Derrick Rose still “can’t believe” that he is a Knick again, his best choice, back with Tom Thibodeau and even Knicks senior vice president William Wesley, who participated in his attendance in Memphis.
And he seemed delighted to be able to serve as a mentor to Knicks rookie goalkeeper Immanuel Quickley, his teammate.
In her first comments to reporters from the trade, Rose said after the loss of Miami that she thinks the world of Quickley.
“It shouldn’t be too hard with him,” Rose said. “We are similar. He is making double team in his debut year. There aren’t too many newbies getting that kind of attention. For him to see that kind of time will improve his game. The game will slow down more. And listen. It’s the biggest of it, listen. With that, you always have room for improvement. It’s a dog. It’s a dog. I can’t explain it. You have to be a player to understand it. We are in a struggle, I know it is a struggle. “
After the morning shootout, Quickley revealed that Rose was spending dinner with him and his rookie Obi Toppin.
“He stressed me out, first gave me his number, and told me that everything I needed hit him,” Quickley said. “But he sat down with me a little bit, me and Obi, in fact, they told us he was here to help us, that he’s here to help us grow and stuff like that. It’s good to have the opportunity. to talk to him a little last night ”.
Rose reflected on her first stage in New York with Jeff Hornacek and Phil Jackson. Hornacek tried to get Rose to shoot more than 3, but he didn’t feel comfortable. Rose said he is now a best 3-point shooter and reached 2 of 3 in his second Knicks debut.
“I was a little stubborn,” Rose said. “They wanted me to enjoy shooting 3s and all, but I felt like at the end of the year the teams were judging me for my effectiveness and my efficient pace. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t throw 3s, and if you looked at the team at the time, we had Melo [Carmelo Anthony] and KP [Kristaps Porzingis], so I feel like I didn’t have to shoot 3s. My job was to push the ball and make sure they got ahead. Years later, I feel like I’m adapting. … Now I’m more of a threat, where you can no longer go under the screens. I try to push the ball and let the game come to me and stop forcing it ”.
It is now his third stage with Thibodeau.
“He’s familiar here,” Rose said. “I have Wes here. I have Thibs here. I have everyone with whom I have been successful here, laying the groundwork. ”
Several title contenders made bids for Rose, but The Post report confirmed that the Knicks were their best pick.
“Of course,” Rose said. “Even though I couldn’t say it at the time, I just wanted to be comfortable. I have known these boys since high school, eighth grade and high school. I never thought about anything else but to come and understand that they wanted me to help grow the young guys they already have here. “