Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose understandably took some flack when he called “Derrick Rose” the best player in the NBA. However, some people were pleased with the young point guard’s answer. Hall of Fame power forward Charles Barkley is one of those people, according to ESPNChicago.com.
Barkley recently appeared on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN Chicago 1000 where he discussed the young point guard’s comments.
"I've got no problem with that," Barkley said. "First of all, if you don't think you're the best player you shouldn't be playing. I'll be honest with you, when I was playing in the NBA I thought I was better than Michael Jordan, and I think Karl Malone thought he was better than Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing thought he was better than Michael Jordan. ... We think he just got more help than I got, he ain't no damn better player than me.
Barkley continued, "... You give me (Kevin) McHale and (Robert) Parish I'm going to win championships too. Same thing with Magic Johnson. You give me Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) and Michael Cooper and James Worthy, as an individual player I'm better than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson."
Rose’s answer came during a one-on-one, word association style interview with CNN’s Pedro Pinto. Pinto said the words “best player in the league right now.” Rose paused for a second then, with a straight face, replied “Derrick Rose.” Pinto laughed and asked the Bulls point guard if he was serious. Rose, maintaining his straight face, said, “Yes.”
Rose sat out all of the 2012-2013 season recovering from a torn ACL. He and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau expect the point guard to be back on the floor when the preseason rolls around.
