The 10 Best Debuts Of The NBA Playoffs
By Josh Eberley
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls, 2009
Age 20
36 Points
4 Rebounds
11 Assists
Rose has become a walking meme, a vicious reminder of “what if” and a constant casualty of today’s social media. But there were some great times before all that, forget the MVP season, and go back further.
In 2009, a native son of Chicago stuck it to the reigning champs as a rookie to the tune of 36 points and a win. This whole series was epic; the young Bulls squad led by rookie Rose vs. the Boston Celtics, who had just defeated Kobe Bryant and company in the Finals the previous year.
Bulls won Game 1 105-103 in overtime. Game 4 went to double overtime, Game 5 went to overtime, Game 6 went to triple overtime–just some great first-round NBA basketball. These games were wild and despite the Celtics winning the series in seven games, you’d be hard-pressed to find an eliminated team from the first round leave with more momentum.
The hype for Rose after that series was off the charts and to some degree he lived up to it, winning the MVP in 2010-11.
Rose was special in his debut and he will always have that, despite all the injuries this game will always be worth remembering. To this day, going all the way back to 1964, his 36 points are tied for the most in a playoff debut.
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Rose and Brandon Jennings are the only two players 20 or younger to score 30 or more points in their playoff debut.