NBA: 12 players whose skills ideally match today’s uptempo play style
Derrick Rose, Guard (2008-Present)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves
Career best stat line: 25 points, 7.7 assists, 44% FG (2010-11)
Derrick Rose has had a terrific season so far and will be in strong consideration to win the Sixth Man of The Year Award. Having reinvented himself from an above the rim player into a finesse one, his story is inspiring for anyone who is just a fan of basketball.
That being said, in this pace and space era – where downhill players are dangerous in transition – a pre-injured Rose would have been an absolute nightmare. Derrick was a one-man fast break and arguably the fastest player in the league, his first four seasons.
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If you were to surround him with more shooting – defenses would have to pick their poison, given Rose’s elite ability to finish in traffic.