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The 2010-11 NBA regular season MVP seems to think that even after taking a year off to rest his recovering ACL, he is STILL the best player in the league. When questioned by CNN’s Pedro Pinto as to who the best player in the NBA was, Derrick Rose responded, “Derrick Rose.” This may come off as a shock to those who have been a fan of the NBA and have watched Rose sit on the bench while his team got blown out by the Miami Heat in five games. The Heat carry the man who many maintain to be the best player in the NBA, LeBron James. James’ four regular season MVP’s and two Finals MVP’s really speak for themselves.
The last time these two met in the playoffs the Heat dominated the Chicago Bulls in five games on their way to the Finals. So for Rose, who I have an immense amount of respect for and is one of my favorite players in the entire league to watch, to say that he, and not LeBron, is the best player in the league is just plain blasphemy. I think LeBron has earned the right to be crowned NBA’s best and Rose needs to respect his elder.
James has 10 years of experience to Rose’s four. He has also made four trips to the Finals and came away with two titles when Derrick is yet to reach his first. I completely understand Rose’s mentality that he must have full confidence in himself and his team if they are going to succeed, but there is a certain amount of respect that comes with that. And I guarantee that the first meeting between the Bulls and the Heat will be a feisty one, in which LeBron will prove who the best player in league truly is.
Rose did finish his interview by acknowledging LeBron as the toughest player to guard in the NBA stating, “I would have to say LeBron. A 6-foot-8 guy that’s 250. What do you think?” Well I think you better think before you speak because you might just find yourself guarding that behemoth linebacker next season, Mr. Rose.
