Jalen Rose looking forward to 'reinvention' following ESPN layoff
For 16 years, Jalen Rose was one of ESPN’s most prominent faces. Now, he’s eager to find out what’s next.
Rose was all smiles as he addressed the media during his 13th annual Jalen Rose Leadership Academy Celebrity Golf Classic on Monday. The former NBA veteran and Michigan basketball standout who became an analyst on several ESPN shows, including “NBA Countdown” and “Get Up,” was among many layoffs by the broadcasting network in June.
It’s an opportunity for him to rest and reset after being with the network since 2007. But he hinted his next job may be around the corner.
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“It’s the reinvention,” Rose said. “The one thing about being a public figure for as long as I have, since the early '90s, I guess the world has got a chance to see me reinvent myself multiple times, whether it’s in multimedia, whether it’s the style of hair that I’m wearing, whether it’s whatever it is. That’s what we, as Detroiters do. We find ways to be successful regardless.
“There’s a phrase I like to use: ‘There’s a reason why the windshield is far superior in size than the rearview mirror.’ Because what’s happening in front of you is way more important. I’m excited about the next chapters, and stay tuned.”
A noted Pistons fan and frequent courtside presence at their games, Rose recently teamed up with the organization to poke fun at his unemployment. The native Detroiter was the star of the team’s 2023-24 schedule announcement video released last Thursday, which spoofed him reviewing his résumé with an HR representative at the team’s Midtown practice facility. His past job experience? Working in food service, as a weatherman and as a barber.
In real life, Rose teased he will have a bigger presence with the Pistons next season. But he didn’t reveal any details.
“Yes, yes and yes,” he said. “Stay tuned, stay tuned, stay tuned. Absolutely. Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Exclamation point.”
Rose, as always, is excited for next season’s iteration of the team. The Pistons will welcome back Cade Cunningham, who missed the majority of last season with a shin injury. They will also feature a new head coach in Monty Williams, who team owner Tom Gores signed to a six-year, $78.5 million contract earlier this summer. At the time, it was the richest deal for a coach in NBA history (and has since been surpassed by San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich's new contract).
Williams quickly transformed the Phoenix Suns during his five-year tenure, taking them from 19 wins before he arrived to an NBA Finals appearance and a 64-win season. Rose is a fan of the hire.
“The first thing I want to say is having an owner that looks at his roster and says, ‘We’re nurturing something special here, let’s do whatever it takes to get an elite coach,’ ” Rose said. “For all of us Detroiters, we know as fans, sometimes our team doesn’t necessarily do that, whatever the sport, right? When you have a chance to go get Monty Williams, a guy that took the Phoenix Suns from a non-playoff team in the bubble to the NBA Finals in a couple of years, developing young players like Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and nurturing their young team when they’re a young roster, I think it was a seamless fit. And for the team to do whatever they had to do to make sure it happened, it’s incredible.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Monty. He’s going to really stabilize a lot of things as it relates to the development and growth of our team and getting us some wins.”
Rose also has high hopes for Ausar Thompson, who the Pistons drafted fifth overall in June. Thompson was a standout in Las Vegas Summer League.
“He’s going to be a Swiss Army knife,” Rose said. “I don’t want him guarding me, and I’m retired. He’s one of those agitators, getting steals, getting blocks, picking up guys 94 feet. He’s going to be an incredible fan favorite.”
The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy opened in 2011, and has been a longtime “labor of love” for the former Michigan standout. There were several new celebrities at his golf event Monday, including actors Anthony Mackie and Algee Smith, a Saginaw native.
“For me to have the support of my co-founder Michael Carter, his wife Pam, our amazing board who goes over and above the call of duty with their time and energy and their money, our amazing staff and school leadership, and our parents and our scholars who believed in the vision,” Rose said. “And we continue to try to raise money, raise awareness, continue to do what we can to change the lives of young Detroiters.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jalen Rose up for 'reinvention' after ESPN layoff
