Dec 2, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin (1) sets a pick as guard Derrick Rose (4) drives around Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / © Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
In 2020-21, Derrick Rose played 937 meaningful minutes for the Knicks.
He averaged 15 points, hit 41% of his 3s and had a near 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio for New York.
Rose’s play was key in the Knicks’ run to the 2021 playoffs; the club went 24-11 after acquiring Rose in a midseason trade with the Detroit Pistons.
Rose’s role on the 2022-23 Knicks was much different than that first season.
He played only 338 minutes — just 53 over the final 59 games of the year.
Even though the club had success with Rose largely out of the rotation, his Knick teammates insisted that he could still contribute to winning.
They finished the season 37-22 the rest of the way, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Rose accepted his role well, serving a strong veteran presence for his teammates. But all along, those teammates said Rose could still play.
“He’s still got some juice,” Julius Randle said in late February.
Rose should get plenty of opportunity to show what he can do in 2023-24. On Friday night, Rose agreed to a two-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, as SNY first reported. Rose is expected to get regular minutes with Memphis, particularly early in the season when star point guard Ja Morant serves a 25-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league.
Just as Rose did in New York, he will probably serve as a veteran presence for a young Grizzlies team. Young Knicks like Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin said that Rose was instrumental in mentoring them when he was in New York. Randle was always effusive in his praise of the former MVP.
Rose should add the same dynamic to the Grizzlies. He’ll also get the chance to play regular minutes — an opportunity that wasn’t there in his final season in New York.
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The Knicks had a…
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