Derrick Rose had a tumultuous relationship with Chicago Bulls fans, and the former MVP thinks New York Knicks fans will appreciate him more.
Rose was introduced to the media in New York on Friday as an official member of the Knicks following his trade there on Wednesday. He said he wasn’t sure why the Bulls traded him, but he feels he will be appreciated more in New York.
“I don’t know why I was traded. But I would like to tell them thank you. Giving me another start. I’m grateful to be where I’m at,” Rose said. “I feel like they’re going to appreciate me a little bit more.”
Rose was a hometown kid drafted No. 1 overall by the Bulls in 2008 and he more than lived up to the promise of being a top overall pick. He won Rookie of the Year in his first season and became the youngest MVP in the league three years later. But Rose then suffered severe knee injuries and frustrated Bulls fans by recovering on his schedule, declining to play even after being medically cleared to do so until he felt mentally ready to play.
That led to Bulls fans and the media turning on him, viewing him as selfish, and it led the team to eventually trade him to the Knicks this week. Rose said he is looking forward to a new start and acknowledged that the reality of being on a new team hasn’t completely sunk in yet.
“It still don’t feel real,” Rose said. “Seeing my picture on a billboard or a screen outside the building, it kind of blew me away.”
Welcome to @TheGarden @Drose! pic.twitter.com/vKVI40nwjy
— MSG (@TheGarden) June 24, 2016
Rose said he would try to recruit one of his former teammates, Joakim Noah, to the Knicks. More importantly for the Knicks, he says he thinks he is close to regaining his MVP form.
Rose on regaining MVP form: "I feel like I’m close. But me sitting up here and saying it isn’t going to do anything."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 24, 2016
Now that they have Rose in the mix, the next step for the Knicks is going after Kevin Durant.
