Derrick Rose’s decision to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies this summer has been seen as a homecoming for the former first-overall pick from the University of Memphis.
The fans in Memphis are thrilled to have him back, and Rose himself is motivated and excited about this new opportunity in his old stomping grounds.
However, he is also setting expectations for the upcoming season.
One thing that is clear is that Rose was brought to Memphis to be a veteran leader for the team.
However, it is important to note that being a babysitter for Ja Morant, the young and talented point guard, is not part of Rose’s new role.
“I’m not here to babysit, I’m not here to follow you around, I’m not here to cheerlead,” Rose said of Morant during Grizzlies media day on Monday.
Derrick Rose is excited to team up with Ja Morant as he returns to Memphis but says he isn't there to 'babysit' the superstar who is suspended for the first 25 games of the season.https://t.co/NlxuWiHm4e
— OutKick (@Outkick) October 3, 2023
“I’m here to push you. In the league, there are very few opportunities where players get a chance to play with somebody that has a similar style of play.
I’m very fortunate to be in a situation where a lot of people look at his game and they kind of compare our games together. But he’s on a whole other level.”
Rose believes that nobody on the Memphis roster should have to hold Morant’s hand or make sure he is making the right decisions.
He refers to incidents from last season where Morant jumped on Instagram live and displayed a gun, not once but twice.
Although Morant has been handed a 25-game suspension to start the upcoming season, he has been allowed to practice and travel with the team.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins has explained that Morant won’t be working with the starters during training camp.
Instead, the team has devised a separate plan to challenge him even more and help him grow as a player.
