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Here’s a fun fact that’s actually not so fun because it’ll make you feel older than you care to realize: Derrick Rose’s historic MVP season was now over a DECADE ago! The way we used to look upon the NBA of the 1990s as the “past”? Yup, that’s what the mid-2000s are now.
In case you either forgot, didn’t care at the time, or are too young to remember, on May 3, 2011, Rose — just 22 years old — became the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA. Unfortunately for both Rose and fans of the game, though, that MVP award represented the height of his career, as knee injuries ultimately robbed him of the explosiveness that made him such a remarkable talent.
Still, at 34 years old, Rose not only remains in the NBA but remains a productive player — this season with the New York Knicks, for example, he’s averaging 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds per game.
During a recent episode of SHOWTIME Basketball’s KG Certified podcast, he and fellow Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce — who had some epic battles with Rose when he was at the peak of his powers — reminisced about their battles against the former MVP, particularly their 7-game series in the first round of the 2009 playoff (which KG actually missed due to injury).
@allthesmokeproductions Man, #derrickrose was so good right away. #Kevingarnett and #paulpierce reflect on the 2009 playoffs. #celtics #bulls #nba #forgottenseasons
The series, which saw the defending champion Celtics take on Rose in his rookie year, had FIVE games be decided by three points or less. Furthermore, there were a total of seven overtime periods — including THREE in Game 6.