Derrick Rose MVP Season vs. Ja Morant 2022 Season Comparison: The Duel Of Two Explosive Point Guards

Derrick Rose was a great scorer, averaging 25.0 PPG in his MVP season on 44.5% shooting from the field. He was also effective from three, nailing 33.2% of his deep-range shots. An explosive scorer at the rim, Rose got to the basket with ease and often made headlines with his elite athleticism.

Ja Morant is also an elite scorer, putting up 27.6 PPG on 49.8% shooting from the field and 34.4% from three. While Morant’s numbers are higher and better than Rose’s in the Bulls’ guard’s MVP season, he might be benefiting from an era built on space and pace. Had prime Rose played in today’s game, his numbers could have been similar. Morant also averaged 17.8 PPG and 19.1 PPG in his first two seasons, while Rose put up 16.8 PPG and 20.8 PPG in his first two seasons.

Athleticism - Even

Derrick Rose is easily one of the most athletic players to have ever played the game, bursting onto the scene as an incredible athlete with hops and quickness. He was able to stop and burst at incredible speed, making him one of the most unstoppable players in his era. At 6’2” and 200 lbs, Rose also had the size to score at will.

Ja Morant is taller than Rose at 6’3”, but weighs only 178 lbs and is relatively slim. That helps Ja move at an incredible pace, and his explosiveness is on par with Rose. Not many players in NBA history can compete with D-Rose at his position in terms of athleticism, but Morant is certainly one of them.

Defense - Even

Bulls superstar Derrick Rose was mainly an offensive player, but his defense was not subpar by any means. The point guard competed at a high level on defense, using his athleticism to impact the game and also guard opposing guards effectively. In the 2011 MVP season, Rose averaged 1.0 SPG and 0.6 BPG which are very solid numbers for a point guard. Derrick was solid at playing passing lanes and could also block other point guards when he got ahead of steam.

Ja Morant is developing his defensive skills and has plenty of time to become a stopper. So far, he is a decent defender with an average of 1.2 SPG and 0.4 BPG this season. Ja’s defense will continue to improve as he gains more experience defending other elite stars, and we can then analyze his impact on that end. As of right now, Morant is not a pushover on defense and has the hops to fly in for well-time blocks and shot contests.

Clutch - Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose was a problem in the clutch because he could score anytime he wanted to in his prime. The superstar point guard had a few memorable game-winners to his name with the Bulls and could be trusted to show up against any opponent. Some key clutch shots include the shot on the Memphis Grizzlies and an incredible game-tying three against the Rockets. With Rose barely having enough time in the league, he was a stone-cold killer in the clutch.

Ja Morant is developing his killer instinct as well and is another problem in the clutch for defenders. The point guard has plenty of time to build his legacy as a crunch-time killer, but he is certainly on the right track. This one can be called close, but because Rose showed elite shot-making in crunch time at such as young age, he slightly gets the nod.

Leadership - Even

What Derrick Rose did at age 22 was not normal, because he was a leader at his position and the man who led the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the NBA as the MVP of the league. He knew how to make others better, and brought back winning to the city of Chicago for the first time since Michael Jordan. A clutch shot-maker, Rose was the man on his team.

Ja Morant is showing incredible leadership for the Grizzlies, bringing a franchise to the top out of nowhere. Morant is easily the best player and leader of his team, improving the play of others around him including Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. Teammates follow Morant’s lead on and off the court, a very good sign that we could be looking at an all-time great leader very soon.

Who Had The Better Season: 2011 Derrick Rose Or 2022 Ja Morant?

In all fairness, many pundits might consider it a toss-up between both stars at the time Rose and Morant were 22 years old. The edge has to lightly go to Rose for being the youngest MVP ever and also the man with a tremendous start to his career with immense accolades in such a short amount of time. The point guard knew when to pick apart his defenders, and had one of the most iconic seasons in 2011 when he led the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the league as the MVP of the league.

Morant is becoming a superstar and has a chance to surpass Rose as a better all-around player after a decade or so. But when comparing Rose’s 2011 season and Morant’s 2022 season, the edge has to go to the Chicago Bulls superstar. It is very likely that Grizzlies star Ja Morant will not win MVP, as there are a few players ahead of him including Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic among others. During the 2011 season, there was no doubt who the better point guard was. Capturing the MVP award, leading his team to the best record, and putting the league on notice that LeBron James had some company made Derrick Rose the better player at 22 years old.

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