Derrick Rose Talks About Adidas AdiZero Rose 2 and His Summer During NBA Lockout

Due to the lockout, Derrick Rose is currently unable to do what he loves to do the most: play NBA basketball.

Not being able to hoop it up in basketball's best league has to be depressing for D-Rose. But hey, at least he has a cool new shoe out, which is something that he's surely excited about.

I, as well as other members of the media, got the chance to speak with the Chicago Bulls phenom at a Foot Locker recently, as he introduced his latest shoe, the Adidas "adiZero Rose 2," to his hometown of Chicago.

Rose's Foot Locker stop was part of an all-day event in the Windy City. The MVP point guard also made an appearance at the Adidas store on Michigan Avenue and participated in a 3-on-3 basketball game at the James Jordan Boys & Girls Club.

Here's a few things that Rose had to say during his meet-and-greet at the State Street Foot Locker.

What Shoe Was His Favorite Long Before the AdiZero Rose 2?

Rose was asked what shoe influenced him as he grew up in Chicago.

"The Jordan," said Rose, referring to the popular shoe that was worn by former Bulls megastar Michael Jordan. "I think when I was in grammar school and high school, everyone wanted the Jordan," he added. 

Kids across the country wanted Jordans when they first came out in the 1980s, they wanted them in the '90s, back when the Bulls won six titles, and yes, they still want them today—and likely for many years to come.  

It's a wonder what D-Rose's favorite Jordan of all-time is. That's probably a question that should have been asked.     

What Matters Most to Rose in a Shoe?

If you were an NBA star and could choose what you wanted your shoe to be like, what would matter most to you? How if feels? How it looks?

According to Rose, it's all about how it feels.

"As long as the shoe is comfortable and stable, I'm good," he said.

If you've seen the new adiZero Rose 2, then you know it's one of the coolest-looking shoes on the market. It's obviously comfortable as well, which means that it's pretty much a perfect shoe. 

Spending a Little Time out of the Country

Rose was quite busy this past summer. Not only did he travel to Spain to shoot his popular "bull-fighter" commercial for his shoes, he also visited four places in Asia: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing and Taiwan.

Rose was asked what his favorite experience in Asia was.

"All of them were something to remember, but the one that really got to me was Taiwan. The fans were really into it, their energy was great. I just loved being over there."

While in Taiwan, Rose picked up the nickname of "Biao Feng Mei Gui," meaning "speedy stormy Rose." He was presented with the name at a press conference at Taipei.

Talking About Being Famous and Relocating to Los Angeles

Rose was taken by the Bulls with the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

The former University of Memphis star went on to win the league's Rookie of the Year award and then became a first-time All-Star in his second season. By then, he was famous, but it wasn't until last season that he became ridiculously famous.

Rose blossomed into "The Man," as he averaged a career-best 25 points and 7.7 assists per game. He led Chicago to the top record in the entire NBA, and, of course, was named MVP—an award that no other player, even LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, really had a chance at winning.

With millions of fans knowing his face, Rose talked about what it's like operating on a day-to-day basis.

“It's been tough. That's part of the reason I moved out to L.A. You can still hide there, but here or other big cities, you can't hide there. You know me, I try to stay out of the attention, stay out of the media, only for positive things."

Rose has spent the offseason living in Los Angeles, where he's been working out with his trainer and trying to develop a better post-up game.

Does the MVP Ever Worry About His Ankle?

During last season's playoffs, Rose sprained his ankle against the Indiana pacers and then later tweaked it versus the Atlanta Hawks.

But is the Bulls star concerned?

“With my braces, I shouldn’t have to worry about my ankle. I’m not worrying about it. When you worry about it, that’s when things tend to happen. I just try to work on getting better and try to stay positive, like I always do."

Let's hope that Rose doesn't have any more ankle problems and can turn into the Hall of Fame-type player that many believe he can become in the future.