Chicago Bulls superstar point guard Derrick Rose says he’ll be ready to go next season and his health is now 100 percent.
Rose suffered a torn ACL on April 28, 2012, and had surgery shortly thereafter. He was sidelined for the entire 2012-2013 while he rehabbed, although fans, the sports media, and perhaps the team held out hope that he would return for the Bulls playoff run. Rose was on the receiving end of a certain amount of criticism for not suiting up for any of the post-season action. The Bulls without Rose played hard but lost to eventual champion Miami Heat in the second round.
Speaking to reporters in Madrid during an Adidas tour of Europe, Rose said “I should be able to play in the first game of season. I know I’m anxious right now to play. My health is everything right now, it’s 100 percent. But right now, the first game… I will definitely be playing it.”
The Bulls apparently will play their first pre-season game in South America. “We will play in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the first NBA game ever in Rio,” Rose explained, “so that’s going to be a big game not only for the Bulls but for the NBA. Just some minutes out there, see how it feels just to be back on the court and enjoy the experience.”
Rose credited head coach Tom Thibodeau for helping him get ready for next season. He also admitted that he’s not sure how he will react when he takes the floor for the first time in an actual game since the injury. “I know everybody is going to be watching… I’m just trying to prepare for it, go out there and see how it goes. I have a lot of confidence in myself.”
The star guard, who was drafted number one by the Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis, has high hopes for next season. “We’re definitely a contender for the title this year. I’ve been talking to my guys, trying to be more vocal as a leader, just texting them, calling them, just trying to communicate with them to let them know that I will be there next year.” Rose, a 21-point per game scorer, was the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP.