Derrick Rose still owns NBA brain trust.
Even though his prime was short-lived, Rose remains one of the most explosive shooting guards the league has ever seen. Few players have been able to string together the individual success he had in the early 2010s. Of course, it all led to him becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history. He was in just his third season of pro action and was just 22 years old.
Unfortunately for Paul George, he was one of the players who had a difficult 2010-11 season. Derrick Rose. And it left a scar. In a conversation with OKC Thunder great Chet Holmgren about his first full year in the NBA, George reflected on his own rookie experience. He talked about the nerves he felt heading into a postseason game against the Chicago Bulls, and the story he told certainly justifies those nerves.
George said he still remembers the play that convinced him the Bulls legend was special. Here’s what the 76ers star had to say in the latest episode of Podcast P:
“That’s when I knew he was different. I’m defending him up high, up high, right? Me and him are in isolation. I know he’s going to the cup, so I give him distance, so it’s not like I’m rushing him. I give him distance,” George told Holmgren. “But I hear footsteps coming from behind to do a back screen. So I did that.” [turns head] “I went to see what was behind him. And it was really loud in Chicago, so I couldn’t hear ‘drop, drop’ or ‘left, left,’ so I was like, ‘look.’ And then I looked back and, I swear to God, all I saw was his heels. As soon as I looked back, all I saw was heels. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this motherfucker is fast.’ From that point on, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to have to get stuck by the screen.’ I can’t look and expect to stay in front of him.”
Yes, it’s true!
Considering the sad turn Rose’s career took, I’m absolutely thrilled by these kinds of stories. It speaks volumes about how much better he was than the competition, especially when someone as good as George tells the story. The game still recognizes the game, and players who shared the field with Rose understand how different he truly was.
Anyway, if you’re bored of the lack of August basketball content like I was, I’m going to post another fun article about Derrick Rose below. You can also listen to the full interview between Paul George and Chet Holmgren on the P with Paul George podcast YouTube channel.
