Derrick Rose to his doubters: 'I don't need your f---ing validation'

Derrick Rose is aware a lot of people feel he's no longer an NBA-caliber player, but the former MVP point guard says he isn't concerned with those opinions.

"This is how I feel about it, the whole perspective on it: You could have your perspective on me, as far as I'm a bum, I can't play, I can't shoot, this and that, alright cool," Rose told reporters Saturday, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "I have no hard feelings with that. (If) that's how you feel, that's how you feel, but at the same time I don't need your f---ing validation. I know who I am, I know what type of player I am."

It's fair to wonder, at this point, what type of player that is. Rose, who just signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, had a disastrous stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season. He shot 25 percent from 3-point range, had more turnovers than assists, defended poorly, posted a minus-7.7 box plus-minus (which ranks as the fourth-worst mark in the league for players who've played at least 200 minutes), got injured, took a three-week leave to contemplate his future, and returned to the team just in time to get dumped at the trade deadline. Cleveland got outscored by 5.3 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. In his final five games with the Cavs, he shot 4-of-25 from the field.

For all that, his former Chicago Bulls coach and the current Timberwolves president-coach still decided to take a chance on him. And Rose expects to have a role in Tom Thibodeau's rotation.

"(Thibodeau) wouldn't have me come here if he wasn't gonna use me," Rose told reporters, according to The Athletic's Tim Faklis.

The Wolves next play Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. Thibodeau said Rose will be available to play.