Joakim Noah Thinks Prime Derrick Rose ‘Is A Little Bit More Explosive’ Than Ja Morant

Former NBA center Joakim Noah thinks prime Derrick Rose “is a little bit more explosive” than Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. 

Noah played with Rose on the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. 

“I see it. I see a lot of similarities,” Noah told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. “They’re definitely hood favorites. It’s cool. I think there’s similarities in their explosiveness. Physically I think D-Rose is a little bit more explosive. There’s definitely differences in their game.”

Rose and Morant are teammates on the Grizzlies. Morant only played nine games last season, while Rose appeared in just 24. 

The Grizzlies went 6-3 with Morant in the lineup last season. Morant missed the first 25 games of the season due to a suspension. He showed a gun on IG Live in May. It was the second time Morant displayed a gun on IG Live.

Morant had surgery on his right shoulder in January. He will be ready to go next season. Memphis signed Morant to a five-year, $197 million extension in July 2022.

Morant won the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year Award. He is considered the most athletic point guard in the NBA right now, a title Rose used to hold when he was younger. 

Morant has career averages of 22.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks. He will make $36.7 million next season. 

Rose has career averages of 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks. He has made three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team. 

In 2010-11, Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history. He won the MVP Award at 22 years and 191 days old. The previous record was held by Wes Unseld, who won MVP at 23 years and 9 days old as a member of the Baltimore Bullets.

Rose averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks in 2010-11. He led the Bulls to the best record in the NBA. Chicago reached the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, where Rose and Co. lost to the Miami Heat in five games.