Via USATSI.
Derrick Rose hearts LeBron James.
Fine, he doesn’t. Off the court, the two probably get along. On the court, they most likely hate each other. So no, the Chicago Bulls point guard doesn’t adore the Miami Heat superstar. But he is warming up to the idea of LeBron as the best player in the NBA.
Per the Chicago Sun-Times‘ Joe Cowley, Rose referred to LeBron as “the best” before the Bulls squared off against the Heat:
So when Derrick Rose was asked on Monday just how good four-time MVP LeBron James really is, it took a little prodding to reach a definitive answer.
“He’s one of the best in the league,’’ Rose said. “His size, the way he passes the ball, he’s just an overall dangerous player and [Tuesday night], we’ve just got to make sure we stick him as a team.’’
When then asked if “one of the best’’ meant the best, Rose replied: “You can call it the best. He won a championship, he’s got two under him, so for sure, he’s the best.’’
Never mind that the answer was basically forced out of him, he said it. Rose said it. Holy hell. Rose admitted LeBron is the best player in the NBA. What could all of this mean?
Nothing. Just Rose speaking the truth. Though he previously told CNN that he believed he was the league’s best player, he knows how it is.
Rose is only just returning from an ACL injury now. He’s looked good, especially during the preseason; not so much in the season-opener. But he’s not LeBron, nor is he acclimated enough to open the debate. He may never be good enough to open the debate.
LeBron is LeBron. I can’t put it any other way than that. There’s no one like him in the NBA, no one better than him. Not Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul or Greivis Vasquez. No one. When players, like Rose, assert they’re the best, they know they’re wrong. They have to. That’s how far the gap is between LeBron and the rest of the universe. You could fit a whole other universe in between him and everyone else, actually. We all know it.
Me, though, I admire Rose’s reluctancy. People hate to see weakness in superstars. I fall somewhere in between. The struggles they face—Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo’s comeback, for instance—some of them are trials and tribulations you respect. It was and remains the same way with Rose. All that hard work put in to fight human limitations, it’s inspiring.
When discussing individual standings, it’s different. You wouldn’t want to hear your team say “We’re not going to contend for a title. The Heat are just too good.” Maybe if you’re a Philadelphia 76ers fan, but for those thinking their team has a shot to make the playoffs and contend, self-doubt is the last thing you’ll order on the menu.
By remaining sure of himself, by continuing to be this player some of us see as naive for not kissing LeBron’s feet, Rose is doing the same thing. Love it. Hate it. Doesn’t matter. Seriously, though, love it.
LeBron is the best. Derrick Rose knows it. But that doesn’t mean he has to parrot what everyone else is saying. Unless, you know, it’s dragged out of him like it was here.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
