Coming off multiple ankle surgeries, Derrick Rose has logged only 19 minutes in the Knicks’ two preseason victories, but the 15-year NBA veteran insisted that he is concentrating on his improved health and conditioning as he prepares for his first regular-season appearance since Dec. 16.
“It’s whatever Thibs wants,” said Rose, who scored seven points and had three assists over 12 minutes off the bench in Friday’s 131-114 win over the Pacers. “I think he’s trying to assess the younger guys, I guess, guys trying to make the team.
“I mean, it’s a good sign for me, because it lets me know he’s not worried about me.”
The relationship between player and coach stretches back to their time together with the Bulls and the Timberwolves, and there are few players Thibodeau trusts as much as Rose, the league MVP in the first year of their partnership in Chicago in 2010-11.
After shedding about 20 pounds in the offseason at Thibodeau’s request, the 34-year-old Rose believes his conditioning is already at the requisite level to open the season.
“I know I’m ready,” Rose said. “I know if I stay ready I don’t have to get ready. I’m ready at all times if he needs me.”
Mitchell Robinson has said Rose has helped him get into shape during training camp by doing three minutes of sprints side by side after each practice. Barrett added that he hasn’t been surprised that Rose immediately has been was effective in running the second unit.
“It’s Derrick Rose. He’s the last person we should be worried about. He knows what he’s doing. We don’t worry about him at all,” Barrett said. “Him more than a lot of people, he’s just really good at the game of basketball. He just goes in there and it’s so just instinctual with him. It just comes easy to him. He’s got ‘it.’ ”
After seeing viral highlights of 7-foot-4 prospect Victor Wembanyama, who is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Barrett essentially comparing the French 18-year-old to a video game cheat code. Wembanyama totaled 73 points with nine blocked shots in two exhibition games this week with his club team Metropolitans 92 against the G-League Ignite.
“That’s unreal. It’s like ‘[NBA] 2K.’ You make this giant guy and you want him to be shooting and all that stuff, and he’s doing it in real life,” Barrett said. “It’s crazy, and then just to see how he came back and followed up [37 points] with 36, he’s definitely very talented. It’s unreal.”
Evan Fournier (rest) and Quentin Grimes (foot) were sidelined for the Knicks.