How fast is Derrick Rose?
As a passionate NBA fan and analyst, I‘ve long been fascinated by the quickness and grace Derrick Rose displays on the basketball court. Coming out of college at Memphis, he immediately caught the league‘s attention by running a 4.18 second 40-yard dash. To this day, that time remains faster than any player currently in the NFL or NBA.
During his 2010-11 MVP season with the Chicago Bulls, Rose reached an estimated on-court top speed of 20.5 mph according to player tracking data. He achieved this speed thanks to an unparalleled combination of acceleration, body control, change of direction, and vertical leaping ability that left defenders in the dust.
Over the course of his 13 year career, Rose has suffered numerous injuries – specifically to his knees – that have taken their toll on his once peerless athleticism. However, when healthy in recent years, he‘s shown he still has flashes of the rare burst that once made him impossible to keep out of the paint.
Game Speed Metrics and Tracking Data
In the 2010-11 regular season, Rose averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.6 drives made per game. He achieved this on an average speed of 5.7 mph, terrifying defenses with both both sudden explosions to the rim and acrobatic floaters and spins around the basket. He also shot a stellar 55% on attempts within 5 feet thanks to his body control and ability to quickly change trajectory in mid air based on the defense.
According to Second Spectrum player tracking data, some examples of Rose‘s estimated top speed during drives and transitions opportunities include:
| Season | Play Type | Top Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | Full Court Sprint | 20.5 mph |
| 2011-12 | Coast to Coast | 18.9 mph |
| 2017-18 | Transition Score | 16.9 mph |
Sadly, as the above table shows, Rose‘s top full court sprints declined from 20.5 mph in his MVP season to 16.9 mph in 2017-18 after multiple knee surgeries. However, that season also showed he could still put up 18 points and 4 assists per game at age 29.
Acceleration and Lateral Quickness
In addition to sheer coast to coast, baseline to baseline speed, Rose also possessed preternatural acceleration off the dribble and side to side movements.
Rose reached peak velocities of 10-11 mph in just his first 2 steps according to player tracking stats. Paired with a lightning fast first step, he could explode from the perimeter to a rim attacking finish before the defense could react.
In terms of lateral quickness and change of direction, Rose completed an 11.15 second Lane Agility Drill during draft workouts. This showcased his ability to suddenly stop, start, and weave past defenders with precision footwork.
For comparison, here‘s how some of the NBA‘s other speed demons over the years stack up to Rose in key acceleration and change of direction drills:
| Player | 40 Yard Dash | Lane Agility (sec) | 3/4 Court Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Rose | 4.18 | 11.15 | 3.05 |
| Russell Westbrook | 4.57* | 10.98 | 2.97 |
| John Wall | 4.55* | 11.34 | 3.14 |
*Unofficial times
As you can see from the key acceleration and change of direction metrics, only Russell Westbrook comes close to matching Rose‘s initial explosive movements both forward and laterally. This underscores why I believe a healthy Rose remains likely the fastest ever NBA point guard both shifting gears and moving straight line end to end.
The Burst is Back…At Times
As a diehard NBA fan who has attended dozens of Bulls games throughout Rose‘s career, I‘ve had the pleasure of witnessing his speed tantalize crowds first hand from my seats.
The atmosphere would immediately shift whenever Rose looked ready to jet up the floor for one of his signature explosive transition finishes. Every fan in the arena could sense what was about to happen – the blurred first step and revving strides until liftoff.
Tragically, following various knee injuries and surgeries, Rose eventually lost a degree of his unprecedented gift for propulsion over time. Just compare his lateral quickness and first step as a rookie to the 2015 playoffs after three knee procedures and hundreds of hours of rehab.
However, last season on the New York Knicks at age 33, I caught a vintage Rose burst out of nowhere that nearly blew the roof of Madison Square Garden as it once did the United Center. He looked like the youngest MVP again if just for a moment, punctuating his 20 point outing with a cut and dunk in traffic that no other Knick could even dream of attempting.
It‘s the thought of possibly witnessing more flashes of the once-in-a-generation, runaway locomotive explosiveness that first made me fall for D Rose that keeps me pulling for his late career revival. That‘s why myself and fans everywhere will be keeping an eager eye out anytime number 4 zips down the floor in Denver this upcoming season. Just in case we get treated to 2011-level warp speed all over again.
