Not Joe Zhan! Ross reveals that GOAT is a smiling assassin in his heart. He forgets Alexander when he chooses the top five active service.

On June 3, former NBA star Derek Ross appeared at Adidas European Basketball Training Camp to share life wisdom with young players with dreams. In an exclusive interview with HoopsHype, Ross reviews his evolving identity off the court, his life reality after retirement, and the psychological resilience needed to hone in the NBA. He also revealed that the GOAT in his heart is not Jordan or James, but "smiling assassin" Thomas. The following is a selection of interviews -

Q: What does it feel like to come to Adida's European Training Camp?

Ross: It's so cool to come here to see the children train hard, witness their concentration, and some of them are amazingly tall. This made me realize that basketball is developing and evolved into a completely different "positionless basketball." I am very glad to have entered the league in my own era, because now I am 1.91 meters tall is no longer enough (laughs).

Q: Can you talk in detail about what the "next chapter" means after you retire?

Ross: Oh, it is self-awareness, self-identity and self-revelation. These three keys are to figure out who I am as a young man who retires early and still has a long life in the future. I need to make sure I’m more strategic in action, more cautious in moving forward with projects, and really show what I am as a person, rather than having people just see me as an athlete or “basketball player.”

Q: So will you keep opening new chapters next? For example, chess league or other fields?

Ross: You mentioned the chess league, and there are some areas that I don't want to talk about in detail - otherwise you might be prosecuted (laughs). But in short, it's all a big deal.

Q: What are some suggestions for young players?

Ross: For young players, there are three levels of everything - no, not everything, but if you want to play in the NBA, you have to cross those three levels. The full name of the NBA is "No Boys Allowed". These three levels are: good, bad, and bad. The "bad" level includes surgery, family death, etc.; the "bad" level is like bad teammates; the "good" level is something that everyone can deal with, such as awards and achievements. But if you can survive the first two levels - bad and bad, such as surgery, psychological problems, etc., just keep your focus (because everything is a test of the psychological level), you can gain a foothold in the league and have a long career.

Q: How do you plan to continue participating in basketball after retirement?

Ross: My way of participating is to come to European training camps like now, give encouragement to the children, communicate with them, and let them learn from me. I was just talking to them about pick-and-roll tactics and how to maintain a defensive position in pick-and-roll - these are all things children need to hear, because I heard such suggestions countless times back then. If I could help them, at least let these concepts take root in their hearts now, so that when they enter the NBA, they know what to do in training.

Q: You once said that in the eyes of people from Chicago hometown, you are already a "Hall of Fame member". What does this recognition mean to you?

Ross: When I say this, it is actually about "setting standards." Many people around me in Chicago would say to me, “You are the first to help me do this, the first to open my eyes.” When I pursue my dreams, I never want to “be the first to do something”, but because I’m passionate about something and want to achieve it in a specific way.

I don't like talking about the Hall of Fame. But when you ask the Chicago kids who "Who is Derek Rose," or mention me on the streets of Chicago - the goals I set for my family and the achievements I'm still pursuing after retirement, I think it's already a "Hao Fame level". I want the grades to speak by themselves, not me to promote them. For example, my retirement videos, the "Rose Series" documentary, the videos of kicking off for the White Sox - these are things that other basketball players have not tried yet. I think this is opening up a new path, and this is what the "Hall of Fame" means.

Q: Have you ever asked the doctor or God "why is me" when you have experienced many injuries?

Ross: I have never asked the doctor why he was injured, they will only give me medical explanations. But I have asked God many times. But then I stopped asking, and I knew I had to learn to take the blow, and that was the resilience in the heart of Chicago people - if I could get out of there, I could gain a foothold anywhere. God asked me to come out of Chicago and brought me back, and I thought, "I am here now, and I have to have some kind of mission. What is my mission?" As I got older, I began to understand that my mission was to tell people: You can get through it.

Q: Who is the best player in history (GOAT) in your mind? Who are the top five in the NBA at present?

Ross: Now my GOAT is Isia Thomas, because he is from Chicago, he is the only one who has defeated "Magicians" Johnson, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird at his peak, and he is only 1.91 meters, which is very "Chicago".

I used to say Jordan, but I didn't play the second position, and I didn't score like him at all. I just admire his story.

If you choose the top five of active players now: Stephen Curry is selected for the point guard, Anthony Edwards is selected for the shooting guard, small forward Kevin Durant, power forward LeBron James (because he plays like the fourth position now), center Nikola Jokic. This is not disrespect for other active players, it is just the five people I think of at the first time. Wait, I forgot Shay (Gilgers-Alexander)! Brother, Shay, I'm sorry!