In the history of the NBA, few names shine as bright as that of LeBron James. Four NBA championships, four MVP Awards, three Olympic gold medals, and twenty All-Star selections barely scratch the surface of his accomplishments. From his superhuman athleticism to his unparalleled court vision, Bron has consistently redefined what’s possible on a basketball court. Yet, in a career marked by countless triumphs over formidable opponents, there was one player who reportedly struck fear into the heart of the King himself.

In the recent episode of the ‘Run Your Face‘ podcast, one of the hosts of the show, the Texas Legends shooting guard, made a bold statement. According to him, most of the players in the league, including LeBron James, feared the former Chicago Bulls player, Derrick Rose. The guest of the segment, Jamal Crawford, and the other host, AJ Richardson, provided their nod to the statement. “He wanted every fade, he wanted every fade, zero,” said Crawford during the interview.

The influence of Rose on the game was completely revolutionary. In 2008, when he was drafted first by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, he rapidly took his place among the NBA’s most energetic players. Rose’s third season saw the Bulls’ performance improve to their fifth-highest record (62-20) while also making him the youngest player at 23 to earn the MVP award. Crawford even shared a moment when the point guard was lauded by one of his former teammates. “There was a time when Kirk Hinrich was playing with him. I hadn’t seen D-Rose up close, and Kirk was like, Mal, he’s different.’ I’m like, ‘Man, is he better than this person?’ He’s like, ‘He’s better than him,” said Crawford during the interview.

Although it was not revealed why James was afraid of D-Rose, it can be speculated that the statement was solely based on the dunking prowess of the former Bulls point guard. Whether it was a thunderous one-handed slam or a graceful reverse dunk, Rose’s dunks were always a highlight reel waiting to happen. Even the former New York Clippers player shared about a particular game experience in 2011 at Madison Square Garden, where the point guard scored 26 points while throwing down three exceptional dunks. “He got a steal, and I was just like, ‘What dunk is he going to do next?’ He just did three different dunks. He casually, calmly, coolly, stole it, walked up, touched his toes, and ducked his head from the rim,” stated Crawford during the podcast.

Unfortunately, this athletic prowess for Rose was only for a short time, as he suffered a leg injury in Game 1 of their first-round series against Philadelphia in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. He had a good rehabilitation period and came back to the league but wasn’t able to play the game with the same determination as he did pre-injury. However, the player who once feared Rose has now shown his support for him over social media.

LeBron James’ support for Derrick Rose after retirement announcement

The 35-year-old point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies has communicated his decision to retire from the game in an emotional Instagram post. The former point guard did more than just make a social media post; he also advertised extensively in six city newspapers to convey his gratitude to his fans. “Knowing that I gave my all to the game, I feel confident in my decision,” said Rose about his retirement to ESPN.

Following this, Los Angeles Lakers standout LeBron James also took to his social media to express his admiration and respect for Derrick Rose following the latter’s recent announcement. The 39-year-old took screenshots of all pictures added by Rose on his retirement post and shared them on his Instagram Story with captions that read “Pooh!!! Salute,” and, “Immortalized.”

James, who often faced Rose in the Eastern Conference playoffs during their respective primes, has always acknowledged Rose’s incredible abilities. The two players played by the side of each other for a short period of time in 2017, when they were in the Cleveland Cavaliers. This exchange of gratitude shows the camaraderie that both players had between them, even though Bron may apparently be afraid of Rose.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger