“I’m proud of Derrick Rose for improving his jumper”: When Kobe Bryant gave props to Bulls’ 2010-11 NBA MVP following his emergence as an elite all-round player

Kobe Bryant gave Derrick Rose props for transitioning from a slashing-heavy style to becoming a legitimately great perimeter scorer.

I think I speak for every NBA fan when I say that Derrick Rose was perhaps the most electrifying young talent in basketball at one point. The Chicago native had come through the ranks as one of the most explosive point guards in the country.

Rose committed to the University of Memphis and was then selected by the Bulls with the no. 1 pick in 2008. The future seemed bright for the Bulls’ guard given his cerebral understanding and desire to improve himself.

Rose set his sights on becoming a true MVP-level player ahead of the 2010-11 NBA season. He proved his desire to improve by increasing his 3-point percentage that year and dishing out 7.7 apg.

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He’d already showed his ability to perform at the highest level even as a rookie. The 21-year-old had led the Bulls to a 7-game series against the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Kobe Bryant gave props to Derrick Rose following his emergence as an elite all-round player

Kobe Bryant appeared in an interview with ESPN’s Michael Wilbon in 2011. The Hall of Fame sportscaster asked the Lakers legend his opinion on Rose’s MVP campaign.

A pleasant smile of acknowledgment rose to Kobe’s face as he began speaking about how Rose had improved as a player:

“I can tell when a player truly wants to be better, you know. And I respect that about him. That was a quality that I had when I was a kid growing up.”

“And with that being said, I’ve seen improvement in his game from last year to this year. He has a long-range ball now, he can split behind a pick and shoot, he can pull up off the dribble and shoot.”

“He can get to the rim, obviously, unquestionably. So seeing that improvement shows me that he’s put his time to it in the gym. And I certainly respect that.”

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