Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose one of the best to never win All-Star Game MVP

All-Star Weekend 2020 is almost upon us at the home of the Chicago Bulls, and former PG Derrick Rose was one of the best to never win MVP of the ASG.

Early in his NBA career, former Chicago Bulls superstar point guard Derrick Rose was a usual selection in the All-Star Game representing the Eastern Conference. That hype has since died down, but he was nearly an All-Star reserve selection this year with the Detroit Pistons thanks to a bounce back 2019-20 season.

D-Rose could very well be the Sixth Man of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year in the same season. He’s averaging 18.2 points per game, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from three-point range. He has a sparkling player efficiency rating sitting at 21.3 and a good number of win shares for how bad the Pistons are doing this season, 2.6.

But the hayday of Rose’s NBA career is likely to be the beginning when he was shining with the Bulls in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. The three All-Star selections for Rose along with his MVP honors, and one All-NBA Team honor came within the first four years of his NBA career. Landing Sixth Man of the Year and/or Comeback Player of the Year honors this year would be his most significant accolades since all the injury troubles began starting in 2012.

However, in the three All-Star Game appearances that Rose did have earlier in his career, he didn’t land a single MVP honor. He might be the best Bulls player to ever not win the All-Star Game MVP honors. That would either have to be D-Rose, center Joakim Noah, or big man Dennis Rodman.

The first and last All-Star Games that Rose played in would have to be considered his best. He registered 14 points and three assists while shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point range in the 2012 All-Star Game. In his first appearance in the All-Star Game, he registered eight points, four assists, and three steals. That was a more well-rounded performance but didn’t see him score enough to come close to getting the ASG MVP honors.

The second All-Star Game appearance for Rose didn’t come close to netting him the MVP honors either. But it was still impressive that he was able to have three consecutive All-Star Game appearances, which is a testament to just how good he is when healthy.

With All-Star Weekend returning to Chicago for the first time in 32 years, all the great memories of former Bulls competing in the festivities come back fondly. The better days of Rose with the Bulls is one of the better memories that could resurface this weekend, along with that of all-time great shooting guard Michael Jordan winning the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest.

All-Star Weekend this year at the United Center in Chicago will only feature one prominent former Bulls player. That being the Miami Heat star small forward Jimmy Butler. D-Rose wasn’t selected for any All-Star Weekend events this year, and the only current Bulls player competing is shooting guard Zach LaVine in the three-point shootout.