Derrick Rose 'Appreciative' of 2nd Knicks Stint Upon Grizzlies' Visit
Derrick Rose is back in bloom and he has the New York Knicks to thank for it.
The Knicks hosted another homecoming on Tuesday as point guard Derrick Rose took to MSG hardwood for the first time since signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. Rose spent four seasons with the Knicks, including each of the prior three.
Rose scored seven points in 12 minutes of action but a sore ankle forced him to leave the game, a 123-113 Knicks win, early. Prior to his medically-induced departure, Rose was warmly received by those gathered at Madison Square Garden: he shared a pregame hug with MSG Network play-by-play Mike Breen and was given a solid round of applause upon his entry in the first half.
Before Tuesday's tip-off, Rose spoke about his love of New York, particularly his latter stint in the city, with Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
“I really appreciated my second time back," Rose said. “I was able to have my son here, he grew up here, my other kids, they love it here. I was able to build relationships that I still have to this day … It was great.”
Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY SPORTS
Rose mentioned he had "a lot of (stuff) going on" during his first metropolitan stint in 2016. At that time, Rose referred to the Knicks as a "super team" with his services attached to those of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. But a trying season, one that saw Rose face sexual assault allegations (of which he was cleared) just before its start and yet another injury. The Knicks won only 31 games that season and Rose played with Cleveland, Minnesota, and Detroit before returning to the Knicks in a 2021 trade.
The second go-around afforded fleeting flashes of the old Rose, as he averaged 20 points in 35 appearances with the Knicks to close out the 2020-21 season and he was the team's leading scorer during their postseason cameo against Atlanta. But the injury bug limited Rose to only 26 games the following year and he effectively fell out of the Knicks' rotation the following season, reduced to nostalgic cameos when results were well in hand.
Despite its dour ending, Rose continued to express his appreciation for the modern Knicks, including longtime mentor Tom Thibodeau: the current Knicks boss also oversaw Rose's time in Chicago and Minnesota including his memorable run to the 2010-11 MVP award with the former.
Rose told Bondy that he had not spoken to Thibodeau since Jalen Brunson's summer wedding but mentioned that he maintained a "good" relationship with "Thibs."
“That relationship, it won’t be strained," Rose said. "Even when they said they’re going in a different direction, I can’t be mad at Thibs for that.”
Rose now resides in Memphis, the site of his fine collegiate affairs in 2008. Some envisioned Rose as a mentor to embattled Grizzlies star Ja Morant but a lengthy injury list has pressed him into service. At 35, Rose has averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 assists in 19 appearances (7 starts) in just over 17 minutes a game.
Memphis (18-33) is set to serve as a bit of a home for Rose, as he's signed through 2025. But Rose expressed another appreciation, standing as grateful for developing a niche, nomadic role for himself, one that began when Chicago traded him to the Knicks in 2016. Accepting such a role has likely kept him on the floor, as he had mulled retirement when the Knicks didn't invite him back.
“It feels weird, but at the same time knowing and understanding the business, you’re not going to be in one place your whole career. With me, I’m kind of becoming a journeyman. It’s part of the deal," Rose remarked. "With longevity, that comes with becoming a journeyman. You look at Vince Carter. You look at how many teams he played on, the years he played. It just makes sense.”
