Chicago Bulls: 10 Steps Down Derrick Rose Memory Lane

Derrick Rose may no longer be a fan favorite in Chicago, but that does not mean that his early days are forgotten.

Remember when Derrick Rose was the pride and joy of every Chicagoan? Yes, even for those who did not necessarily follow sports and/or specifically basketball. He was the Chicago Bulls‘ sweetheart, a soft-spoken kid from Englewood with fast feet and a killer crossover. No one could say anything bad about No. 1. There was really nothing bad to say.

But times have changed. And drastically. Take a second to talk to 10 people and at least five will tell you they are “over” Rose. That they have had “enough.” That they no longer “even care” what happens in his career, moving forward.

Harsh? Absolutely. But there is a reason fans now feel this way. Some of it has to do with the fact that Rose will probably never be the same player again, post-multiple injuries. But the majority comes down to his attitude; a once humble, driven star now sounds like an apathetic run-of-the-mill worker, with only glimpses of motivation shining through.

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What happened to Rose can be argued in a million different ways. The injuries got the best of him. Fatherhood changed his mentality. It is Chicago’s front office. The answer to this question may never really be answered.

Recently, negativity about Rose has seemingly flooded the league. And while the frustration surrounding him is understandable, it may be time to take a step back and remember the player everyone once fell in love with, if only to keep the faith that one day things can go back to how they used to be. Or at least, closer than they are now.

Here are 10 of Rose’s best moments.

Next: Cut Me A Slice, Would Ya?

1. Cut Me A Slice, Would Ya?

Ah, Rose’s early days. When he was innocent and well … sometimes a little out of it, too.

On Dec. 8, 2008, during his rookie year, Rose missed practice because he cut his arm on a knife while trying to cut an apple in bed.

Endearing to say the least.

Rose ended up needing 10 stitches under his left elbow. Luckily, he was able to play the next evening, when the Bulls beat the New York Knicks, 105-100. Obviously, the self-sustained injury had no affect on the guard as he finished the night with 15 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two blocks.

If only that would have been the end of Rose’s health concerns…

And the irony is, this list does not even include the apple freak accident.

Most players in the league (as well as athletes period) get injured, but it feels sometimes as though Rose is made of fiberglass.

The question moving forward is, will Rose ever get back to merely having to worry about eating fruit? Or will the likes of ACL tears and orbital fractures continue to plague him for the remainder of his career?

For now, only time will tell.

Next: 'Why Would You Even Install That?'

2. Why Would You Even Install That?

Some years ago, Rose had the honor of appearing in an ESPN commercial, and it may indeed be the best one ever created.

At that time, obviously the baller was focused on his on-court performance, but he should have also considered a career in acting. Just look at how innocently he pushes that red button.

Filmed during what was seemingly the prime of his career, Rose was lovable back then. Regardless of whether or not someone rooted for Chicago, everyone certainly wanted only the best for the face of the franchise.

Nowadays, Rose would probably not be able to book such a gig. In fact, his last commercial had a very different tone to it.

“You see, you wouldn’t ask why the rose that grew from concrete had damaged petals. On the contrary, we would all celebrate it’s tenacity. We would all love it’s will to reach the sun. Well. We are the roses. This is the concrete. These are my damaged petals. Don’t ask me why. Ask me how.”

While the ideology behind it is powerful and it is beautifully filmed, it feels as though Rose almost needs to beg his fans to keep standing by him. What a different a few years can make.

Next: ROY

3. ROY

Right out of the gate, the entire basketball world knew Rose was special, and the professional league was no exception.

Rose won Rookie of the Year during the 2008-09 season and although his speech may have not been the most eloquent out there, it had heart.

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Rose was the third Bulls player to win ROY, joining Michael Jordan and Steve Francis. He got 111 first-place votes, as well as 574 points from a panel of national sports writers and broadcasters. O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies was runner-up, with five first-place votes and 127 points.

The No. 1 draft pick led that year’s rookie class with 6.3 assists per game, coming in second in scoring with an average of 16.8. He took Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November, December and then again in March, as the team went 41-41; they also made the postseason.

The way things ended up going for Rose moving forward, would have been anyone’s guess. But the good news is, regardless of what happens from here on out, no one will ever be able to take away the accomplishment of something like winning ROY.

Next: 'What Are You DOING, Dragic?'

4. What Are You DOING, Dragic?

Due to his recent orbital injury, Rose is a little bit hesitant to get in the lane lately, much less go flying through the air. But this was not always the case.

Do you see how high he gets? From the move itself to the bench’s reaction and Stacey King‘s commentary, this is Rose gold.

Last Thursday, Chicago faced off against the Los Angeles Clippers (coming out on top, 83-80), with Rose playing without his face mask for the first time this season, during the second half. During training camp, he suffered an orbital-bone fracture, and was given a mask to wear during games as protection.

It turns out however, that Rose simply forgot to wear it, despite many speculating that perhaps he was frustrated with his poor performance: he went 0-of-3 from the field in 10 minutes. However, in the second half he managed to score nine points and started attacking the rim.

And guess what? On Saturday, he decided to play without the mask on purpose.

Fans can only hope that without the bulk weighing his face down and blocking some of his field of vision, his shooting percentage can increase and he can start to once again be more aggressive at the rim.

