The Chicago Bulls expect All- Star guard Derrick Rose to return to their lineup by the start of the playoffs, the New York Daily News is reporting.
Coach Tom Thibodeau recently told reporters he expects his all-star guard to be able to get in a “couple practices” before long and now rumors are the team expects the youngest MVP in league history to be all the way back by the start of next month’s playoffs.
Rose was ruled out for the season in November after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee, his second consecutive season-ending knee injury. Rose has now played in just 49 games since winning the MVP award in 2010-11, but Joakim Noah recently pronounced the 25-year-old, four-year vet still the team’s most valuable player.
“We’ve got one MVP and it’s Derrick Rose,” said the man who has averaged a near triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) over the team’s last ten. ”It’s about rings, and one day I hope that we can get one here.”
Much of that hinges on the health of Rose, who management is also hoping will be able to compete for Team USA this summer at the FIBA World Cup. In 2010, Rose used his summer of international play as a springboard to his MVP season.
“I think there has been great benefits from it,” said Thibodeau, an assistant coach on this year’s team. “I thought that had a lot to do with him having the great year in the MVP year. I know he’d like to do it.”
In the ten games he appeared in this season, Rose averaged 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds for the Bulls, who currently trail only Indiana, Miami, and Toronto as the Eastern Conference’s No. 4 seed.
