Only 16 games into his NBA career, Derrick Rose has certainly accumulated his share of fans among the league's coaches and his peers.
Still, the Bulls' rookie guard and No. 1 overall draft choice practically was floored when told of one of his latest admirers before Wednesday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Count Spurs point guard Tony Parker, the 2007 NBA Finals most valuable player, among those predicting Rose will be this season's NBA rookie of the year. Rose entered Wednesday's game averaging 19 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
"Oh, man," Rose said. "He's one of the best guards in the NBA. He fits well with his team, he's a leader, he knows the game very well. It's an honor for him to say that about me. I appreciate it."
And his teammates appreciate him.
"Right now we have a lot of confidence in Derrick Rose," Bulls forward Andres Nocioni said. "He's playing like a veteran. He's making the right decisions at the end of the game, doing what he needs to do."
Layup: The Bulls' one trip per season to San Antonio affords Nocioni a chance to renew acquaintances with his Argentine Olympic teammates: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and center Fabricio Oberto. "We had a nice barbecue dinner at Oberto's last night," Nocioni said. "Whoever's hometown it is, you pay. These are the rules. But for me, it's expensive [to eat out with them in Chicago]. They are two, and I am one."
