“I think so, that’s the plan,” Rose said. “Whenever I feel right, that’s when I’m going to step back.”
There were no guarantees from a former MVP when Derrick Rose talked to the media for the first time since he underwent surgery on his meniscus. The team put a timetable on his return from the injury but Rose didn’t really care for their opinion.
Quotes from ESPN Chicago’s Jon Greenberg.
Rose spoke to reporters for the first time since his knee surgery Feb. 27. He said he’s “killing every workout” right now but refused to give a firm commitment to making it back within the Bulls’ previously announced four- to six-week estimate, despite several attempts by reporters.
“Whenever I come back, I think I’m going to be ready to play the way I normally play,” Derrick Rose said Monday.
“I’m not even thinking about that right now,” he said. “I’m thinking about getting the most out of every day.”Rose was asked whether he has the power to say he’s not returning if something doesn’t feel right, as happened in 2013 during his ACL rehab.
“Yeah, but the way that I’m feeling right now, it’s a good chance that I’ll come back,” he said.
Rose prompted that response with a ‘who cares’ when asked how he felt about the Bulls putting a timeline on his return.
D.Rose took shots at the United Center for an hour before the Bulls hosted the Memphis Grizzlies. He said he can’t jump yet but is focused on leg-strengthening exercises, “rebuilding mass on my quad and hamstrings,” and working on his body “balance.” He just took set shots during his training session, his first basketball action since the injury.
A great sign for the Bulls. Derrick Rose in early at the United Center today getting some shots up. pic.twitter.com/ia60BsFWd1
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 9, 2015
Rose says he’s ‘probably been playing on it for a month.’ He also said that he felt something in a game that the Bulls played against the Golden State Warriors, a game in which he clinched the victory for his team while handing out double digit turnovers and something did look a bit, off.
One thing is for sure, Rose has guaranteed that the minute he puts that Bulls uniform on and steps on the court for Chicago, he won’t be holding back.
“Oh, there’s no pacing,” he said. “Whenever I come back, I think I’m going to be ready to play the way I normally play. That’s the smartest thing about being patient with everything that I’m doing, paying attention to my body, paying attention to details every day.”
