Derrick Rose ‘Fine’ Playing Behind Kyrie Irving for Team USA

Derrick Rose checked in against Turkey on Sunday night, thereby playing in his first back-to-back set of games since Nov. 22 (when he suffered his second season-ending knee injury.) Rose says he continues to feel good physically, even though he hasn’t yet had a breakthrough performance for USA Basketball.

With Kyrie Irving starting at point guard, Derrick Rose also isn’t complaining about coming off the bench. Per ESPN:

“I’m just trying to put that behind me,” Rose said of any trepidation he’s feeling as he ramps up his comeback from the two devastating injuries that limited him to 10 games over the past two seasons with the Bulls. I know the questions are going to come and they’re going to be there the whole year. So I can’t get tired of it. I’m feeling good right now. Just trying to get in better shape, get in better condition, so that when I do need to score the ball, then it’ll be there.”

 

“I think we’ll have to see,” Rose said when asked a few days ago how he expects to cope with the grind of pool play. “I think I’m always staying positive. I know how much work I put into my body and how many hours I stayed in the gym. I’m just trying to stay positive right now and just trying to keep getting my conditioning better.”

 

“We have a deep team,” Rose said. “And that’s what makes us so good. […] “My role is coming off the bench right now. I’m fine with it. I know no second unit can win when I’m on the court or stick me when I’m on the court.”