ends of the ball and thrived. The injuries began adding up, as he became a top five point guard in the league. It took a toll on his body.
To look back at his peak, Rose could’ve ended the LeBron-Heat era before it even began had he never went down with the ACL injury in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs vs the 76ers. He led the Bulls to a 50-16 record that season, which awarded them the #1 seed in the postseason.
How long can a guy go while recovering from injury after injury? It makes all the sense in the world to throw in the towel. It’s clear to me that Rose hasn’t been healthy for years. Unfortunately it’s affecting, not only himself, but the teams he’s been on since his first major injury. The Bulls gave up on him after a few years, and when Jimmy Butler came in it was clear that the future was not focused on Rose. The Knicks also parted ways with the PG after one season. He’s been a walking plague and Cleveland’s in dying need of a Point Guard at the moment.
He should make this decision in his best interest. At 29 years old, experiencing the injuries he has encountered, Rose needs to retire and walk away, while he still can.
Thinking about the Rose conflict reminds me instantly of Brandon Roy and what he was able to bring to the NBA. Roy was an amazing talent. He wasn’t the fastest. However, he always found a way to put the ball in the basketball. Similar to Rose at age 26, his knees started to give out, forcing him to retire at age 27. He decided to come back for a season to jump-start his career. It was clear to everyone that he wasn’t the same player he once was. He appeared in only five games for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Injuries are a gamble in this league. I’m surprised that Cleveland hasn’t issued any repercussions on Rose in his absence. For Rose, he was once a star and the last few seasons have been difficult for him trying to get back to that Elite status, but he only seems to keep acquiring more and more injuries. If Rose is only causing more harm to his body and is even contemplating walking away from the game at such a young age, he should retire and let it go. Once a player loses motivation to play, he becomes a liability on the floor. Why fabricate the process when a team like Cleveland needs a guard right now? I wish nothing but the best for Derrick Rose, but he needs to call it quits.