“There is no other leader in the entire history of the NBA”says Sam Smith, the history beat writer from Chicago, “Who plays like that!” »
And for good reason, in the gallery of former players interviewed for this tribute documentary entitled “From Chicago”, where we find some big names, with LeBron James and Chris Paul in particular, but also former teammates including Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Kyle Korver, one adjective inevitably comes up: “ Explosive » !
We must indeed appreciate at its fair value this beautiful reminder of the fantastic player that Derrick Rose was in his early days, at his best level which he ultimately reached during the famous 2011 season, his magnificent MVP campaign, the youngest in the history of the League, at only 22 years old.
“He’s rookie of the year his first year. He is an All-Star for his second. And he comes back for the third still feeling a little underestimated,” tells Carlos Boozer, his teammate in Chicago between 2010 and 2014. “He announces that he can be MVP in training camp. And behind, he will win the trophy! »
With 25 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds on average in his third season, Derrick Rose actually reached the stars very early in his career. A meteoric trajectory, unfortunately that of a shooting star in the highest heavens. Because, inevitably, but without dwelling too much because it is still too painful, the documentary returns to the knee injury of April 28, 2012, against Philadelphia, in the first round of the playoffs…
“It was the silence that reigned in the room that was incredible,” remembers Kyle Korver. “We felt bad for him, because we know how much he gave and he worked hard for it. »
A local kid
A kid from the poor neighborhoods of Chicago, young Derrick spent his time at Murray Park in the southern part of the immense metropolis: “I spent my entire childhood in this neighborhood, I was outside all the time, and most of the time near the field at the park. I'm happy to say I'm from Chicago. I wouldn't want to come from anywhere else in the world. »
State champion with his Simeon high school, back to back in 2006 and 2007, he quickly made a name for himself. “I was hearing about this Simeon kid. An ultra athletic leader. I went to see for myself, and I was blown away! » says Stacey King, former Bulls player and longtime commentator for the franchise.
“I went to see him when he was playing in high school, and I quickly said: I need this guy! »adds John Calipari, who will join his services in Memphis at university, with a laugh. “When a player had the misfortune to steal the ball, you could be sure that he was going to stick it against the board in defense! He already had his floater. And he developed his shot afterwards. We had to evacuate him from the gymnasium. He must have spent five or six hours a day there at first. »
A precocious talent, Derrick Rose persisted and signed for a bloody playoff debut against the Celtics, reigning NBA champions, whom he put to torture with a four-star performance of 36 points and 11 assists, in a victory snatched by forceps in overtime ( 105-103). One of these “matches that create legends”as Brian Scalabrine, then powerless C's players, explained.
“We often said that we had to give Derrick Rose space and let him shoot outside,” says Spurs veteran and longtime adversary Chris Paul. “But if you keep moving back too much, he’ll end up dunking you!” »
See D-Rose at the top of his game again
See again his monstrous “hang time” alley-oop in Atlanta, or this famous “axe blow” “from the ninth floor” (dixit James Johnson) above Goran Dragic, it’s actually therapeutic.
“There was power, there was speed, there was intelligence. He had so many tricks up his sleeve.”remembers Tom Thibodeau.
“ [En 2011]when he reigned over the Eastern Conference, I had nothing but respect and humble fear of D-Rose, his talent, his speed, his athleticism, his sense of the game and the basket, his spirit”, lists LeBron James. “It’s no surprise that he became the youngest MVP in history. He was so strong! »
The “King” remembers it well, he who was also a privileged witness to another highlight of the career of his multiple All-Star counterpart in the East. His winning shot at the buzzer against Cleveland in the conference semi-finals on May 8, 2015, with a stoic reaction which is already legendary, as if to signify his return to the top, also deserves mention in this beautiful retrospective tribute.
“The pressure of coming from Chicago, being drafted No. 1, handling it the way he did, it was really special and unique,” argues Tom Thibodeau, coach of Derrick Rose also in Minnesota. When the latter managed this famous 50-point match, subsequently letting out emotions accumulated after many seasons of injuries and physical problems at the end of his career.
“People talk about his injuries, what could have been. No “concludes Luol Deng. “He was exactly what he should have been. »
