Derrick Rose ‘Very Close’ to Taking Full Contact

According to Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, superstar guard Derrick Rose is getting oh-so-close to taking part in a full-contact practice, which is the next step in his long road back from major knee surgery. Per the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald: “In town all week with practices scheduled Tuesday and Thursday, coach Tom Thibodeau said Derrick Rose is ‘very close’ to being cleared for full contact. Thibodeau said ‘it could’ happen this week, another step in Rose’s recovery from last May’s left knee surgery. […] ‘It’s not going to be one or two days of contact and he’s going to be out there,’ Thibodeau said. ‘That’s not going to happen. He’s showing great patience. Everybody else has to. He has to continue to focus on his rehab. When he’s ready, whenever that is, that’s when he comes back. Our doctors have been on top of it since day one. And Derrick’s done great.’ […] ‘He has to go through that (full-contact practice) for an extended amount of time,’ Thibodeau said before Monday’s game.”