NBA

Derrick Rose May Be the Next Grant Hill

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By @ShaneRantSports

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Getty Images

Derrick Rose was and is still believed to be the savior of the Chicago Bulls, a franchise that has seen little success since NBA great Michael Jordan led them to six championships in eight seasons. However, Rose has become as fragile as your grandmother’s 100-year-old British china. After two serious knee injuries over the last two seasons, Rose is one wrong step away from early retirement.

Much like last season, Chicago fans have been giddy over their point guard’s return. After suffering a torn ACL in his left knee and missing more than half of the 2013-2013 season, Rose returned for only 10 games in the 2013-2014 season before surrendering to a torn meniscus in his right knee. With two seasons lost, Rose was more than ready for the 2014-2015 season, or so everyone thought.

Now, the franchise star played only two games before spraining both of his ankles. The sprains are not believed to be severe, but as the injuries begin to pile up for the young player, some names begin to come to mind, such as Greg Oden, Brandon Roy and Grant Hill.

Rose’s career and path are far too similar to that of Hill. Through Hill’s first three seasons, he averaged 20.5 PTS, 8.4 REB and 6.4 AST while only missing 14 games. Rose averaged 20.9 PTS, 3.9 REB and 6.7 AST while only missing five games over his first three seasons. Hill had three more successful years before the injuries began to pile up. Over the course of three seasons, Hill played a grand total of 47 games. That is much like Rose, who has played a total of 49 games the last two seasons.

Hill was believed to be the next great star in the league and some even considered him to be as good as Jordan. But once those injuries began stacking up, Hill was never the same and never obtained a ring. Rose was thought to be the next great point guard, someone who would bring multiple championships back to the Windy City. As time wears on with each passing season, Rose’s career is beginning to look more like Hill’s and may leave us all wondering “what could have been.”

Shane Phillips is an NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @ShaneRantSports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also email Shane at [email protected].

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