Derrick Rose May Rejoin Team Practices Before 2013 [Report]

Derrick Rose could be back on the court this January. The reigning MVP has been on the sidelines with an injury this season but he could rejoin team practices in the next few weeks.

Rose started doing cuts last month and he was recently spotted doing sprints after a Bulls practice. A date for Rose’s return hasn’t been set yet but an NBA source told the Chicago Suntimes that the reigning MVP is expected to rejoin practices in the “next few weeks.”

If Rose does return in the next few weeks that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be game ready soon. The Bulls have repeatedly said that they aren’t going to rush Rose back to the court.

General manager Gar Forman said: ”We’re still taking the process step by step and a date has not been set.”

Rose, 24, tore his ACL during the first round of the playoffs last year. Rose had surgery in May and has been rehabbing his knee ever since. It’s been seven months since his injury. Dr. Brian Cole, who performed the surgery, estimated that Rose would be out 8-12 month recovery time.

The Bulls have managed an 8-7 record without their star and, according to center Joakim Noah, the team is doing their best to “hold down the fort” until Rose returns.

Noah said:

“We’re trying to hold the fort down and we’re playing as hard as we can every night. Win or lose I feel like we’re giving everything we got and I think if we keep doing that we’re going to have success.”

Rose’s recovery has been documented in a series of Adidas ads. The final episode of The Return aired last week.

When do you think Derrick Rose will be back on the court?