After an thrilling finish to the 2024 calendar 12 months, the New York Knicks are aiming for No. 1.
Chasing the Cleveland Cavaliers is out of the query for the time being, however the second half of a back-to-back weekend will give them the chance to acknowledge the profession of one of the vital famend names in trendy basketball. After the Knicks tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Friday (8 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV), they’ll journey to the United Middle to tackle the Chicago Bulls. Derrick Rose Night time.
“Regardless of the function [he had]“He excelled in his function,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated earlier than his group took on the Utah Jazz on Wednesday evening (to SNY). “He was the last word teammate and clearly an amazing participant. I all the time bear in mind trying into the opponent’s eyes when he had the ball, as if you happen to may see the worry. For me, there isn’t a doubt that “He is a Corridor of Fame participant.”
Tom Thibodeau on Derrick Rose earlier than his Bulls jersey is retired:
“He was the last word teammate and clearly an amazing participant. I bear in mind trying the opponent within the eye when he had the ball, you would see the worry. There isn’t a doubt he’s a Corridor of Fame participant. fame” pic.twitter.com/0qcv7c0MSC
– Knicks Movies (@sny_knicks) January 1, 2025
The Knicks have been a becoming opponent for the evening the place Rose’s No. 1 strikes alongside Michael Jordan’s 23 and Scottie Pippen’s 33: After eight years with the Bulls (2008-16), Rose had two stints with the Knicks in the midst of a nomadic atmosphere. second half of his 15-season profession. The Knicks, in fact, are additionally coached by Thibodeau, who oversaw Rose’s NBA heyday as Bulls boss, together with his run to the 2011 MVP award…and the devastating ACL damage suffered within the playoffs the next 12 months.
Having discovered Pink throughout their subsequent shared stops in New York and Minnesota, Thibodeau has lengthy praised his protégé for extending his profession as a depth star whereas accidents plagued him. It is price noting that Rose positioned third in 2021 Sixth Man of the Yr voting when he joined Thibodeau in New York on the commerce deadline in a cope with Detroit.
“He had an unimaginable profession and he dealt with all the pieces that got here his method, whether or not he was MVP at 22, or going by way of accidents, or coming again on the finish of his profession, coming off the bench,” Thibodeau stated. “In all probability what I appreciated most about him was his humility. It is uncommon {that a} participant of his expertise has such humility. He is simply an unimaginable individual.”
“They are saying the true measure of a person is how he performs in adversity. Going by way of accidents like he did and all the time coming again, by no means staying down, being an amazing teammate, successful was vital for him. He beloved his teammates and you may’t discover a single teammate who would not love taking part in with him.