Derrick Rose was nowhere near his MVP form during the 2014-15 season, yet the Chicago Bulls point guard remains confident in his basketball ability.
Per Cody Westerlund of 670 The Score, Rose said a lot of people don’t know he’s great, but that’s not changing how the 26-year-old thinks.
Derrick Rose: "I know I’m great. There’s a lot of people that don’t know I’m great, that’s the thing. But it’s cool. I know I can hoop."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) September 28, 2015
Rose isn’t lacking in the self-confidence department, but he needs to translate that into execution.
It seems crazy, but Rose’s MVP campaign was four years ago. A few knee surgeries and shortened seasons later, Rose should no longer receive the benefit of the doubt on the court.
The Memphis product was far from a dominant force during the 2014-15 season. He tallied 17.7 points per game but shot a dismal 28.0 percent from the three-point line and 40.5 overall. Additionally, Rose posted a terrible 97 offensive rating despite a 31.7 usage rate.
Perhaps Rose won’t be subject to rest days this season, and the point guard will have a year-long opportunity to prove whether or not he should again be considered great. Otherwise, the only player on the Bulls who deserves that title is Jimmy Butler.