Why Derrick Rose matters in the Grizzlies' locker room as much as on the court

A mixture of nostalgia and intrigue surely filled the brains of Memphis Grizzlies fans when the team agreed to a contract with former Memphis Tiger and 14-year NBA veteran Derrick Rose, but it was the reactions of his new teammates that stood out the most.

Minutes after rumblings of Rose agreeing to a contract with Memphis, star Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. tweeted the words, “new energy.” Minutes later, Ja Morant broke his 48-day Twitter silence by sharing a photoshopped image of himself and Rose.

Can Rose still be an effective player on the floor? The Grizzlies think so, but that’s not why the decision to sign the former MVP stands out. For as much as Rose will be counted on as another guard who can score and get his own shot, he is a veteran presence that can help shift the culture in Memphis, and possibly mentor Morant.

Outside of a brief stop by Danny Green, Steven Adams spent most of the past two seasons as the Grizzlies' oldest player. At 29, Adams is the same age as recently acquired Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart. Rose, 34, surpasses both and brings a lot of experience.

When Morant's troubles off the floor first surfaced this year and the Grizzlies made headlines with their trash talk across the association, many people pointed at the youthfulness of the team and lack of veteran players. Bringing in Smart and now Rose is how the Grizzlies have decided to address that scrutiny.

Like Morant, Rose burst onto the scene and quickly became one of the NBA’s biggest stars. He won an MVP award at 23 and made three all-star games before knee injuries took a toll on his athleticism.

Morant has been vocal about respecting what Rose has done in the league, and that’s important. Rose has the accomplishments to back up what he says, and he has gone through his shortcomings to get here.

Most notably, Rose was ruled academically ineligible after being accused of having someone else take his SAT test. He led the Memphis Tigers to 38 wins and a national championship appearance in 2008, but all of that was later vacated as part of the NCAA's investigation and findings. Then, in 2016, he was a defendant in a $20.5 million lawsuit by his ex-girlfriend, who accused Rose and two other men of gang rape stemming from 2013. Rose ultimately was found not liable in the suit, but his reputation was tarnished.

All signs in recent years have indicated that Rose has matured and grown as a veteran presence in the locker room. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau spoke highly of Rose’s ability to connect with players, and after Rose was replaced in the Knicks' rotation early last season, he embraced the idea of mentoring the younger players.

“I like to have (Rose) around me because he has a very positive impact on our group,” Thibodeau said this past season.

On the floor, there will be questions about what Rose brings and what he has left to offer. His stats this past season were the lowest of his career, but it was just two years ago that Rose was a finalist for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award.

Rose averaged 14.6 points and 38.8% on 3-pointers in that 2020-21 season. That’s why when the veteran sat on the bench this year, his name was steadily mentioned as a potential trade option for other teams.

Signing Rose gives the Grizzlies depth. With Morant out, the Grizzlies potentially could start Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard. Those are the three natural guards on the roster, so adding another made sense.

It remains to be seen if Rose can be the player from a couple years ago, or if this past season was an indicator of a decline. Whether that’s the case or not, the Grizzlies can have more certainty in knowing Rose's experience will be valuable in the locker room.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Derrick Rose can be the veteran that Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies need