Despite hardly playing for the New York Knicks throughout the 2022-2023 season, Derrick rose heads into their first-round playoff matchup as a leader for the upstart squad.
This season has been one of resurgence for the New York Knicks. Two years ago they were the surprise team in the Eastern Conference as they won 41 games and were the fourth seed in the East. However, the opposite happened last season when they lost 45 games and couldn’t even make it into the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Related: NBA games today – Get watch times and odds for tonight’s playoff action
However, in ’22-’23, the New York Knicks are back. Julius Randle has recaptured his All-NBA status from 2020-2021, Jalen Brunson has been the best free agent signing of this past summer, and players like Immanuel Quickley have taken major leaps forward in development. But one name that hasn’t been a big part of the turnaround is former league MVP Derrick Rose.
While Rose was huge in the New York Knicks’ return to the playoffs two years ago, injuries and his age relegated him to just 27 games this season. Yet, three-time All-Star still seems to have a major role to play in their playoff series against the Cleveland Cavalier, even from the bench.
New York Knicks record (’22-’23): 47-35
On Thursday, the New York Post reported on Derrick Rose’s new major role with the Knicks, and that is as a leader and advisor.
“He’s been great. I feel like the past week and a half or so, he’s been a little more vocal. I think he kind of feels the excitement coming back, the playoffs coming around.”He hasn’t been in the rotation for us [but] he’s been kind of one of the biggest key factors for us on the bench, talking to us, giving me tips, Jalen tips, whoever really kind of comes out of the game.
Given what we’re going through, stuff out there in practice, he’s definitely talking more. He’s talking to me, [Miles McBride], anybody, anybody who will listen. Having a guy like that — he’s an MVP, a Hall of Famer, you’re gonna listen to him every time he talks. So, it’s definitely gonna be something I take advantage of, for sure.”
– Quentin Grimes
Many of the players mentioned have been major and new impact players on this particular roster. Leadership plays a massive role in the postseason, and if they can continue that strong play due to the advice and leadership of Rose, that will be massive in the New York Knicks scoring a surprise first-round upset in the NBA Playoffs.