3 reasons why Derrick Rose will be a vital factor in 2022-2023

Derrick Rose is entering his third consecutive season in a New York Knicks uniform, and fans should expect a lot of production from the former MVP. Over the past two seasons, he has arguably been the team’s most reliable offensive option. A healthy season for Rose would mean good things for the Knicks.

The 33-year-old still has a lot left in the tank. He may not be a starter, but he will certainly be one of the go-to options in New York’s offense. His ability to take pressure off the other guys as well as run the second unit is something that the Knicks lacked last season because Rose sat out for most of the year with an injury.

In 2022-23, Rose will hopefully be able to stay on the court full-time. Fred Katz of The Athletic reported (subscription required) that the sixth-man is expected to be ready to go at the start of the season. Not only will his return impact New York on the court, but his veteran presence will help the development of the team’s younger players.

Many fans are focused on losing out on Donovan Mitchell and questioning the Knicks’ playoff chances. One thing that people forget is that Rose missed 56 games in 2021-22, and not only did New York add Jalen Brunson, but the team is getting another valuable piece back in Rose.

When you take into account that RJ Barrett should continue to improve, along with the team’s other young players, the Knicks might be able to sneak their way back into the postseason.

3 reasons why Derrick Rose will be a factor for the Knicks in 2022-23

1. Derrick Rose takes pressure off of his teammates

Rose obviously isn’t what he used to be, but he reinvented himself. When he was traded from Detroit to New York in the 2020-2021 season, he made an immediate impact on winning. Julius Randle was certainly a huge factor then, but the Knicks were 17-20 before acquiring Rose. After the acquisition, they finished the season 24-11.

He then was asked to start in the first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, and that could’ve played a part in him getting hurt. With Brunson now on the roster, Thibodeau doesn’t have to ask Rose to play like Chicago Bulls D Rose.

This is a win-win situation for both sides. Rose is best when he only plays 20-25 minutes a night. He is completely capable of receiving starter-like minutes, but at this point in his career, it would be unwise for him to play that often. During those 20-25 minutes that he should be on the court, he would be able to add a different element to the offense.

In 35 games with New York in the 2020-2021 season, Rose averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 assists, and also shot 49% from the field. As a backup point guard, those numbers are very good.

With the addition of Brunson, the Knicks should be excited about the production that they’re going to receive from the position that has lacked production for so long. Rose and Brunson’s styles of play fit together well too, so they will likely be sharing the court together a lot throughout the season.

Rose can flat-out ball. He may not be the MVP D Rose anymore, but he can still produce. New York missed his production last season, and Rose being back on the court this year will help the Knicks’ offensive struggles.

2. D Rose can help the Knicks’ young talent

The Knicks have a lot of promising young talent. That was one of the main reasons that New York played a large role in the Donovan Mitchell trade talks. Everyone recognizes that they have young talent.

In 2020-21, we saw Rose take Immanuel Quickley under his wing while leading the bench unit. This season, the second unit is filled with young players. Quickley will obviously flourish, but Grimes and Toppin will also benefit from Rose’s presence. The pace gets turned up with Rose on the court, and those three do best out in transition.

Last season, the Knicks’ second unit was one of the few bright spots. With Rose returning to that rotation, they should be even better. If New York wants to make it to the postseason, the team is going to need to utilize their depth and that starts with the first option off the bench, which should be Rose.

Not only will fans see the kids flourish on the court with Rose, but off the court as well. Since being with the Knicks, he has been a mentor to a lot of the younger players, especially IQ. Although many consider RJ Barrett as the new leader of the Knicks, Rose is for sure the guy to go to for advice in that locker room, as he has certainly achieved the most.

3. Derrick Rose and Jalen Brunson will thrive on the court together

The national media can clown on New York’s offseason all they want, but at the end of the day, the Knicks added a player who averaged 21.6 points in 18 games in the 2022 playoffs. When you factor in Rose returning from injury, New York’s looking solid at the point guard spot.

As I mentioned before, both of their play styles fit well together. Brunson is going to need someone to help him run the offense, and Rose will be able to do just that. When Rose enters the game, Brunson could do serious damage off-ball if he stays in the game. The same goes for Rose, as he has improved his jump shot as he has gotten older.

Even if Rose isn’t starting, he is still one of the Knicks’ best players on the team. Some could even make a case that Rose is still the best basketball player on the team. He should be finishing the games out with the majority of the starters, as he can always get a bucket.

When the season begins and he checks into the first game, a lot of people will be reminded that Derrick Rose can still help New York win basketball games.

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