Tuesday, March 1, 2011
8:40 PM
CSNChicago.com
Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins called into Chicago Tribune Live Tuesday evening to discuss his recent feature on Derrick Rose.
On Derrick Rose's transformation into a superstar:
"I did an interview with him a couple years ago and it was 45 minutes and I spent 35 of them talking to myself. So this time around, you could tell he's really come out of his shell a lot. He's still very unassuming, especially by current NBA superstar's standards, but compared to where he was, he's a lot more confident and you can see some of those leadership qualities starting to surface. And that might be part of the next frontier for him."
On the perception of the Bulls around the NBA:
"I think people are starting to take them seriously as a contender. It's sort of been a slow build here. I don't think people really felt that way until just recently. That Rose is capable of doing for them what all the elite players--the Kobe Bryants, the LeBron James'--are capable of doing for their teams. And just being around them a little. They play so hard, and they play so well together. A couple of players were saying--veteran guys--that they've never been on a team or seen a team where everybody had a more defined role. Everybody knows exactly when they're going in...Tom Thibodeau's done just an incredible job with the defense for one, but also with letting these guys get comfortable and play their games. To me, I think they're a real sleeper. I still feel they might be a piece away, but they way they play, they really could make some noise.
Check out the video for more.