Rose embraces being face of Bulls

Scoot26

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LAS VEGAS -- Derrick Rose texted LeBron James and talked to Chris Bosh about coming to Chicago, but in the end, the face of the Bulls franchise remains a 21-year-old point guard whose confidence in himself and his team was not shaken by any free-agent snub.

"I want to be that guy," Rose said Tuesday in an interview with ESPNChicago.com before the start of Team USA's training camp. "I want to be the reason why the Bulls are back to what they were [during the Michael Jordan era]."

As Rose enters his third season in the NBA, he seems less disappointed than emboldened by James and Bosh heading to Miami to join Dwyane Wade.

"Why wouldn't I want to be [the face of the franchise]?" Rose asked. "That's the point of playing the game. That's the greatest thing right now.

"I came to a team where they didn't make the playoffs, not for a couple of years. No one was really interested in the Bulls like that in Chicago, not like [it was during the Jordan era]. And I'm making it back [to being] exciting. I'm from Chicago, [and] it would mean a lot if I would just bring back one championship there, or even get past the first round. The city would go crazy. So for me to even bring that team back to like the old days, it would mean so much to this city."

That doesn't mean Rose didn't try to do some recruiting. He texted James off and on throughout the free agency period, and he figured James' decision to come to Chicago was a "no-brainer." Same goes for Bosh, with whom he spoke during the period.

So when James made the announcement that he was headed to Miami, Rose had the same feeling that many Bulls fans shared: He was surprised, but he didn't think the world was coming to end.

"Yeah, [I was surprised]," he said. "But the season must continue. It's just going to be fun. The East is just going to be fun this year, but it's going to be tough."

Last season, Rose became the Bulls' first All-Star since Jordan was selected in 1998. And while he wants to lead the Bulls back to prominence, he shies away from obvious comparisons.

"Noooo," he said with a laugh. "I'm not even near him, not in the same shoes as him, not even close to him. Not even be mentioned with his name. Not yet, until I win a couple of championships. So until that day, that's when you could even mention my name with his."

As much as Rose may shy away from Jordan's shadow right now, he doesn't sound scared of becoming the next great Bull.

"It should be a good thing," he said. "It's something I'm not scared of. That's why you play the game."

Does he wish he would have done even more to recruit James to Chicago?

"If anyone knows me, especially in my hometown, they know that I don't like being in the public like that or getting all the attention like that," he said. "To me, I think it was a no-brainer, [but] he made the decision."

And the Bulls decided to pursue depth, signing Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Watson.

"I think we made the right moves," Rose said. "We got Boozer for the half-court game in the playoffs. The fast-paced game is not always going to be on your side, so we got somebody we can throw it to in the post.

"With Brewer and with Korver, [they are] just guys that like running, shooting, athletic slashers. And C.J. Watson, who just signed, he's a guy who can [play either backcourt position]. And he's the type of player where he's smart. I hear he's a good guy, and we need him."

What the Bulls really need this season is for Rose to take the next step in his progression, which began with rookie of the year honors, followed by his All-Star selection. And if you couldn't tell already, he is confident he can deliver.

And that confidence has been bolstered by spending countless hours in the gym working on his long-distance shooting.

"I know that if I extend that, I'll be a tough player to guard in the NBA, and it will open other people up," he said.

In the short-term, Rose wants to make Team USA and win a gold medal at the World Championships in Turkey this September.

The bigger picture is clear. He wants to return the Bulls to the elite level. And while some view the Bulls as having struck out in free agency, Rose views it as an opportunity to prove the team had someone all along who could lead that resurrection.

"It makes me feel a little bit better that they really believe in me and have trust in me about decisions that they make," he said. "It just means a lot, man.

"A little guy coming from the South Side of Chicago got his own team. It shows that just hard work and dedication really pays off."

Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.
Click to expand...

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose embraces being the face of the franchise - ESPN Chicago
 
Scoot26

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Glad to see he embraces it now. Not like he has much of a choice though.
 
USCChiFan

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Hm...
The face of a franchise who wants to resurrect the team and bring it glory and being the hometown kid?
I think I've heard this before...
Wait....
Nope
 
Chi-Town Brahma

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USCChiFan said:
Hm...
The face of a franchise who wants to resurrect the team and bring it glory and being the hometown kid?
I think I've heard this before...
Wait....
Nope
Click to expand...

Haha yeah sounds familiar.

Difference is one kid is trying to ressurrect a team that has a history & 6 titles.

The other kid was just trying to get a no name franchise the things the never had & won't have. Hahaaaa

Go Rose/Bulls!
 
Scoot26

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Chi-Town Brahma said:
Haha yeah sounds familiar.

Difference is one kid is trying to ressurrect a team that has a history & 6 titles.

The other kid was just trying to get a no name franchise the things the never had & won't have. Hahaaaa

Go Rose/Bulls!
Click to expand...

Yeah big difference in my opinion, though we may find out later otherwise (HOPE NOT!), one thing I would love to change is for us to have a history beyond Michael Jordan. And hopefully Rose is that one player that can do that.

I mean the Celtics and Lakers both have multiple different dynasties or era's they dominated. Even the Pistons can be considered as to having that with winning one title in 2004 and going to the Eastern Conference Finals several times until they fell apart in 2008. The Bulls though were good in the early-mid 70's but never made an NBA Finals, and of course we all know the Jordan era. So I would like to see Rose and Boozer take this team far, but only time and luck will tell if they can get to the promise land.
 
Chi-Town Brahma

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Scoot26 said:
Yeah big difference in my opinion, though we may find out later otherwise (HOPE NOT!), one thing I would love to change is for us to have a history beyond Michael Jordan. And hopefully Rose is that one player that can do that.

I mean the Celtics and Lakers both have multiple different dynasties or era's they dominated. Even the Pistons can be considered as to having that with winning one title in 2004 and going to the Eastern Conference Finals several times until they fell apart in 2008. The Bulls though were good in the early-mid 70's but never made an NBA Finals, and of course we all know the Jordan era. So I would like to see Rose and Boozer take this team far, but only time and luck will tell if they can get to the promise land.
Click to expand...

Great Comparisons! I co-sign.
 

JCM

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Rose is awesome.
 

Chicagolove

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reading Rose say stuff like this makes me happy. i'm glad he's going to be a Chicago Bull forever
 

Bullsman24

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you know, rose and durant have to be the two most likable superstars in basketball. and one of them is ours.

:bullbang:
 
USCChiFan

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JR said that he'd go over the luxury tax to re-sign Noah and Rose. I have no doubt in my mind that both will stay in Chicago for a very long time
 

methusala

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Chi-Town Brahma said:
Well, we can all hope & pray he "never" pulls a LeBron on us...:pray:

STILL, great to hear him emphasize on it. :clap:
Click to expand...

Can pray, but the biggest difference is that Rose isn't some punk ass *****.

He calls female sideline reporters "ma'am" for crying out loud.

He leaves, and the FO would need to leave Chicago.

Immediately.
 
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