by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni
For the first time since the regular season started, Derrick Rose has begun to open up about his left knee injury. According to the Chicago Bulls supertar point guard, he will not rush his return the court, and Rose says that he’d be willing to sit out the entire season to get his surgically-repaired knee right.
Though anxious to rejoin his teammates on the hardwood. D-Rose admits that he’s not physically ready to hoop again.
Per the Chicago Sun-Times:
“I really don’t know,’’ Rose responded, when asked if he saw a return for the 2013 playoff run. “I’m feeling good, but like I said if it’s where it’s taking me a long time and I’m still not feeling right, I won’t mind missing this year. I would love to [play], I would love to. That’s why I’m approaching my rehab so hard. I’m trying to get back on the court as quickly as possible, but if I have anything lingering on, it’s no point.’’
When the Bulls come out of the All-Star Break, Rose is scheduled to play in five-on-five scrimmages for the first time, and then take it from there. The concern, however, was even though there have been no setbacks and the rehab process moves forward, it does so with a knee that “isn’t still feeling right.’’ … “It’s both still, where my leg isn’t still feeling right,’’ Rose explained, when asked if the biggest hurdles were more mental or physical. “Mentally, I think now I’m fine. Just every week trying to do something different, every day stay on my rehab, do a little bit more, lift a little bit more, squat a little bit more. Taking it very serious.” … “Being able to dunk,’’ he explained, when asked when he’ll know it’s time. “I can’t dunk. I know if I dunk off stride I will be out there playing. But I can’t.”
Derrick Rose went on to say that he appreciates that the Bulls have left the decision regarding when to return entirely in his hands.
The former MVP brushed off reporters’ suggestions that he might begin to shy away from contact when he hits the court again. Rose insists that his hard-charging game will not change: “I’m not afraid of that,” he said. “I know that’s going to happen. That’s the way I play. I’m not scared of taking a hit at all. … I’m working on my shot, but you’re not going to label me as a shooter,” he said. “My game is always going to be driving.”
