NY Knicks: 3 reasons a Derrick Rose reunion is likely
By Adam Kester
NY Knicks: Derrick Rose close relationship with Tom Thibodeau
The Rose-Thibodeau bond has been well documented. Thibodeau was Rose’s coach for 5 seasons with the Chicago Bulls and again later with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rose’s arrival in New York in early February was met with immediate smiles as he was reunited with his longtime coach, and the transition was an easy one.
Prior to joining New York, Rose was a productive player for the Detroit Pistons and very much the same level of player he was later in the season for the NY Knicks. The difference in New York was that Rose was now playing for a playoff team, and he was playing inspired basketball.
It’s not just about the personal relationship between Tom Thibodeau and Derrick Rose, it’s about Rose’s familiarity with Thibodeau’s system.
Tom Thibodeau wants his point guards to relentlessly attack the rim and there’s nothing that Derrick Rose does better. Rose knows what to expect out of his role in the Knicks offense and Thibodeau knows what to expect out of Rose.
It’s been an arduous few years for the post-Chicago Derrick Rose, who has been a part of abysmal losing teams who were far removed from the spotlight.
He now finds himself back in a winning situation where the lights are brightest in New York. The team has enough money where signing him is just a minimal chunk of their cap space.