New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose says he’s ready to prove to NBA players and fans what he already knows – that he’s still one of the best point guards in the league.
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Rose, 28, will begin life as a Knick on Wednesday (AEDT) in the NBA season opener against reigning NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers.
All eyes will be on the Cavs before the game as LeBron and co receive their championship rings and raise their first championship banner.
But Rose will be focused on the start of the journey will take him back near the form that saw him crowned MVP of the league in 2010-11 for the Chicago Bulls.
"Yeah, but I know I am," Rose said, per ESPN’s Ian Bagley, when asked if he wants to prove he is still an elite point guard this season.
"That's no surprise to me and it's only a matter of time until I put it together.
“All the hard work I put in, everything how I dedicated my whole life to this game, what I sacrificed.
“It's only a few that did it and that's doing it, so it's all about just putting it together."
Multiple serious injuries have seen Rose miss over 60 percent of the Bulls’ games over the past five seasons.
Rose averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists per game in his final season with the Bulls before he was traded to the Knicks.
Team-mate Carmelo Anthony expects Rose to feel less pressure than he did in Chicago and is expecting big things from the former MVP in 2016-17.
"I don't think he's playing with any type of load on his shoulders, he's not thinking about injuries," Anthony said.
"Whereas before he was coming into training camp rehabbing, now he got a chance to just practice and put everything behind him and focus on basketball.
“So when you have a talent like that who is coming into the season with a clear mind and a focus that he has, it can be exciting."
