Derrick Rose Says He Still Has No Return Date


The Chicago Bulls and their fans have no other choice but to continue playing the waiting game with Derrick Rose — he says he will only return to game action once he feels “normal” on the basketball court, and there’s no telling when that will be. Rose also used today’s chat with the media to squash rumors that there’s a rift between the superstar point guard and his employer. Per the Chicago Tribune. “Speaking on the 10-month anniversary of surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Derrick Rose said Tuesday he still isn’t sure if he will play this season but has suffered no setbacks during his rehabilitation. ‘I’m waiting to that day where I feel normal,’ Rose said before a practice at UCLA. ‘Until then, I will just wait. I haven’t had any pressure from the organization. No one has to push me to go out there to play. My teammates have been doing great, playing hard for me. They’re out there fighting so that’s a good sign. And we’re winning games. So I’m not worried about anything right now.’ Rose said he can do everything physically, downplayed the hubbub over recent comments about his hamstring pain and said the main hurdle he has to clear is the mental one. ‘I can do everything,’ Rose said. ‘It’s just me having the confidence to do it and me feeling normal. I don’t have a (return) date, to tell you the truth. I’m just taking my time. I haven’t taken any steps back. I’m getting stronger every day. I did every workout possible. The workouts are getting a lot easier. I’m moving in the right direction. When I’m out there not thinking and just reacting, that’s how I know I’ll be ready.’ Rose said he isn’t surprised by the mental component to the rehabilitation. ‘I knew going in,’ he said. ‘This is a major surgery. I just think with any surgery, mentally, you’re just going to have to get over the hump. That’s what I’m doing now. I’m able to play but it’s just getting over that hump. Then I should be fine.'”