Derrick Rose almost concluded his basketball career as one of the best players to grace the court, but injuries plagued his NBA journey. And the dreams shattered in a way he wouldn’t even have imagined in his wildest dreams.
Recently, when talking about his career-changing ACL injury on the Out The Mud podcast, the former Chicago Bulls star addressed the pain he still bears to this day. It happened back during the 2012 playoff that changed his career altogether.
“I get out the machine, they tell me that it’s torn. I f**king break down crying with my mom there,” Rose said on the latest episode of the podcast.
Derrick Rose opens up about his ACL injury for the first time.
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) January 22, 2025
“I get out the machine, they tell me that it’s torn. I f—king break down crying with my mom there.”@OutTheMudTL pic.twitter.com/uaRxd5FP9W
During a match against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose, then the reigning NBA MVP, suffered a torn ACL. He sustained the injury while attempting to make a play. This injury sidelined him for the entire 2012-13 season. It marked the end of his ascendancy as one of basketball’s most electrifying players. Post-injury, Rose was faced with the daunting challenge of rebuilding his physical as well as mental strength.
Also Read: Former NBA Veteran Reveals One Big Reason Why Derrick Rose Belongs In Hall Of Fame
Derrick Rose Dismisses Comparison With Ja Morant
Despite being out of his prime action for long, Derrick Rose is still relevant to the current NBA scene. He has always been a unique talent in the NBA, and while Ja Morant has drawn comparisons to him throughout his career, Rose doesn’t see it that way.
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During a recent episode of the Out The Mud Podcast, he expressed his reluctance to be linked with Morant, stating that the young Grizzlies star possesses a distinct style of play that sets him apart. Instead of focusing on the similarities, Rose praised Morant’s diverse skill set.
“I see a pure point guard…His talent is his passing. Everything else is like an enhancement where he’s jumping, his IQ and all that. That’s hard to do now these days in this game. I don’t want to say we play alike because he jump higher, he do crazier s***t…He’s risky as f***,” Rose said.
Derrick Rose on Ja Morant’s game and the comparison between them
— Bryson Wright (@BrysonWright3) January 22, 2025
“I see pure point guard. his talent is his passing and everything else is like an enhancement… I don’t like to say we play alike because he jumps higher and does crazier shit.”
(Via @OutTheMudTL) pic.twitter.com/1jbLaKJv0e
While acknowledging that Morant excels on the court, he highlighted that even during quieter games, Morant can still produce remarkable assist numbers. What stands out in Rose’s perspective is his humility. Instead of relishing the comparisons that many would cherish, he prefers to celebrate Morant’s individual qualities.
