New York Knicks: Five Times Derrick Rose Showed MVP Form In 2015-16

Destroying Denver

Date: February 5, 2016
Opponent: Denver Nuggets
Result: 115-110, L
Stat Line: 35 minutes, 30 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 13/27 FG, 4/6 FT

The Chicago Bulls stopped rallying around Derrick Rose at some point during the 2015-16 NBA regular season. The Denver Nuggets prevailed in this encounter, due in part to that very reason, but Rose wouldn’t let his team go quietly.

Rose dominated the Nuggets with a near triple-double that had many believing the former MVP had rediscovered his past form.

Rose lit up the Nuggets in Denver for 30 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and a steal on 13-of-27 shooting from the field. It was an absolute clinic by a player who hadn’t put on a show like this in years.

It’s hard to envision Rose consistently ripping off triple-doubles in 2016-17, but it’s also encouraging to know he has this type of production in him.

In a game during which Pau Gasol was inactive and Jimmy Butler played just 18 minutes, Rose stepped up with a monster performance. That’s an encouraging sign for a New York Knicks team that, with or without injuries, will need the occasional eruption from Rose.

With or without the scoring, Rose’s ability to crash the boards and facilitate could be invaluable.