Derrick Rose Doubles Down on Knicks Superteam Remark: 'I Still Believe That'

Last month, Derrick Rose put the New York Knicks in the same classification as the Golden State Warriors. Recently given a chance to clarify or walk back his bold statement, he stood pat.

Speaking to reporters in late July, the former MVP put his new squad on the same tier as Golden State, which won an NBA-record 73 games last season and then signed Kevin Durant: "I mean, with these teams right now, they're saying us and Golden State are the superteams."

Nobody in the universe other than Rose was saying that, so surely he'd back off that comment when given a second chance, right?

Wrong. Per ESPN.com's Ian Begley, the point guard continued to talk up his new team, which has won one playoff series this millennium:

"

I still believe that. Like I said, with that Super Team term, you have to be very careful, I guess, if you’re in the United States. But I feel like if you’re in any team in the NBA -- it don’t have to be the NBA, it could be the college level, high school level -- you should believe in yourself and have the confidence in yourself that you’re playing on a super team anywhere. So I have a lot of confidence, and I’m not taking that back.

"

He's right to a certain degree. Athletes are supposed to exude confidence bordering on cockiness. The public reaction would be much worse if Rose called the Knicks a fringe playoff contender without enough depth, defense and perimeter shooting to make a serious run. If he doesn't believe in his own team, who will?

But come on, let's focus on staying healthy and making the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13. Then see what happens from there.

[Ian Begley]