KEY POINTS

  • Derrick Rose led the Knicks' come-from-behind Game 2 win over the Hawks
  • Rose is certain he can overcome all kinds of challenges 
  • The 2011 NBA MVP has earlier revealed what his resurgence really means to him

Derrick Rose’s latest comments imply that he is going all-out this post-season.

After trailing the Atlanta Hawks by as much as 13 in the first half, Rose and the New York Knicks bounced back in the second half to tie the series at one win apiece.

Speaking to NBA on TNT after the game, Rose--who scored a team-high 26 points in 39 minutes of basketball--was quizzed to reveal “the hardest” thing to deal with as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.

According to the 2011 NBA MVP, he is still working on his game, but he feels that there’s nothing he can’t overcome at this point.

“I’m still trying to put it together as you can see right now I’m left-hand dominant and trying to figure out what’s gonna be my bounce,” Rose explained. “The hardest thing? I wouldn’t say anything is hard man. I’m just very blessed and fortunate to be in this situation.”

Rose is technically playing his second season with the Knicks, but the Game 2 victory over the Hawks was his first playoff win with the team.

For the 32-year-old, he always knew that the hard work he has been putting in will pay off.

“I’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time,” the three-time NBA All-Star admitted. “In the past, people said I couldn’t play the minutes and they were worried about it but I knew all along how much hard work I put into it.”

“I’m happy with my endurance,” he continued. “I’m happy with that we got the win tonight too.”

Derrick Rose #25 of the Detroit Pistons
Derrick Rose is on the block and several teams are interested in taking him in. Getty Images | Gregory Shamus

Despite being one of the finalists for this year’s 6th Man of the Year award, Rose didn’t manage to add the accolade to his name.

However, “D-Rose” made it known earlier that no matter what people think and say about him, his resurgence is far deeper than just getting his “vintage” form back.

“I love chess so I would put it this way. I lost my queen early in the game, but I fought my f—– way back to get one of my pawns down the board to get her back. If you know chess, that’s a very hard process to achieve, and if you really know how to play, you know even the master games are won with few pieces on the board and it’s about strategy, heart and skill,” Rose wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.

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