Former NBA Guard Raymond Felton Says Players Faked Being Hurt, Sick To Avoid Playing Prime Derrick Rose

Former NBA guard Raymond Felton said on the “Run Your Race” podcast with Theo Pinson that players used to fake being sick or hurt to avoid playing prime Derrick Rose. 

Rose was one of the best players in the NBA before tearing his left ACL in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers as a member of the Chicago Bulls. 

Raymond Felton talks about “the D-Rose flu”:

“The way that man was playing that [MVP] year … it was crazy how many people was getting sick when it was time to play Chicago.”

(via Run Your Race/@TidalLeague) pic.twitter.com/vYOASB9JQh

— DRoseMuse (@DerrickRoseMuse) April 9, 2024

Rose was the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by his hometown Bulls. He became the youngest MVP in NBA history during the 2010-11 season but hasn’t been able to stay healthy since then. 

Rose averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Bulls in 2010-11. Chicago won 62 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, beat the Bulls in the conference finals in five games. 

A Memphis product, Rose has undergone eight surgeries on his body. The Chicago native has played for the Bulls, New York Knicks (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies. 

Rose has career averages of 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He has made three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team. Rose also won the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year Award. 

The Grizzlies signed Rose to a two-year, $6.5 million contract last summer. Rose will make $3.4 million next season.

Rose has only played in 24 games this season. He’s averaging 8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 46.1% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 88.9% from the free-throw line. 

Rose considered retiring from the NBA after the Knicks didn’t re-sign him last offseason. It will be interesting to see if the former All-Star plays in 2024-25. 

“Around that time, I was still trying to figure out if I still wanted to play,” Rose told Stefan Bondy of The New York Post last month. “Just trying to figure out my route, if I wanted to stay or leave.”