All about ‘dedication and sacrifice’ for Derrick Rose

MANILA, Philippines – The youngest NBA MVP ever and already a three-time All-star at 24, Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose has come a long way at just a very short time.

And there’s no secret to Rose’s success, just a few things he has learned to live by as he continues his climb to greatness.

“I would say there’s only two things you would need to have as an athlete and that’s dedication and you have to sacrifice yourself,” Rose said in a press conference Monday at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

“Dedication comes when you get tired and you still got to go out there and perform and still have that dream and drive to actually just get to your dream,” Rose, who arrived in Manila Saturday, added.

And those two things have transformed Rose into one of the best point guards in the league. Not bad for someone, whose dream was just to make it to the NBA.

“For me, my dream was to make it to the league, just stay focused. One little thing could alter your lot. For me, living in all that negativity and poverty, it’s easy to get in trouble.”

And being focused was just what Rose needed to be after sustaining a season-ending ACL tear last year that forced him to miss all of the Bulls games including the playoffs.

But despite having to sit it out the entire season – part of the sacrifice he had to make – Rose remained driven in his pursuit of his ultimate goal.

“Sacrifice, I’m just 24 but I don’t think I will get to live like a regular 24-year-old,” Rose, the top overall pick in the 2008 Draft, said. “I have a goal and that’s to win a championship and be one of the greatest basketball players ever.”

“When you talk about the sport of basketball, I want to be one of the people you talk about. I want to have a mark on history, I want to change the world and make a difference.”