NYC is his kind of town

found a way to critique my game. But if anything it made me a lot better.”

Rose sends consistent reminders during these interview sessions that he’s carrying a chip on his shoulder, one largely revolving around the idea he’s been discounted as a superstar. After all the adulation early in his career, Rose indicated Chicagoans started to take him for granted or “just got used to me.”

He said that’s why he feels more appreciated in New York.

“In Chicago, I think they just got used to seeing me. Ever since I was in grammar school. Then six or seven months I spent at (the University of Memphis), and I came right back to Chicago,” Rose said. “And they saw me when I was in my prime, I think I can still reach that prime, but I think they just got used to me. That’s no knock against them. I can’t get mad at them or hold a grudge against them. All I can do is just work on my game and hope that they continue to look.”

While any indifference in Chicago probably had more to do with Rose’s injuries, the result is a motivated point guard, according to Anthony, the chosen leader of the Knicks.

“I’m more excited for him than I think he is for himself. I love kind of comeback stories,” Anthony said. “I love when guys are always counted out, backs up against the wall, and they have an opportunity to go out there and prove themselves. You can just see a different Derrick than what you’ve seen over the past couple of years. You can just look at it. The look is on his face. You can just see it.”