Brian Siegel
Sports Columnist

After leading an upset of the defending-champion Celtics with a career-high 36 points in his first ever playoff game, Derrick Rose seemed too good to be true. As the Rookie of the Year, Rose has single-handedly transformed the Bulls into a force with which to be reckoned.

What separates Rose from the rest of the pack is his drive. The NBA is a league that often lacks work ethic and moral character. Teams tend to feel each other out for the first 43 minutes of a game and then scrap to win in the final five. For Rose, the first minute is no different from the last.

In an interview with ESPN’s Scoop Jackson, the 20-year-old phenom explained how he took a leadership role at such a young age.

“When I first came in, it was hard knowing that [I] had people on the team that were grown men that were going to be looking at me,” Rose said. “But [I] had to lead by example. I had to let them know that I really wanted to play and that I really wanted to win. I always believed if you did that, then they’ll follow you.”
The young star has become a role model off the court as well. Later in the interview, Rose commented on his desire to be a role model.

“I want to help where I’m from; the community,” he said. “Just to let them know that hope is still there. Don’t give up.”

Despite his success, Rose has demonstrated much modesty, something uncommon in a league rought with arrogant superstars.

“[My Mom] never let me think of myself as bigger than anyone else,” he said.

Though the bashful Rose may have stepped into a role too big for a rookie, he has proven that leadership knows no age. He has seemingly become a hero overnight. Through simple determination and focus, he has demonstrated that anyone can become a successful leader.

Rose’s work ethic also applies to his life off the court. Take his humility for example: in an interview about tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most points scored in a playoff debut, he responded simply by saying that he could have turned the ball over less.

With all the negative things NBA players get caught up in, the fact that turnovers are his greatest worry is reassuring. It seems that Chicago finally has a hometown hero they can look up to… for all the right reasons.