Knicks' Derrick Rose not bothered by being benched during game
New York Knicks' Derrick Rose (25) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Milwaukee. Credit: AP / Aaron Gash
MILWAUKEE — Derrick Rose said he was not upset that he didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter in the Knicks’ win over Orlando Monday night, calling it the coach’s decision.
“Every night in the league is going to be different,” Rose said before Wednesday night’s game at the Bradley Center. “I’m just happy we got the win. It’s up to the coach and the coaching staff. I have to live with the decision.”
Rose had a big day on Sunday, scoring 28 points in a loss to Stephon Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Rose, however, had a rough outing Monday night in Orlando and was shooting just 2-for-9 with two turnovers when coach Jeff Hornacek decided to sit him in favor of Chasson Randle. In that game, Rose was a minus-23 and Randle was a plus-27.
Rose is in the final year of his contract and it appear unlikely that he will be back with the Knicks. Rose was asked if he thought it was important that he have a big game against Golden State given that he’s trying to showcase his game for free agency.
“Yeah, but that’s every game. Every game I have to take the good with the bad,” he said. “It’s all a learning experience.”
Rose also elaborated on his on his trip to see an eye specialist on Sunday night, after getting elbowed in the face in the first quarter of the Orlando game. Rose injured the same eye socket in the preseason of the 2015-16 season and has to be extra cautious when he is hit in the same area.
“I don’t think I have to go the direction of wearing goggles,” he said. “If it’s a thing where I continue to get hit I think I’ll probably go that route. As far as right now it’s a part of the game, I’m going to get hit. I’m going to get touched up here and there. I’m just happy I didn’t have any teeth chipped along the way.”
Sprewell in the house
Former Knick Latrell Sprewell, who lives in Milwaukee, sat baseline at the game, several seats away from the Knicks bench. In February, Sprewell had joined several other Knicks is sitting with James Dolan at the Garden after Charles Oakley had been banned temporarily from MSG.
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
