WATCH: Derrick Rose moved to tears after watching video tribute from Chinese fans
It seems like a long time ago when Derrick Rose was terrorizing opposing NBA defenses with his acrobatic drives to the rim and devil-may-care play style.
But after undergoing multiple major surgeries over the past few years, Rose—although still a terrific player—has certainly lost some of the explosiveness that earned him the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2011.
Although his stock has certainly dropped for NBA teams this season, the 28-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers guard remains one of the more popular figures abroad, as evidenced when he recently made a trip to China for an Adidas promotional event.
The three-time NBA All-Star was visibly moved to tears after being shown a video message from strangers who professed their love for him and wished him luck in Cleveland.
“I didn’t mean to cry,” Rose said, as he wiped the tears from his eyes while being interviewed by the Chinese media.
Despite averaging 18 points per game with the dysfunctional New York Knicks last season, Rose was not heavily sought after by NBA teams this off-season.
Still, his troubles did not affect his popularity in China, as his jersey was the top seller in the country two years ago, alongside Kobe Bryant’s, according to Sports Illustrated.
Check out the touching tribute below. /ra
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