Jalen Brunson, who was acquired by the New York Knicks in the offseason, is doing well thus far. The Knicks faithful are ecstatic about the emergence of their new star because the former Dallas Mavericks point guard has lived up to all expectations thus far.
Derrick Rose, on the other hand, has noticed a decline in his role this season, especially in terms of his playing time. The former league MVP has played in just 14.0 minutes per game in New York’s opening two contests, as opposed to the 24.5 minutes per game he averaged last year.
Nevertheless, according to Peter Botte of the New York Times, Derrick Rose could not give a damn:
I m letting Thibs dictate that. I didn t talk to him at all about it, said Rose. My job is to just be vocal and try to express what I see on the court. As far as minutes, I don t worry about it because of the saying, if you stay ready, you don t got to get ready. That s my mindset.
… My job is to push the pace. If not, take me out and put somebody in that can fulfill the job. I m not worried about minutes, never worried about minutes. It s what s better for the team. It could be Deuce [second-year guard Miles McBride]. It could be times that I don t play. Who cares? As long as we win, I don t care.
Rose has obviously accepted Tom Thibodeau’s coaching philosophy and is willing to spend more time warming the bench if it will benefit the team.
Rose has had a big impact on the squad despite his short tenure, especially in their rout of the Detroit Pistons. The 34-year-old came off the bench and finished with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, three triples, three rebounds, and six assists.
Rose wants to see more from himself despite his good performance versus Detroit:
This too shall pass. This is probably the worst you see me play, Rose said. I don t play pickup. I m feeling out the games, trying not to mess up the game by being out there and being too aggressive. Just feeling out who s out there and who is with me.
… I m not trying to downplay my play but understanding that I still got to get my timing on, my jump shot, still got to get my timing on. I m working all the time to get my timing. I m kind of out of rhythm on certain plays. But it s gonna come the more I play.
Derrick Rose will undoubtedly play a role in the success that the New York Knicks are able to attain this season as they attempt to create waves in the Eastern Conference.
Derrick Rose of the Knicks is brutally honest about his lack of playing time in the wake of Jalen Brunson’s rise in an article that first posted on ClutchPoints.
