Lakers: Kobe Bryant Inspires Derrick Rose's Game

Kobe Bryant may now be sitting well on his couch being rewarded for the benefits from retirement, but his influence in the game continues to be felt by active players, including former NBA MVP Derrick Rose.

Rod Beard of Detroit News spoke with Rose as the three-time All-Star bared that even at 31 and playing in the second half of his storied career, he still looks to evolve his game.

"I’m not a jump shooter — I’m just a scorer. Whatever you give me, I’ll take it. I knew that having a jump shot prolongs your career. The older you get, you adapt to the game and that’s all I’m trying to do now,” he said before taking a slight step back about completely changing his style of play.

He mentioned Bryant as the player he looks up to. For him, the former five-time champion is the prime example of a player who successfully adapted to the changes in the game but was able to preserve the core of his skillset.

“If the game goes back to all lay-ups and midrange, I want to be able to do what Kobe (Bryant) did. He’s my example and the guy I look to and make sure I don’t change my game all the way," Rose continued. “He didn’t change his game at all, but he was able to play 20 years and still be effective. That’s amazing to me. There aren’t too many people in NBA history, besides the greats, who can do that. I want to be considered one of them.”

Derrick Rose is having a stellar season so far with the Pistons. In his 30 games played so far, he averaged 16.9 points, 5.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game in just a shade under 25 minutes of playing time.

Bryant's offensive tool, which is mostly patterned on midrange shooting, is one that has gone undervalued for current players to appreciate these days.

But for players aiming for a long career such as Rose, Bryant's framework has to be the style that must be chased.

Lakers Nation said, "While Rose’s playstyle is not quite like Bryant’s, he and other players might be able to extend their careers if they are able to follow his lead."