Ear Hustle

Derrick Rose Talks About Being Traded Says “Chicago Made Me Who I Am, But It’s Time For A New Chapter”

Over the last couple of days the sports world has been buzzing about the Chicago Bulls’ “golden child” Derrick Rose being traded to the New York Knicks.  The internet and Bulls fans have not been too kind to D. Rose, some stating it was time for him to be gone from Chicago and some feel like a better trade could have been made on Madison Avenue in front of the United Center and the Bulls front office should be ashamed at how this “trade” went down.  However it’s neither here nor there what’s done is done.  D. Rose will be wearing #25 as a NY Knicks team member and he is hoping that the silver lining in this cloud would reveal itself to be beneficial.  Rose spoke with The Cycle and said he was ready for New York but is New York ready Derrick Rose? Only time will tell when the next NBA season starts. 

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Photo Credit: NY Knicks

Check out the interview:

My phone was ringing and ringing, but I had no idea. It was on silent. I was in the middle of an interview, cameras on me. I couldn’t make this up: I was talking about Chicago. The city, the basketball scene I came up in. How that city raised me, made me the man I am today.

A few minutes later I peeked at it and saw the notifications — missed calls, text messages, voicemails, all from my agent BJ. I called back and he told me: I was about to be traded to the New York Knicks.

“It might happen,” he said. That means it’s going to happen. He wanted me to be mentally prepared.

I had a feeling for a few weeks that a trade could be in the works. But I didn’t know for sure. There were rumors going around that I could be moved soon, and of course you hear that stuff and try to ignore it. That’s impossible. But I never let it really sink in.

The first thing I thought about was my son PJ. It’s hard enough to find time to see him during the season even when I’m in Chicago. Now I’ll be in New York, hours away. It’s a lot of miles. I know this is part of being an NBA player, though. We’ll find a way to make it work. I owe him that.

I’m so excited to move to New York City. I’ve never spent much time there—the most time I’ve been there is two or three days, and never really during the summer. Now it’ll be a solid seven months. Chicago’s a big city, but it’s kinda chill, not fast-paced like New York. Joakim Noah, who’s like a brother to me, is from Manhattan, and he’s told me a lot about it. I’m going to soak up as much knowledge about the city as I possibly can.

Chicago made me who I am. It’s tatted on my wrist. I was raised in my grandmother’s house on South Paulina Street in Englewood. Being drafted by the Bulls, becoming an All-Star and an MVP on the Bulls, helping the them make the playoffs — all of that was a dream come true. I’ll never forget it. I’ve carried Chicago with me everywhere I’ve gone, from around the country to all over the world. I always will.

I understand that this is a business and the Bulls have their plans, their own ideas with what direction they want to go with the team, but I’m gonna use this as motivation. I was with them for eight years and they let me go. There’s no hard feelings, no grudges. They’re trying to do what’s best for the team. I totally understand that. But I don’t think I would be wrong for using this as motivation.

After I hung up the phone with BJ, all sorts of emotions flowed through me. I was shocked. Anxious. I knew there was so much to handle right away, and it was all hitting me at once. Things I need to take care of — business, endorsements, where I’m going to live, who’s coming with me. I want to focus on nothing but basketball. I just want to let my game speak for itself. My voice will always be loudest on the court.

I’m 27 years old — there’s still so much ahead for me. I really believe this trade is a blessing. After all of the emotions passed through me, I started to realize how pumped I am for what comes next. I’m going to be playing alongside Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. This is an amazing opportunity. I can’t wait.

I’m ready for New York. ~ Source: The Cycle

Derrick seems to be looking at this trade as a good thing and is looking at the good side of things.  Although he’s given the Bulls 8 years of dedication but he’s given Chicago a lifetime of loyalty.  One thing about being born and raised in Chicago, you can take the man out of ChiTown but you can’t take the ChiTown out of the man!! 

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