I'll Show You

September 1, 2019
Rose, born and raised in a tough Chicago neighborhood, led his high-school team to the Illinois state title. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, the first overall selection in the 2008 draft. In 2009, he was named NBA rookie of the year. In 2011, he was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player, the youngest player ever to win the award. Then came maximum contracts, lucrative shoe endorsements, and heightened scrutiny. For an inherently shy young man, it was difficult. Then things started to go sour. A torn ligament in his knee resulted in a year's rehabilitation. Then another knee injury and another season lost. This as-told-to autobiography, coauthored with celebrated NBA reporter Sam Smith (The Jordan Rules, 1991), tracks Rose's journey, which takes him to New York, Cleveland, Utah, and Minnesota. Only at Minnesota does his career begin to rebound under former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. This is a fascinating account of the tribulations of NBA life, made especially compelling by the detailed recording of Rose's grueling rehab experiences. Basketball fans, especially those who marveled at Rose's early years, will enjoy the book immensely.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)