New Knicks, New Kicks for Derrick Rose

Superstar point guard Derrick Rose celebrated his birthday last October 8, and it might surprise some that this new New York Knick is actually only 28 years old. Minus his absence during the 2012-2013 season, we’ve been seeing him on the pro court since 2008 when he debuted with the Chicago Bulls, a basketball team he would call home for the next eight years. With the average player age last season at 26.7, Rose may be a little bit ahead of the age curve but, barring serious injury, still has a long way before hanging up his jersey for good.

Earlier this year, Rose was traded to the Knicks in a move that was once unthinkable for the youngest MVP of all time, but, in recent times, not entirely unexpected. The trade was understandably bittersweet for the Chicago native, but if tearing his ACL couldn’t keep the man down permanently, this move is just a new step in a fresh direction.

Rose himself has declared feeling “rejuvenated” with this new genesis. New number, new team, and, hey, a new pair of kicks to add his most valuable name to. Change can be awesome if you embrace it, and Rose knows it.

Rose enters the Knicks at a time when the basketball team is rebuilding itself, filling its roster with former and future All-Stars under the leadership of Coach Jeff Hornacek. He finds himself playing beside Carmelo Anthony, Sasha Vujacic, Brandon Jennings, Joakim Noah and 2016’s unicorn rookie Kristaps Porzingis, all formidable forces on the court. If the team can gel, then could the New York Knicks be able to make killer plays on the hardcourt during the NBA 2016-2017 season? Perhaps.

Now sporting “25” instead of his iconic “1,” Rose claims that the new number on his jersey represents a more mature version of himself, someone who has shed off the brashness of youth without forgetting his roots. He won’t be focusing so much on an athletic game, but expects to play to his strengths from the mid-range. The “25” also harks back to when he played for Chicago’s Simeon High School, when he wore the number “25” to pay tribute to Benji Wilson, a former school player who was shot and killed in 1984.

Fresh kicks are also part of Derrick Rose’s rejuvenation, the adidas D Rose 7 having been released just after the Knicks trade was made. While it bears a bright orange colorway that can easily be mistaken for the colors of Rose’s new team, the shoe is actually inspired by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The basketball shoe is technically more advanced, utilizing adidas’ energy-returning “Boost” cushioning across the entire midsole, a Primeknit upper and a contoured “GeoFit” collar that adds stability and a sock-like fit. You could say that the shoe is also representative of Rose’s ability to spring back even after being laid low by insult and injury.

As the 2016-2017 NBA regular season draws nearer, we can only wait with bated breath to see whether D-Rose’s second wind carries him through.