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Derrick Rose: 5 Best-Case Scenario Comparisons

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 30, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) reacts on the court in the second half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns won 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) reacts on the court in the second half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns won 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Derrick Rose
Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; NBA TV analyst Grant Hill before game five of the 2014 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Grant Hill

This is the most obvious best-case scenario that you’ve probably seen bandied about Twitter 1,000 times by now. Unlike more depressing comparisons such as Penny Hardaway or Brandon Roy, Grant Hill was able to come back from his myriad of career-altering injuries and still have an impact on a very successful Phoenix Suns team.

Hill’s injury troubles were so depressing because they derailed the career of someone who could’ve been one of the all-time greats. Rose won an MVP award, but Hill could’ve been one of the 10 or 15 greatest players ever. After all, Hill is still one of the NBA’s all-time leaders in triple-doubles with 29…and he recorded all 29 in his first six seasons in the league.

Hill never lived up to that hype because of a series of ankle injuries, but he was able to salvage his later playing days and have a productive career for a few seasons in Phoenix with Steve Nash. He was the starting small forward for the 2010 Suns team that went to the Western Conference Finals, and he often guarded the other team’s best player while averaging 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in five seasons there.

I know, D-Rose fans. A stat line of 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game is nothing to get excited about considering it was only a few years ago that we all thought Rose could lead the Bulls back to the promised land. But then again, IT’S BEEN YEARS SINCE WE THOUGHT THAT. Another knee injury does nothing to inspire belief that can still happen.

Instead of holding on to that kind of false hope, why not be optimistic that Rose can come back and be a very helpful role player on a championship team? Rose and Hill have completely different playing styles, but the ideal horrifically injured player comparison for Rose is neither Penny nor Roy.

I think at this point, most NBA fans would just be happy to see Rose play any sort of role on a winning team. Like Grant Hill, he’ll never be the man again. Like Grant Hill, he’ll never lead a team to a title with superstar-caliber play. But like Grant Hill, it’s too soon to give up on Derrick Rose just yet.

Next: A Best-Case Scenario

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