Con: Injury History
Derrick Rose did an excellent job of listening to his body and playing only when it was the responsible thing for him to do. He appeared in 64 of a possible 82 games, but eight of those absences were once the postseason was out of the question.
Unfortunately, Rose has a long list of injuries on his docket—a list that continued to grow during the 2016-17 NBA regular season.
Even if one were to exclude the list of minor injuries Rose has endured, the severe ailments are overwhelming. He tore his ACL in 2012, and tore his meniscus in November of 2013, February of 2015, and April of 2017.
For a player whose game is based on his ability to create penetration and finish at the rim, such an extensive history of knee injuries is concerning.
Rose has proven that he’s capable of playing a high number of games with 60-plus appearances in back-to-back seasons. He’s closing in on 30 years of age, however, and plays a style that applies pressure to the very area that has been most severely damaged.
Rose will receive a chance to play somewhere in the NBA, but the New York Knicks are well-aware of the injuries he’s sustained and what they imply.