Derrick Rose was recently interviewed by HoopsHype and had some hot takes. Among those was when he was asked to name his top 5 players in the NBA. Rose is a former MVP and beloved NBA star whose career ended way too early due to a slew of injuries.
Still, Rose is widely respected in all NBA circles, and his opinion matters.
That’s why when Rose named his top five players in the NBA right now, people were shocked about one of the players he left off the list.
“If I could pick a five right now, Steph (Curry), two-guard would have to be (Anthony Edwards). Kevin Durant (at the three), (LeBron James) at the four, because he plays like a four now. And Joker (Nikola Jokic). And that’s no knock to all my peers who still play,” said Rose.
This is a solid top-five list, but it leaves out this season’s MVP award winner.
Rose later added, “It’s a lot of people that I miss, though, but it is what it is… Damn, my bad Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). Damn, I ain’t even throw Shai in there bro. Shai, my bad Shai.”
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Rose realized leaving the current MVP off his top five player list might cause a stir, but he still didn’t take it back.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is obviously one of the top five players in the league, it is easy to see why he didn’t make Rose’s official list. Rose named four guys who are no question first-ballot Hall-of-Famers, and one who probably most closely emulates Rose’s game.
With this list coming out right before the NBA finals, Shai should take this slight as extra fuel to help lead his team to his first championship.
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