Fansided

Derrick Rose says he’s still one of the NBA’s best players

By Alexandra Huber

Oct 29, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (left) sits in the bench next to center Joakim Noah (right) during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 107-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (left) sits in the bench next to center Joakim Noah (right) during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 107-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Chicago Bulls‘ Derrick Rose claims that he is one of the best players in the NBA – still. 

It seems as though Derrick Rose still has confidence in his playing ability. In fact, he maintains that he is one of the league’s best players.

After Wednesday night’s final regular season game against the Atlanta Hawks, in which he only played 10 minutes, Rose said that he is still one of the best players in the NBA, according to ESPN Chicago.

The timing of this assertion is interesting considering Rose did not play the second half after being sidelined by knee soreness – the same knee in which he tore his ACL in during the 2012 playoffs. He finished with two points on 1-3 shooting. The Bulls still won the game 91-85 thanks to an impressive 23-point performance from point guard Aaron Brooks, Roses’ replacement.

Given the timing, it’s almost as though he’s trying to convince himself of his greatness.

More from Chicago Bulls

In terms of pure basketball talent and ability, Rose is right. His skill-level is elite, sometimes jaw-dropping. But when it comes to consistently helping to elevate his team? Not so much.

The key word here is “consistently.” In recent years, Rose, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in February, has spent more time riding the bench than slashing on the court.

So when it comes to the best players in the NBA, Rose is up there (still) but he has done nothing to improve his positioning over the last few years. In fact, he’s only fallen.

Since 2010-11, when Rose was named league MVP, we’ve seen the ascension of players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love, among others.

While LeBron James is the NBA’s undisputed best player, new-comers like Anthony Davis, Andrew Wiggins and Kyrie Irving are making cases for themselves in the top 15. Then there are established veterans like Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan who have cemented their legacies and made playoff runs all while Rose has been incapacitated.

In fact, the argument can be made that Rose is not even the best player on the Bulls. Teammate Joakim Noah, who won Defensive Player of the Year last season, has more of a day-in, day-out impact that Rose does.

Somewhere around #20 on the list of best players is where we find Derrick Rose. If it weren’t for his unbelievable MVP season, however, he might be 10 or 20 spots down the list.

Therefore, Roses’ assertion that he is one of the league’s best is technically true. But if the Bulls want to make any noise in the playoffs this year, they need Rose to be fully healthy and produce. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen in recent years, that is no guarantee.

The Bulls, who locked up a three seed in the Eastern Conference with Wednesday night’s victory, will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first-round of the NBA playoffs.

More from FanSided

Home/Chicago Bulls