Barkley not impressed with Rose’s choice of words on injuries and future…
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NBA great Charles Barkley has described Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose’s career comments as “stupid” as the former league MVP continues to receive a backlash.
The 26-year-old suggested earlier this week that he is considering his life after basketball and his ability to be able to live a normal life given his injury problems over the last few years.
Rose played in just 10 games in the previous two seasons due to back-to-back serious knee injuries, while he has already missed four games this season with sprained ankles and has now been listed as day-to-day with a hamstring strain he picked up in Thursday’s win over the Toronto Raptors.
The explosive point guard insists that he is just trying to be smart and doesn’t want to have the lingering effects of his basketball career after his retirement, but he has received a significant backlash with many questioning his commitment.
Bulls pair Mike Dunleavy and Pau Gasol insisted that they believe Rose is fully committed to the team this year, while Joakim Noah delivered a passionate defence of his teammate and told the media to “chill out” with their reaction to his injuries.
However, one man hasn’t been left impressed with Rose’s comments and he made it known on Inside the NBA.
“He’s a great player and a great kid…but that was stupid. We’re so blessed. I limp around but I go home to a big ol’ mansion,” Barkley said.
“There are people that work harder than Derrick Rose that go home to a shack. There are consequences for what we do for a living. We’ve got the best life in the world. I’m a poor black kid from Leeds, Alabama, who grew up in the projects and I don’t mind limping around [now]. When I go home, I have a big ol’ house. I’ve got good sheets; I don’t know the thread count, but they’re good sheets. I’ve got a big car and I never have to worry about bills. Derrick Rose is making $20 million dollars a year and he’s got a couple of bad knees. There are pros and cons of what we do for a living.”
Shaquille O’Neal agreed with his fellow presenter, but he did concede that Rose can only say what he feels and if that is how he thinks in his mind, then so be it.
“I was taught that if you could walk, you could play. You see how Kevin McHale walks now, how Phil Jackson walks now, how Charles [Barkley] and I walk…but it was worth it. When you make comments like that, it makes you look soft…but he can only be himself. If that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels.”
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