If anything, the Knicks are keeping with tradition. A tradition that began as the millennium turned. One in which the Knicks continue to be a losing, unprofessional franchise with more drama than Real Hip-Hop Wives.
Im sure Derrick Rose had a solid reason for going missing from the team Monday without permission, so I wont blast him too much, because it could be very serious. Regardless of what happened, he had an obligation to call and later he at least reached team officials, telling them he had a family situation and had returned to his hometown of Chicago, sources told ESPN.
Problem is, in this day and age, $100 million ballers cant just go missing and expect everyone to simply respect your privacy. We all know that aint how this NBA thing works.
Rose missed Monday night’s miserable 110-96 loss to the Pelicans, and the Knicks had grown concerned enough earlier to check on him at his apartment, sources said.
After the game, Roses absence was still a mystery and coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters “everything will become clear later on” and teammate Joakim Noah said Rose was OK.
“I mean, I don’t really want to talk too much about it because I don’t really know what the situation is,” said Noah, who has played with Rose since 2008 as his teammate in Chicago before coming to New York with him prior to this season. “Obviously Derrick is one of our better players. And when he is not here it is tough. But I am just happy that everything is OK with him.”
“Right now we don’t have enough information to really give you anything,” Hornacek said in his postgame presser. “So that’s just going to have to wait until we hear something from Derrick himself. Other than that, if you want to talk about the game, ask away.”
Knicks guard Courtney Lee said he was “praying that everything is all right” with Rose.
“Everything will become clear later on,” Hornacek said. “You know, we want to respect whatever he’s going through. We’re just not going to comment on it.”
Indeed, it could be serious and we dont want to disrespect Rose, but its always something with this guy. Its always something with the Knicks. And its no coincidence that Roses absence comes at a time when he hasnt been playing well at all and the Knicks are nose diving after such a positive 14-10 start.
This franchise can never seem to get right. Melo is aging and ornery. The Jackson 5 has been below average as a unit at best. Now the point guard has gone AWOL. The way Rose handled the situation — by just not showing up– is reflective of the Knicks commitment to becoming champions. It wavers and it is never appears to be top priority.
Ill be the first to tell you that family comes first. But when Rose signed to come here to try and resuscitate a fading career, he also committed to the Knicks family for 82 games and youd think a guy who hasnt been healthy enough to play a full season since Season 2 of Game of Thrones wouldnt miss a minute if he was healthy enough to go.
It just seems as if joining the Knicks is an excuse to do whatever you want and never be held to any standard of real success. Rose had a huge opportunity to come into MSG, grab an assertive leadership role on this team and help shape the franchise back into winners.
It was supposed to be a one-year audition where if he showed enough, another team or possibly even the Knicks would want to sign him to another long-term mega money deal. Its halfway done and after some flashback moments of glory, Rose seems to be fading down the stretch right along with his squad.
At 17-21 and currently holding down the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference, the 2016-17 Knicks season is at a crossroads. At this point, everyone should be all in, unless they just dont believe in the product and if thats the case, Knicks fans get the shaft once again.
We pray for the safety of Derrick Roses family while also wondering why the Knicks cant seem to get it together and catch a break.
The ship be sinking.
