Who does Derrick Rose remind you of?
A friend posed the question to me as we stared in utter amazement at the gifted rookie’s latest acrobatic shot.
Already displaying an improved jumper and an ability to attack the basket at will, I pondered possible comparisons to the newest Chicago Bull.
Chris Paul? Isaiah Thomas?
“Who?”
“Stephon Marbury,” he said.
Stephon Marbury?
The same Marbury whose incessant complaining landed him a full-time job on the bench?
The same Marbury who refused to enter a game for the New York Knicks this year and thus has still yet to play a minute this season?
That Stephon Marbury?
My disillusioned friend rambled off Marbury’s stats prior to his disastrous trade to the Knicks and, yes, that Isaiah Thomas. Marbury averaged around 20 points and eight assists before the Big Apple. Not far off from the 19 points and six assists Rose is averaging through his first month as a pro.
After all, they were both highly touted in high school, with Marbury hailed as the next great New York City point guard for famed Lincoln High School and Rose leading Simeon Academy to two Illinois state championships.
They each stayed for the minimum in college, with Marbury leading Georgia Tech to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament and Rose taking his Memphis squad all the way to the championship game, before each being selected as high first round NBA draft picks.
But that is where the similarities end.
Marbury has been in the middle of controversy throughout his career. With the Timberwolves, Marbury and Kevin Garnett formed a promising young duo, but the excitement in Minnesota came to abrupt end as Marbury complained about his role in the offense and demanded a trade in just his third season.
Players normally mature over time – just look at the evolution of the Kobe/Shaq saga, with Shaq recently saying he’d welcome a return to the Lakers – but Marbury never got the message. The once promising guard is now with his fourth team and is feuding with a second Knicks coach.
And some people thought Larry Brown was the problem.
But enough about Marbury and his failed attempts to reach the playoffs' second round.
Let’s get back to Rose.
There is something ingrained in Rose that Marbury never possessed: leadership and a team-first attitude.
“Derrick is one of the great players I've ever coached, but of even more importance, he is one of the greatest teammates I've been around," said Memphis coach John Calipari.
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28 days ago
Thanks, great edit on Ron Santo article. Your edit somehow got erased. So I couldn't figure out where to respond to your feedback. I am pretty new here. Ive gotten a couple of other edits on the article, but yours was the best. Thanks for the advise. You got skills man!
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