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Chicago Bulls: Can Derrick Rose follow the Shaun Livingston mold?

By Luke Askew

WASHINGTON - APRIL 2: Shaun Livingston #2 of the Washington Wizards drives against Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls at the Verizon Center on April 2, 2010 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - APRIL 2: Shaun Livingston #2 of the Washington Wizards drives against Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls at the Verizon Center on April 2, 2010 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Shaun Livingston recently announced his retirement from the NBA. Can former Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose follow his successful path?

NBA history is riddled with devastating injuries to star players. It’s the most disappointing part of the sport, but it’s the reality that we live in.

One player that knows all too much about career-altering injuries is Shaun Livingston. Young fans will remember Livingston as one of the most important bench players of the last half-decade. Older fans will remember him as the youngster with unlimited potential who suffered multiple injuries (including a catastrophic knee injury) early in his career.

Livingston was drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2004 NBA Draft. As a 6’7″ point guard, his potential was sky-high. Because of his horrendous luck with injuries, though, his career took a different turn. The pinnacle of Shaun’s career was his time with the Warriors, where he played in 367 games and helped them win three championships.

Now that Shaun is retiring, it’s time to look at who the next player might be to follow his mold. Former Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is the first guy that comes to mind.

Bulls fans are well aware of the troubled injury history that Rose has. But now, as D-Rose heads into the twilight of his career, it may be time for him to do what Livingston did.

Before free agency began this past summer, I was hoping Rose would sign with a contender. I wanted him to follow in Livingston’s footsteps. Unfortunately, he ended up in Detroit as a member of the Pistons – a fringe playoff team in the weak Eastern Conference.

For that reason alone, it looks like the Shaun Livingston path isn’t one Rose will travel down in the near future. Livingston joined an up-and-coming Warriors team in 2014, and I definitely wouldn’t use the term “up-and-coming” to describe the Pistons team that Rose joined. Maybe in two years (when Rose becomes an unrestricted free agent again), he can sign with the next up-and-coming team on the brink of winning a championship or two.

The bad news for Rose is the longer he waits to join a contender, the less likely it is that he’ll win a championship. For a player that relies on speed and athleticism, youth is everything. Livingston joined the Warriors as a 28-year-old who used his size and soft touch to remain relevant. Rose will turn 31 in October and doesn’t have that same old-man-game that Livingston had.

For now, it looks like a championship is out of the picture for Derrick Rose. But if he decides to follow in Shaun Livingston’s footsteps, he may eventually win that elusive ring.

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