Eric Gordon supports Derrick Rose: ‘If y’all don’t love him, then idk what to say to ya’

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Derrick Rose

Houston Rockets shooting guard Eric Gordon and Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Derrick Rose go way back, so Gordon will always support Rose no matter what.

Gordon and Rose were on the same AAU team growing up, Mean Streets Express, and have remained good friends throughout their NBA careers. That’s why Gordon believes it’s unfair that the critics attack and bash Rose for not being able to recapture his MVP form after enduring four knee surgeries.

Rose, the youngest MVP in NBA history, is clearly not the player he once was, but can you blame him? The Chicago native has had five surgeries, two on each knee and one on his left eye to repair an orbital fracture.

Despite the injuries, though, Rose remains one of the league’s elite finishers at the rim. League scouts continue to marvel at his ability to get to the basket at will and finish in heavy traffic. During the 2016-17 season with the New York Knicks, Rose ranked fourth in the NBA in points off of drives — scoring 8.2 a game. 

Rose began this past season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was traded to the Utah Jazz at the 2018 February trade deadline. The Jazz then waived Rose, allowing him to sign with the Timberwolves for the rest of the season.

Rose was minimally used in the nine regular season games he played with Minnesota. He posted 5.8 points in about 12 minutes per game. Rose’s role, however, changed during the playoffs and he delivered in a big way.

The explosive guard averaged 14.2 points while shooting an efficient 50.9 percent from the field and 70 percent from three in his five postseason games, playing 24 minutes a contest. Rose showed off that quick first step throughout the series against Gordon and the Rockets.

Gordon is the latest player to defend Rose this summer. Jamal Crawford, who played with Rose in Minnesota, told our own Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson that Rose is “still better than so many guards.”

“His athleticism is still there,” Crawford told Robinson. “He’s still as fast as any guard out there. He would have some practices where he’d just dominate and get to the lane at will, hit shots, hit mid-range shots and floaters, all the reasons people love him. And he can do all those things. He would just run back so nonchalant, like I could do this whenever I want. He didn’t say that, but his play was so easy for him, so I think that’s something he’s going to show more this year and people will be pleasantly surprised.”

Fellow Chicago native Jabari Parker also spoke highly of Rose at his introductory press conference with the Chicago Bulls, calling Rose “a legend.”

“Derrick had no lows,” Parker said. “He didn’t. Because he still maintained. Derrick is a legend, no matter what. Injuries are a part of life. Everybody has an injury, either athletics or normal life. Derrick is one of the best players to ever play the game and one of the best icons of Chicago. He accomplished his duty already.”

The media will most likely continue to criticize Rose because it’s the easy thing to do. Rose, however, will always receive support from his peers and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

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