Sport
Derrick Rose agrees to 5 year contract extension with the Chicago Bulls
He averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds over 81 games, the only NBA player last year to rank in the top 10 in both scoring and assists. He also became just the fifth player in history (along with Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek, Michael Jordan and LeBron James) to post 2,000 points, 600 assists and 300 rebounds in a single season.
More important to Rose, he led Chicago to its best season since the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen championship era and he joined Jordan as the only Bulls players to win the MVP award.
The contract extension is just another step in a steady and rapid rise for a superstar point guard who grew up just a few miles south of the United Center, in the tough Englewood neighborhood.
He helped Simeon Career Academy become the first Chicago Public League team to win back-to-back state championships, then led Memphis to the NCAA championship game before the Bulls drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2008 after defying long odds to win the lottery.
“It is a dream come true to play for the Chicago Bulls, and with this new contract the dream continues,” Rose said. “It is an honor to play in the city that I grew up in, and I am very appreciative of this opportunity with my hometown Bulls. I want all of our fans out there to know that I am committed to one goal and that is winning an NBA championship for Chicago.”
Rose has added new wrinkles to his game every season since he entered the league. He expanded his shooting range the past few years and spent this past offseason honing his post game, hoping he and the Bulls can take that next step.
They’re eyeing the biggest prize of all, and with one of the league’s deepest rosters, they see no reason why they can’t contend for a championship.
That will hinge largely on the health of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer after they were limited last season by injuries and how quickly newcomer Richard Hamilton can adapt after spending the past nine seasons in Detroit. The veteran guard gives the Bulls another scoring option and height in the backcourt, but for Chicago, it all starts with Rose.
Copyright 2011. The Associated Press.
