New York Knicks: All Derrick Rose Wants Is To Win
Forget about the gaudy statistics and the legacy-defining NBA MVP award. All Derrick Rose really wants to do with the New York Knicks is win.
Derrick Rose has traveled one of the most grueling paths in NBA history. From the darling of Chicago to the injury-prone star of Twitter-baased character assassinations, Rose is often mentioned in the same breath as Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, and Bill Walton.
Many have asked the question of whether or not Rose can return to his MVP-caliber form, but that’s the last thought on his mind.
Eight years and seven seasons into what still has the loose makings of a Hall of Fame career, Rose’s focus is singular. Already a league MVP with three All-Star Game appearances at 27 years of age, Rose isn’t focused on any accolade but the big one.
For all of the pomp and circumstance, and the extraordinary narratives, all Rose truly cares about is winning.
For those who can’t see the video, Rose said the following:
"[I’m] coming in here with the mindset of winning. I just wanna win, man. That’s the only thing I wanna do. I know it’s going to be a lot of pressure and people are going to put a lot of pressure on us, but, it’s no pressure at all. All we gotta do is just go out there, play together, and win games. One game at a time."
At the end of the day, that’s all one really wants to hear from a basketball player.
If Rose is able to add a fourth All-Star Game appearance to his tally, then more power to him. At his best, he’s a dynamic playmaker who can drive against any caliber of defender and finish with both power and creativity.
Under a head coach, Jeff Hornacek, whose motion offense creates opportunities to attack closeouts, Rose should be able to drive without needing to make the hard cuts that have led to his string of knee injuries.
That alone is reason to be intrigued.
Even if Rose is unable to perform at a star-caliber level, the only thing that truly matter is that he helps New York win. Carmelo Anthony is 32 years old with a closing window, and Kristaps Porzingis can only benefit from getting an early taste of the postseason.
In Rose’s eyes, the most ideal turn of events would be to win with the Knicks and thus call New York his home for the rest of his career.
"With all of the tension, and all of the congratulations that I got here, I hope I’ll be able to play the rest of my career here. But, like I said, this is a business. I guess we’ll have to see how this one year goes, but, I’m putting my all into this. I’ve been working my butt off."
It’s admirable to see Rose, a father, so dedicated to providing his son with stability.
The ideal scenario with Rose is that he remains healthy, produces well, and helps the Knicks return to the playoffs. Once there, Rose has proven capable of taking and making the big shots when the pressure mounts and the lights shine bright.
There’s no telling what the future holds, but Rose hopes that his future begins and ends in New York.
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How can one not appreciate a player whose solitary focus is winning?