Derrick Rose had no idea he would be returning to Memphis.
The University of Memphis-bred guard joined the Grizzlies on July 3 as a free agent after playing for the New York Knicks the previous two seasons.
Rose intends to assist the Grizzlies on the court and it is hoped that he can assist in mentoring standout Ja Morant, who is now serving a 25-game suspension.
During Monday’s media day, Rose stated that he had reached out to former Grizzlies guard Tony Allen in an attempt to get in touch with Morant, and the rest is history.
“It started with me reaching out to Tony Allen to get Ja’s number or to get Ja’s dad’s number and me chopping it up and having a casual conversation with them,” Rose explained. “I haven’t given it any attention since I left. However, it made perfect sense this summer.”
The 2011 NBA MVP and the first overall choice in the 2008 NBA Draft made it apparent what his goals were.
“I’m not here to babysit, I’m not here to follow you around, I’m not here to cheerlead,” Rose replied. “I want to shove you here. There aren’t many opportunities in the league for players to play alongside teammates who play similarly to them. I’m really lucky to be in a position where a lot of people watch his game and sort of draw comparisons between our games. But he’s really different.”
Rose stated that he still wishes to be more than just a locker room presence and to make an impact on the floor. He claimed that because of injuries he has suffered and the reduction in his role over the last few years, he has had to adjust his strategy.
“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t able to adapt or adapt on time,” he stated. “If I had recovered from my wounds sooner, I wouldn’t be here. If I didn’t know what I was capable of and could handle, I wouldn’t be here. It truly is a blessing.”
Rose talked about a few contentious times in his career, such as his college year. Since his one season with the Tigers, when he helped them win the NCAA national title in 2008, he has had a tumultuous connection with Memphis.
More: Ja Morant’s availability during suspension is updated by Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Regarding his tenure with the Tigers, he remarked, “It was a blur.” “I recall walking away. Since I had only been here for six months, I recall being quite upset to be going.”
The NCAA’s decision to retrospectively deem Rose ineligible due to doubts about whether he took the SAT ultimately cost the team its victories. Then there was turmoil off the court, most notably a civil battle that followed a 2015 accusation of rape in which he was found not guilty.
Additionally, there was a 2009 Chicago Bulls picture of Rose flashing a gang sign that was taken while he was still a member of the Tigers. In retrospect, he said that it was “a joke—a bad one, I now admit.”
About his decision to play for the Memphis Tigers, he remarked, “It was just a feel.” “I went there because, at the time, I thought the squad was missing simply a point guard. And thank God it came to pass. And in some ways exactly similar in New York. I wasn’t ready when I first visited New York (in 2016), and they treated me like a child. And after moving away from New York and going through the rape case, among other things, I was able to rebuild my relationship with the city.
“People no longer glance at that. Here, I’m attempting the same thing. When I first arrived here, the gang sign appeared first, followed immediately by the ACT. You’re seeing a different Derrick now; I’m 34 years old, married, and have three children. In other words, you see progress. And for that reason, among others, I wished to return.”
Rose claimed he had to modify and adjust his expectations about how the other players in the league would see him. He may have to accept that he will only be able to sign minimal contracts for the remainder of his career because he has had to cope with a substantial number of injuries throughout his career, many of which have been knee problems, including an ACL tear in 2012.
He brought up a discussion he was having with his kid, who is currently debating between playing baseball and hoops.
“I had to give him this advice the other day — like, man, you have to get through all the three stages,” Rose said. “What are the three stages, he asks? The positive, negative, and ugly. You’re on the correct track if you can get through all three of those stages and still be passionate about or in love with whatever you’re doing. And all I want from him is that. I told him that, in retrospect, I was really having that conversation with myself because I’m in his shoes—I’ve already completed all three stages and now it just comes down to adjusting.”