After 16 years in the NBA, Derrick Rose made the decision to retire. But let us not forget that his rise, though quick, was foiled by injuries:
2024: The athlete suffered from a back injury and multiple ankle and hamstring issues.
2023: Ankle, hamstring and knee injuries.
2022: Toe injury.
2021: Rose faced conditioning and health issues along with repetitive knee injuries.
Ultimately, his injuries can be traced back to 2012, when he experienced a torn ACL and missed the entire season.

But during a recent episode of the ‘Pat Bev Podcast with Rone’, Patrick Beverley was asked how Derrick Rose’s career would have looked without injuries. He responded by comparing Rose to Russell Westbrook, pointing out how players who stay healthy often receive less appreciation.

“You know, we can. We still appreciate him. That’s usually what happens. People who don’t get hurt they go through the world and people forget about them. They stop appreciating them. They start criticizing them. Westbrook ain’t been hurt. Westbrook been two-time MVP, average triple-double two seasons, we appreciate him? Naah. What if he wasn’t here? We would have, though?” Beverly remarked on the Pat Bev Podcast with Rone.

Russell Westbrook, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, had a stellar start to his career, earning eight All-Star selections and winning MVP in 2017. However, his move to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021 marked a downturn, as his aggressive play style and on-court struggles drew increasing frustration from Lakers fans, highlighting how quickly admiration can shift to criticism when a player doesn’t meet expectations.

In fact, Nuggets’s coach Michael Malone too shared how there was a lack of appreciation for Westbrook. Fan criticism of Westbrook escalated to the point of harassment, with some even mocking him as “Westbrick” and targeting his family. His wife, Nina Westbrook, addressed the issue on social media, saying, “When I’m being harassed on a daily basis over basketball games, and I’m having obscenity’s [sic] and death wishes for me and my family sent my way because you’re expressing your “truth”, it’s hard for me to get on board with that.”

Beverley’s comments highlight a broader truth about professional sports: respect is often tied to a player’s narrative, not just their statistics or durability. He pointed out that while Westbrook remained healthy but faced harsh criticism, Rose, who tore his ACL in the 2012 playoffs, returned to support from fans despite being sidelined for a year. Rose’s other injuries include:

• 2019: Elbow injury
• 2017: Torn meniscus (left knee)
• 2015: Torn meniscus (right knee)
• 2013: Torn meniscus (right knee)

Players like Grant Hill, Brandon Roy, and Shaun Livingston all earned respect despite devastating injuries, and Rose’s story fits within this larger narrative. The treatment of players in the NBA is complex. While some, like Rose, earn respect after adversity, others, like Westbrook, may struggle despite strong performances. But what did Beverley have to say about Rose’s retirement?