The New York Knicks brought back a familiar face and Tom Thibodeau favorite in NBA star Derrick Rose recently. Rose spent the first seven seasons of his career with Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls before joining the Knicks for one season.
The two united with the Minnesota Timberwolves again in 2018 before Thibodeau was fired in 2019. Now, the two are back together again in New York City with something to prove.
Thibodeau is looking to turn around a dormant franchise he was part of during the glory days in the 1990s. Rose, now a seasoned NBA veteran with a different perspective on basketball, is glad to have a chance to get things right again in New York.
The Knicks, much like Derrick Rose, are in a much different place than the first time their paths crossed in 2016. Rose shared some thoughts about it on his Instagram.
It didn’t take long for Rose’s presence to be felt on the team after being acquired from the Detroit Pistons. He immediately took two young Knicks, 2020 first-round picks Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, under his wing.
Rose took the rookies out to dinner before even playing in a game with the team. He gave them his phone number, letting them know he was there to help.
This is the kind of veteran leadership the Knicks were looking for from their new NBA star. New York didn’t have a player 30-years of age or older on the roster when the season began, but they have brought in two Thibodeau disciples, Rose and prior to that Taj Gibson, to help the young guys along.
Rose has not been shy about heaping praise on the youngsters. He spoke very highly of Obi Toppin’s IQ and preparedness, while also being complimentary of Quickley as well.
This is great for the team’s chemistry. Derrick Rose, Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin all play on the second unit, along with Gibson. Rose has already made his presence felt when it comes to Toppin, as he goes out of his way to get the former Dayton product involved offensively. Rose has topped at least 14 points and three assists in every game with the Knicks this season, stats Austin Rivers, who he replaced in the rotation, didn’t accomplish once this season.
That kind of impact will not only help the Knicks in the short-term win games but also in the long term when it comes to the development of the young guys. New York has surprised people this season, and if they want to continue climbing the ladder, Toppin and Quickley’s development is paramount. You can count on Rose helping them realize that potential as long as he is around.
