Derrick Rose is known as a pass-first guard who defers to his teammates.
Apparently the Simeon High product and possible top pick in the June 26 NBA draft defers to non-teammates as well.
Asked on Thursday who the better player is between himself and forward Michael Beasley, the other possible top pick, Rose didn’t hesitate.
“It’s definitely him,” Rose said. “He’s way better than me. He’s versatile. He’s a great player.”
By all accounts, so, too, is Rose, which is why the Bulls are eager to spend the next four weeks getting to know both players as they prepare to make the No. 1 pick.
From the moment Rose and Beasley sat down to address reporters in a ballroom of a hotel at the NBA’s predraft camp, their personality differences stood in stark contrast.
Rose answered questions quietly, humbly, politely. Beasley flashed a sense of humor immediately — “Somebody knocked my name tag down,” he said — and answered questions more gregariously, while remaining polite and humble.
“Why would he say that?” Beasley countered when informed Rose had named him the better player. “His team went further in the tournament. He led his team to the championship [game].”
Gauging these disparate personalities will be one aspect of the process as general manager John Paxson and his staff weigh the decision to draft either the speedy point guard (Rose) or the inside scoring machine (Beasley).
Questions about character have followed Beasley since he attended six high schools and developed a reputation for making mischief, such as writing graffiti.
Beasley, who played one season at Kansas State, turned most serious when questioned about his character.
“I hear a lot about I have ‘character issues,’ but I’ve yet to hear what those ‘character issues’ are,” he said. “Until somebody can tell me what my ‘character issues’ are, I don’t feel the need to change.
“I just turned 19 in January. How mature do you want me to be? I’m still a kid. I’m not legal. I can vote, but that’s about it. On the basketball side of things, I’m 30 years old. Off the court … I’m going to live my life. I’m going to mess up.”
Beasley opted for humor to defuse questions about his height. He’s listed at 6 feet 10 inches, but some speculate he could come in at 6-7 1/2 when official measurements are taken on Friday.
“I didn’t know there was a height requirement for the NBA,” Beasley said. “No matter if I’m 5 feet or 8-1, I’m the same player. I’m going to work as hard as I can.”
Rose vowed to do the same and offered a ready answer when asked what it would be like to play for the hometown team he cheered for as a kid.
“It would be a lot of pressure,” Rose said. “But growing up in Chicago, I got used to it. They can love you and hate you at the same time. So I got used to that.
“It’d be neat to have my family on the sidelines every game, yelling for me. I could see my nieces there.”
Asked to list his strengths, Rose mentioned leadership first.
He then turned thoughtful when contemplating how that quality co-existed with his quiet nature.
“Off the court I’m quiet,” he said. “On the court I can talk more. I’m calmer on the court and people listen to me. I command respect by leading by example, staying at practice longer, doing the little things to show I’m a good teammate.”
Beasley painted a picture of versatility when discussing his strengths.
“I do what’s needed,” he said. “Sometimes I rebound. Sometimes I’m a scorer. Sometimes I’m a defensive player. Sometimes I’m a cheerleader. Whatever is needed for my team.”
Both players danced the politically correct dance when asked which franchise they’d like to play for and whether it would sting if the Bulls bypassed them as the top pick.
“It’s their pick,” Rose said. “I can’t make their pick. It wouldn’t hurt if they passed me up.
“As long as I’m playing professional basketball, I’m happy.”
