Derrick Rose Comments on Expectations, Knicks and More

New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose would be an afterthought when listing the best players at his position entering the 2016-17 NBA season, but he thinks he can play his way back into consideration.

When Rose was asked if he can show the league he's still elite after Monday's practice, he responded accordingly, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com: "Yeah, but I know I am. That's no surprise to me. It's only a matter of time until I put it together. All the hard work I put in, everything how I dedicated my whole life to this game, what I sacrificed. It's only a few that did it and that's doing it. So it's all about just putting it together."

At 22 years old, Rose appeared to be on his way to a career as one of the faces of the league when he was named the youngest MVP in NBA history after the 2010-11 season. However, injuries sapped him of his prime, and playmakers such as Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving have surpassed him on the point guard hierarchy.

While Rose, now 28, wants to show he is still elite, the Knicks would likely be thrilled if the former Chicago Bulls star remains on the court.

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2008 draft has been plagued by a number of serious knee injuries, among other ailments, in recent years. Begley noted Rose played in less than 40 percent of his games in the last five campaigns.

Rose also missed time during training camp this year to attend a civil trial in Los Angeles. A jury found him and two friends not liable of allegations that they "gang-raped an ex-girlfriend," per Begley.

Rose appeared in 66 games for the Bulls last season, his highest total since the 2010-11 campaign. However, his production was far from elite, and he set career lows (excluding the 2013-14 season, when he played in just 10 games) with 16.4 points and 4.7 assists per contest.

He also shot just 29.3 percent from three-point range and 42.7 percent from the field and was nowhere near the efficient, slashing blur of athleticism who poured in 25.0 points and dished out 7.7 assists per game in 2010-11.

Rose's tenure in Chicago is over, but he will be surrounded by plenty of talent in New York with teammates such as Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah, Kristaps Porzingis, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings.

The point guard talked about fitting in with his new teammates, per Begley: "I'm very excited. We got a lot of great pieces. We're learning how to play together. We're learning chemistry. But it comes from experience, and it comes with playing with each other."

Given his injury history and unfamiliarity with his new teammates, it is unrealistic to expect the 28-year-old to return to the elite status he described. Still, New York won't ask him to carry the team like he did in Chicago.

Even if Rose is close to 70 percent of what he was as the MVP, the Knicks will hope they have enough to reach the playoffs. That would be elite enough for a franchise that missed the postseason in each of the last three years with a combined record of 86-160.