Shortly before the New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans tipped off at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Knicks’ PR released a tweet saying that point guard Derrick Rose was not with the team:
Brandon Jennings is starting tonight versus @PelicansNBA – Derrick Rose is not with the team.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) January 10, 2017
And it’s not just that Rose wasn’t with the team, but The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that as of tip-off, the team didn’t know why Rose was absent. He added that Rose was unhappy about being benched against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, but it’s unclear if that had anything to do with the absence:
Sources: There are team officials, teammates and close associates unclear of reason for Derrick Rose's absence for Knicks-Pelicans at MSG.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2017
As you'd expect, sources say Rose was unhappy with fourth quarter benching on Friday in Milwaukee — but unclear if that's impacted absence.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2017
Sources: At tip-off, Knicks still hadn't been in contact with Derrick Rose. Unclear if they've reached him — or kept trying — during game.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2017
It is very possible Rose could have a legitimate reason for missing game — family-related or otherwise — but that's yet to be determined.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2017
Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek addressed the topic after the game:
Hornacek: "Right now we don’t have information to give you anything. That’s just going to have to wait until we hear from Derrick himself."
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 10, 2017
Hornacek said Knicks expect him back. Says he can't say any more. "We’re not going to go into it. Everything will become clear later on."
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 10, 2017
There is sure to be much more coming with this story, and we’ll update this post when more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Derrick Rose’s longtime teammate Joakim Noah says that he’s spoken with Rose, and that Rose is “ok”:
Joakim Noah tells reporters that he spoke to Derrick Rose after the game. Says "He's OK." Does not elaborate further.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 10, 2017
UPDATE 2: ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that Rose left without permission, but told the Knicks he had a family siutation:
Re Derrick Rose: Sources tell ESPN he left w/out permission but has subsequently been in touch with team officials.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 10, 2017
According to sources Rose told the team he had a family situation.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 10, 2017