Next: Watch Those Ankles

5. Watch Those Ankles

Rose has almost broken many an ankle in the NBA, and this is a prime example of his deadly crossover.

Sure, the basket may ultimately have been blocked, but Andre Miller went down hard. Blink, and you miss it.

Since coming into the league, one of Rose’s most recognizable traits is his crossover. Between his speed and agility, the list of people the guard has zoomed past (and nearly taken down) is extensive.

This was one of the things many people were worried would disappear after Rose’s multiple ACL injuries. Not only due to the conditions of his knees, but the fact that he may want to protect himself while driving down the lane. It is no secret that after one health concern, let alone a handful, some players tend to take caution on the court. And unfortunately, it seems as though Rose may be doing just that recently.

As the season goes on, maybe he will be able to shake off the past and go back to playing closer to his old self. However, fans have to remember that it takes a lot of hard work both physically and mentally, to overcome such obstacles.

Next: MVP

6. MVP

Rose accomplished a huge goal when he won the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2010-11 season. He was not only the youngest to ever do so, but the first Bulls star since Michael Jordan.

Skip to 2:39 for his speech. And yes, it is as moving the 10th time around.

"“Last but not least, I want to thank my mom, Brenda Rose. My heart, the reason I play the way I play, just everything. Just knowing the days I don’t feel right, going to practice, having a hard time, I think about her when she had to wake me up, go to work and make sure I was all right. Those were hard days. My days shouldn’t be hard because I’m doing what I’m doing and that’s playing basketball. You kept me going. I love you and appreciate you being in my life.”"

Obviously, this was a very touching moment for Rose. After making winning MVP his goal for the season, it is clear just how much he wanted this. Not only for himself, but for his family too.

Next: 'There You Go, D. Lee!'

7. There You Go, D. Lee!

Seriously, someone get Rose an Oscar, please!

The superstar combined forces with David Lee and Rajon Rondo in order to advertise for NBA 2K11. And he was hilarious in it.

During the 2010-11 season, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. The Bulls went 62-20, coming in first not only in their division, but in the conference as well.

The team made it to the Eastern Conference Finals that year too, falling to the Miami Heat 4-1. Of course, that was the season that the Big Three (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) came together in South Beach, taking the league by storm.

David Lee was still playing for the Golden State Warriors, a group of guys that until Saturday night, went undefeated. They made history by going 24-0, with Stephen Curry leading the team to victory, but Lee is now playing in Boston.

Rajon Rondo was still joining forces with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce via the Boston Celtics. He has since made his way over to the Sacramento Kings, where he is still up to no good; Rondo was recently suspended one game without pay for a derogatory comment towards a referee.

Next: 'The Way I Look At It...

8. The Way I Look At It…

Before Rose was named MVP, he publicly stated he was chasing after that dream. And although at the time he was not necessarily known for his speaking abilities, this was a speech that every Chicago fan can still quote by heart.

“The way I look at it…why not? Why can’t I be the MVP of the league? Why can’t I be the best player in the league? I don’t see why? Why? Why can’t I do that?”

Nowadays, Rose lacks that same motivation, at least outwardly. Whether it is due to fear of failure, getting attacked by the media, or both, it is somewhat disheartening to Chicagoans.

It is not only Rose’s on-court demeanor that people miss, but also the way in which he views his career. It was always about more than just the game of basketball, it was about pushing himself to be the best he could be and giving others in his position, someone to look up to. From just another kid out in Englewood, Rose propelled himself to the top as the first face of the franchise since the great Michael Jordan.

Next: Rookie Hazing

9. Rookie Hazing

This brings back memories two-fold, because Dwight Howard has also gone through a…transformation.

But back in the good old days, both guys reveled in taking part in the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Howard has also lost a certain sector of his fan base. He seemingly went from being the relatable goofball who looked at every opportunity as a way to have fun, to a spoiled brat.

After playing for the Orlando Magic from 2004-12, coming out as the league’s most promising young defender, Howard got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, at which point things started to unravel for the big guy. He underwent back surgery, had a public feud with Kobe Bryant and ultimately complained non-stop until he became a free agent during the summer of 2013.

Howard then signed with the Houston Rockets, alongside the infamous James Harden, and is currently averaging 13.0 points and 12.2 rebounds.

Although many understood his frustration with the Magic after they failed to get as deep into the postseason as expected on several occasions, fans got fed up with his bad attitude. From arguing over every foul called against him, to bad-mouthing Bryant’s shot selection, he went from the league nice guy to someone few wanted to be associated with.

Next: Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

10. Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

Rose has actually hit a handful of buzzer beaters over his career, but many are most fond of this specific example (perhaps having to do with defeating LeBron James?).

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Besides proving that the guy is blessed, it also shows that deep down inside, there is a chance that the old Rose will re-emerge. After all, this took place only last year….

Although it may feel as though Rose has not played well period since his second injury, this is actually not really the case. Last season, he competed in 51 games and ended up averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game.

There is no question that the guard has a lot of raw talent left in him. The problem becomes whether or not he cares enough to let it out, and if Chicago is still the right place for him to do so.

Next: NBA Power Rankings: Week 7

Fans need to be at peace with the fact that while Rose may never be the same player again, that does not mean that he can no longer be someone worth counting on. However, at the end of the day, that is for him to decide and act upon.

Bloom again, Rose.