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Jeff Teague admits Derrick Rose was his most dreaded match-up

Teague didn’t hesitate to name the former NBA MVP.

Stephen Beslic

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After concluding his illustrious 12-year NBA journey with a championship win alongside the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Jeff Teague smoothly transitioned into a prominent and entertaining podcaster. Unafraid to share NBA stories with vivid and hilarious details, Teague has quickly become a fan favorite in the podcast world.

In a recent episode of the OGs Show, Teague opened up about who he dreaded playing the most in his career. To no one's surprise, he came up with Derrick Rose.

Rose was unbelievable

Rose was drafted only a year earlier than Teague, which meant they clashed multiple times throughout their careers. To this day, Teague still vividly and with a tinge of fear remembers his early encounters with Rose.

“D-Rose before he got hurt,” Teague answered when asked by host Mike Miller which player he dreaded playing against the most.

“He was unbelievable. He was strong. Every play was ran for him. They ran forehead, that side pick-and-roll with Booz,” Teague continued.

The one-time All-Star added how much of a nightmare it was guarding Rose at the peak of his powers. Powerfully built with nuclear athleticism, there was nothing a defender could do against him when he was fully healthy.

“It was unbelievable. He’d get to the rim, and he was relentless. Like every single time, he was trying to score or he was trying to make a play. He was too hard to guard. He was so strong, and I knew him since I was 13. So it's like, ‘Damn, you've been like this since I was 13,’” Teague added.

Became teammates

Teague and Rose eventually became teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Teague was the starter, while Rose backed him up. However, in a game on October 31, 2018, Teague wasn’t able to suit up due to a foot injury, and Rose took advantage, scoring an unforgettable 50 points in a 128-125 win over the Utah Jazz.

Teague recalled how emotional everyone was watching Rose pull off the scoring feat, especially after he had suffered so many career-altering injuries.

“I'm like, 'Why are we getting sad?'" added Teague.

"I'm getting hyped like I'm jumping up and down. Ni***, I'm like, yeah, so he gets to like 48, I think and the ni**** start crying. We in the middle of the game, we 'bout to win a game, the whole team start crying. I'm like 'What the fu**?' I have sh** comin' down my eye. But I'm happy, I'm like, yeah, what the fu** is going on? It's like God making everybody cry. He get to 50 we pour water on him, we hype him up, and he like in full blown tears."

Derrick Rose on his proclamation of wanting to become MVP in 2011:

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Stephen Beslic
STEPHEN BESLIC

Stephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing.

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