National Basketball Association

Knicks: Courtney Lee Says Derrick Rose Showed Flashes Of MVP Form

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Courtney Lee made a bold claim about New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose. Find out how good Rose looked during their offseason workouts.

The New York Knicks had an easily identifiable and crippling flaw during the 2015-16 NBA regular season. With all due respect to the hard-working players who were on the roster, the Knicks’ backcourt simply wasn’t up to par.

If Phil Jackson has accomplished anything over the past three months, it’s constructing a roster with significantly more talent in the backcourt.

New York will start 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose at point guard and 3-and-D specialist Courtney Lee at shooting guard. Brandon Jennings and Justin Holiday have been pegged to come off the bench at the two guard spots.

Lee didn’t just see an improved D-Rose when they worked out together; he saw Rose in MVP form.

It’s unlikely that Rose will win another MVP award, but it’s hard not to be excited about his return.

Rose won league MVP in 2011, but has since endured a laundry list of grueling injuries. He’s undergone multiple knee surgeries, was forced to wear a protective mask for part of 2015-16, and has experienced issues with his foot and ankle.

When he’s been healthy, Rose has been productive and explosive.

In the 48 games that followed the removal of the protective mask that obscured his vision in 2015-16, Rose averaged 17.5 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the  field. Only nine point guards averaged at least 17.5 points per game in 2015-16.

Of those nine players, only three shot 44 percent or better from the field.

When talking MVP form, however, Rose would be posting numbers of a different caliber. He averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steal during his MVP season in 2010-11.

It’s more likely that he flirts with 18 points than 25, but the production isn’t what matters here.

If Lee’s evaluation is accurate, then Rose will have the NBA backpedaling again in 2016-17.

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