Milwaukee Bucks: Examining the 2017 version of Derrick Rose
By Adam McGee
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly interested in Derrick Rose, but what kind of player is the former MVP in 2017?
Every NBA fan knows who Derrick Rose is, or perhaps more accurately, every NBA fan knows who Derrick Rose was.
Rose was the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the 2009 Rookie of the Year, the 2011 MVP, an All-NBA First Team member in that same year, and a three-time All-Star.
All of those feats were achieved by the age of 23, and with explosive athleticism for a player of his size, it seemed like Rose was destined to be one of the NBA’s best and most entertaining players for years to come.
More from Bucks Free Agency
- Remaining free agents who could fill the Milwaukee Bucks’ final roster spot
- 7 free agent targets with ties to new Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin
- Ranking Bucks free agents from most to least likely to return next season
- Milwaukee Bucks: Predicting where impending free agents will soon sign
- Milwaukee Bucks: 3 Jeff Teague replacements in 2021 NBA Free Agency
Fast forward to the present, with Rose set to turn 29 in October, and Rose has missed (219) more NBA regular season games than he’s played (191) since the conclusion of his last All-Star season.
That has primarily been a result of a series of major injuries to both knees, but regardless of how we got to this point, the outcome is a much more limited player than many could have imagined back in 2012.
As Russell Westbrook claimed the league’s MVP, following a season where he utilized his speed, athleticism and power to dominate opposing teams from the point guard position, Rose must have recognized the template he established for the modern, hyper athletic point guard.
The only difference is Rose’s body hasn’t allowed him to fully realize its potential.
Having now played over 50 games for three straight seasons, Rose has at least found a way to stay on the court again.
In light of the Bucks’ reported interest in his services, let’s explore what the 2017 version of Rose has to offer in today’s NBA, and what that ultimately says about his potential fit in Milwaukee.