By admin 
When Derrick Rose’s legacy is discussed, there is no doubt that his prime will always be remembered as one of the greatest what-if stories in NBA history. D-Rose became the youngest NBA MVP ever, winning the award at 22, and established himself as one of the most explosive point guards ever seen.
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However, after tearing his ACL in 2012, the three-time All-Star was never the same player, and the league moved on from him.
On the other hand, Kyrie Irving’s career has taken a different path. The nine-time All-Star may have never truly embraced his “alpha” identity outside of his first three seasons in the NBA, but he has appeared in four NBA Finals and averaged 20.0+ points per game in every season except one since his sophomore campaign.
Moreover, Kai’s ability to adjust his playing style alongside other superstars has developed a genuine case for him being the greatest supporting superstar in league history.
So, when comparing their overall legacies, there is hardly any denying that Irving is clearly ahead of Rose when factoring in longevity, team success and individual accolades.
Yet Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway emphasized that prime a Rose had something that prime Irving never possessed.
Hardaway on what prime D-Rose had
Rose’ ascension was unlike anything the NBA had ever seen. During his first two seasons in the NBA, he did not even earn an All-NBA selection. Then, everything changed in the 2010-11 season.
Pooh averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game to lead the Chicago Bulls to a league-best 62-20 record, deservedly winning the MVP award over Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.
Irving, meanwhile, has reached even higher scoring numbers in his career. He has averaged 27.4 points per game in two separate campaigns and has surpassed the 25.0 points-per-game mark in four different seasons.
Yet for Hardaway, stats alone could never capture what made Rose so scary in his prime.
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Raymond Felton talks about “the D-Rose flu”:
“The way that man was playing that [MVP] year … it was crazy how many people was getting sick when it was time to play Chicago.”
(via Run Your Race/@TidalLeague) pic.twitter.com/vYOASB9JQh
– DRoseMuse (@DerrickRoseMuse) April 9, 2024
The 60-year-old pointed to admissions by former NBA players like Raymond Felton about opponents faking injuries and illnesses to avoid playing against prime Rose. Thus, that intimidation and fear factor was enough to give Derrick the edge over Kyrie.
“Let me ask you this. Go back to everybody say that they had Derrick Rose-itis. Has anybody ever said they had Kyrie-itis?” Hardaway
. “Listen to what I just said: people did not play against Derrick Rose because they were scared. So now, I ask you. Has anybody missed the game because of Kyrie Irving? No. Let’s move over.”
Related: “You are playing with people’s lives” – Tim Hardaway blasts Glen Davis for stealing money from other NBA players
Prime versions need success
Sure, Tim is entitled to his opinion, and there is hardly any disputing that prime D-Rose was one of the most lethal scoring guards the league has ever seen.
However, without team success and consistent individual success, a prime can never be evaluated. James Harden, for example, had led the league for three consecutive seasons in his prime and even won the MVP award. His scoring wrath was so intimidating that defenders decided to guard him from behind just to stop his iconic step-back three-pointer.
Yet Harden’s prime continues to be slandered simply because he couldn’t achieve team success. So, Rose certainly had greater explosiveness and athleticism in his prime, but Irving’s prime was never just about himself; rather, he focused on winning.
Related: Jeff Teague explains why Derrick Rose was tougher to guard than Stephen Curry: “He was too fast”
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 5:23 AM.