The Official Site of Derrick Rose

Thu, Apr 2nd 2009, 14:15

Q and A with D Rose

Q: Almost one full season in, has it been easy or hard playing in your hometown?

D Rose: “I’ve looked at it as a blessing. I feel like God just put everything together for me. It was just perfect. Being at home, seeing my family members all the time, it really makes it easy. I mean, I can see my mom almost every day. I don’t have to worry about being homesick.”

Q: Has there been any time this entire season you have felt overwhelmed?

DR: “No. About the only thing different is when I do go out to eat places, I have a hat on so people don’t recognize me as much. I know if we make the playoffs, the [media] attention will be even crazier. But that’s something I can live with.”

Q: What keeps you grounded?

DR: “Just staying focused, knowing it always can change. I never get too big-headed or get into thinking I’m bigger than anybody. I’m only 20 and I have a lot to learn. I know I can get better. Anybody can get better if you work hard and stay focused. You learn by watching tape and other players. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

Q: Do you need to get better defensively?

DR: “Do I! That’s the area I’m going to work hardest at this off-season. I’m going to watch a bunch of film and just try to get better.”

Q: As someone who rarely lost in high school and college, how have you adjusted to losing, if at all?

DR: “I still hate losing. It makes me so mad. It helps a little that you might play the next day or you have so many games. In high school, you can lose one game and that can be your whole season. What I still hate is if you lose and then you have a day off because all I do is think about it all day. It takes too long waiting [for the next game]. Only when there’s a back-to-back is it kind of OK.”

Q: What’s the biggest thing you have learned this season?

DR: “That you have to work hard all the time. I always did. But it’s another level here. There’s that saying that hard work beats talent. So I take that into account because there are a lot of hard-working people out there and people can catch you. I caught a couple of people in my [college] class that [critics] said were better than me. I just kept on working. And it paid off.”

Q: Have you ever had a private moment where you have said to yourself, “I can play at this level. This transition has been easy.”

DR: “No, no, no. I’m not even near a star yet. But hopefully one day I could become one.”