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Despite Injury, Derrick Rose’s 2016-17 Season Was A Success

Imagine being the youngest MVP in NBA history with the brightest future, then injuries chip away at your prime. Derrick Rose’s knees are shot, but his competitiveness and skills are still alive. Four surgeries between two knees over the span of five years has great effect on a player; Rose has had to battle with his body and mind to revive his magnificent, young career.

Joining the New York Knicks was the first step in the right direction. His seven years in Chicago had its ups and downs; winning Most Valuable Player in 2011, Rookie of the Year in 2009, being named to three All-Star teams, and leading the Bulls to the best record in the league in 2011-12 were great accomplishments, but had to abandon the nightmares of injury and start out fresh. When Rose, 28, made the move to New York, the league was on notice and projected the new-look-Knicks and Rose to live up to great expectations. The Knicks completely fell off, but Rose’s prowess was in full effect all season long.

Before tearing the meniscus in his left knee which put him out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, Rose showed glimpses of his MVP year and had his best season in four years. You can’t help but feel bad for Rose—his 18.0 points, 6.2 assists, and 32.5 minutes per game were the most since 2011-12 and it finally looked as if he was healthy for good. The fans in New York quickly fell in love with Rose as his feline quickness, explosiveness, and vintage performances led the Knicks to victories. Luckily, the injury is the least of what he’s gone through in the past; team doctors expect Rose to be fully recovered in two months after surgery.

https://youtu.be/eRlr30UI6sk

An unrestricted free-agent this off season, Rose’s injury will impact where he’ll play next season; it’s on the table if teams will gamble with Rose given his injury history. Though Rose has shown little interest in returning to New York, he claims he is more interested in joining a contender and is no longer attracted to big contract deals.

Fast forward a few months, it will be interesting to see where Rose lands. The New York Knicks may let Rose walk as a fresh pack of college point guards with loads of talent are making their way to the NBA next season. Rather than worrying about Rose’s health, they may take a point guard in the draft.

Though nowhere near his MVP form, he scored 30 or more points a few times, dished out 10 more assists more than a dozen times, and even threw down dunks over the course of the season.

Nobody expected Rose to play as well as he did, and it was satisfying to the fans, and I’m sure himself to put in a great season. Derrick Rose’s 2016-17 season was an overall success.