Derrick Rose has suffered another knee injury. On Nov. 22, Rose hobbled off of the court as the Chicago Bulls faced the Portland Trailblazers. But the seriousness of the injury became more evident after Rose was photographed leaving the arena in crutches. He will undergo an MRI today in Los Angeles.
But beyond the obvious heartbreak of the entire city of Chicago, Rose’s injury could have a larger effect on the Bulls and the entire NBA if he misses another season.
Here are three ways Derrick Rose’s knee injury will hurt the NBA.
The decline of the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are NBA title contenders with Rose on the floor. But with Rose out, it’s highly likely that the Bulls will be a lower playoff seed or could miss the post season all together.
The lack of competition in the Eastern Conference
The Eastern Conference is the weaker conference in the NBA. After one month of play, only three teams in the East have a winning record. Without Rose, the Bulls will falter and leave very little competition for the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.
The fall of another NBA All-Star
The NBA is a league of stars. Unlike football or baseball, the NBA is driven by stars instead of teams. Players such as Rose, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul are essential to the survival of the NBA. From an economic standpoint, NBA stars attract big fan bases and bigger endorsement deals for the league.
