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NBA Injuries: 20 Stars Who Deserve A Career Do-Over

By Gerald Bourguet

AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Detroit Pistons player Grant Hill (L) drives around Indiana Pacers player Chris Mullin during the first half of their game 07 February at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons beat the Pacers 107-98. AFP PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Detroit Pistons player Grant Hill (L) drives around Indiana Pacers player Chris Mullin during the first half of their game 07 February at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons beat the Pacers 107-98. AFP PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) /
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NBA Injuries
Feb 21, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) goes to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Derrick Rose

Some people might have Derrick Rose higher up this list as a former MVP winner, but his what-if factor is somewhat diminished by the unavoidable presence of LeBron James looming over the Eastern Conference. But whether you believe a healthy Rose/Chicago Bulls team could have unseated LeBron’s Heat/Cavs, the impact and frequency of Rose’s injuries are undeniable.

As the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, it didn’t take long before Rose was being hailed as Chicago’s first basketball superstar since the days of Michael Jordan.

He became an icon and local legend in the Windy City, and though his playing style has since been labeled as “reckless” or “inefficient,” anyone using those words to go anywhere NEAR his prime years has clearly forgotten how exhilarating it was to watch him play.

In short, Rose was like a poor man’s Russell Westbrook before there was Russell Westbrook. It was pedal to the metal, 24/7. The Bulls’ star point guard mesmerized audiences with his breakneck speed, array of acrobatic moves attacking the rim, strength in finishing through contact and unblockable floaters that found their mark in the most opportune moments of close games.

Rose was born with a knack for taking and making big shots, he went all out every time he took the floor, and during his MVP season, he averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. You could easily make the argument that LeBron deserved the award that year, but let’s not forget that Rose was the story of the 2010-11 season for a 62-win Bulls team.

James had his revenge in the conference finals, beating the Bulls in five games in his only playoff meeting with Rose (until this past season). Unfortunately, when the Bulls won the No. 1 seed again in 2011-12, Rose went down in the first game of the playoffs with the ACL tear that would alter his career — and the Bulls’ short-term title hopes — forever.

Since then, King James’ biggest competition out East has been an Indiana Pacers team that disbanded as quickly as it rose to prominence. The Bulls have kept the LeBron rivalry alive, but without Rose at full strength — plus so many players banged up and Jimmy Butler only emerging as a superstar now — the time may have passed for Chicago to knock King James off the mountain.

To be fair, Rose has shown signs of progression lately. He’s still averaging 16.8 points and 4.8 assists per game on 43 percent shooting this year and has been much better after a slow start to the season.

But between the ACL tear in 2012, his yearlong absence in 2012-13, his torn meniscus early in his 2013-14 comeback season and then another torn meniscus in 2014-15, it’s become easy to believe that A) Rose can’t stay healthy, B) Rose will never be the same player and C) Rose will never reach his sky-high potential because of all those career-altering injuries.

Perhaps he can still be a serviceable point guard, but Rose’s lack of a jump shot won’t help his game age well. He’s rediscovered his athleticism this season and last year was able to play in his first playoff series since 2012, but these are small comforts compared to what his prime should have looked like.

Next: No. 3