Derrick Rose wants another crack at making the Knicks great again.
With the trade official, Rose, who played for the Knicks for one season in 2016-17 and wanted to re-sign, wrote about his excitement on Instagram, relaying a missed opportunity in his first Knicks stint.
“Other hoopers always used to tell me that if I ever had the chance to play in the MECCA go for it,” Rose wrote. “I’m getting a second chance. … Got to make this one count. But I’m built for it. What’s Pooh spelled backwards???? The s–t just in my blood.”
The Knicks did not choose to re-sign Rose after the 2016-17 season, after Steve Mills took over for as president for ousted Phil Jackson before free agency. Jackson, according to sources, likely would have re-upped with Rose but Mills wanted to move on. The snub hurt Rose, according to his 2019 autobiography excerpted by The Post.
The 32-year-old Rose explained in the book his decision to leave the Knicks for Chicago without permission midseason, confirming he was contemplating retirement.
“When I left the Knicks that day in January 2017, that’s what it was about. I just needed to go home,” Rose wrote in The Post’s excerpt. “I went to the crib with my mom. Everybody came over to the house to talk. That’s the first time, one of the few times, where we sat down as a whole family and had a serious discussion like that.
“I had decided I was done playing. I saw the same thing that was happening with the Bulls was going on with New York. I could tell that the season wasn’t going to be the season everyone thought, that I thought.”
The Knicks finished 31-51 but Rose averaged 18 points. Now he’s joining Tom Thibodeau for the third time.
Rose’s Instagram post also stated, “Are you still searching for your treasure or are you still content with working at the crystal shop… This experience called life will always challenge you to your core. Especially if you are trying to master your craft.”
Rose will wear No. 4 – Dennis Smith Jr.’s number – since the Knicks already have “25’’ filled by Reggie Bullock. Without a practice, it doesn’t appear likely Rose will make his second Knicks debut Tuesday in Miami.
