Derrick Rose is the case of a player who seeks no fame, stays off social media but remains immensely popular.
The latest example was Saturday’s win over the Pelicans, when the Garden fans loudly and successfully urged Tom Thibodeau to insert Rose into the game in garbage time. It was Rose’s first appearance since December — and pretty rough considering he missed all four field goal attempts — but served as another reminder that not only the fans appreciate his presence, but also his teammates.
“D-Rose, that’s a legend,” Julius Randle said. “That’s a legend and he’s not playing. Obviously he’s still got some juice and he can still play. But that’s not his role on this team. I would argue that he’s having just as much if not more of an impact vocally as a leader for us. He’s constantly talking to me, giving me advice. His impact is huge. I love to see him out on the floor.”
As the Daily News reported over two weeks ago, a buyout of Rose’s contract isn’t totally out of question. However, Rose isn’t forcing a move and he’s comfortable in New York with his son playing AAU basketball in the Bronx for the Gauchos.
Rose is also 34 with a laundry list of prior injuries, leaving questions about whether he’ll continue after his contract expires this summer.
In the meantime, fans of the youngest MVP in league history can’t get enough. Rose was also the Knicks’ second-leading votegetter for the All-Star game this year, behind only Randle and ahead of Jalen Brunson.
Only Rose can be unexpectedly pulled from the rotation and become more likable.
“It’s D-Rose, man,” RJ Barrett said. “He’s incredible, just especially for me, as a kid growing up, I was like 8, 9 when he came into the league. And just as a basketball fan, seeing all the amazing things that he was able to do. Just to be around a guy like that every day, it’s special.”
CELTICS MISSING AN ALL-STAR
Jaylen Brown didn’t play Monday for Boston against the Knicks because of ‘personal reasons.’
A source said it was a family matter.
The East All-Star reserve averaged 26 points in his two games against the Knicks. After a victory over the Sixers on Saturday, Brown complained about the fans in Philadelphia.
“I started talking to one of the fans ‘cause it got a little excessive, where it got a little disrespectful and stuff like that,” Brown said. “Even before the game, we was entering the arena and there was people saying, ‘I hope you tear your ACL.’ And it’s just, I understand that people care and they love the team that they cheer for, but I think it gets a little excessive at times.”
BRUNSON’S IMPACT
Much of the Knicks’ success this season can be traced back to signing Brunson, who quickly showed Thibodeau his worth as a leader.
“It was immediate and probably the biggest thing was the leadership,” Thibodeau said. “And he’s a connector. He connects with everyone. I mentioned this to Leon when it first happened. Almost immediately, he was in the gym in the summer and he started working out. He was by himself. By the end of the two weeks, there were like 10 guys in there, and that’s the type of guy that he is. He’s always been that way. He’s a team-first guy. And it’s not anything that he says. He’s not a rah-rah, beat-his-chest type of guy. It’s more what he does. It’s just when you come in and you’re watching the intensity and the concentration of every workout and if he goes in the weight room, he’s doing the same thing. And I think that’s the best example you can have. That’s the best leadership you can have. And so, I think that set the tone for everything.”
