Derrick Rose doesn’t want you to call it a comeback.
Be that as it may, the youngest MVP in league history doesn’t appear far removed from the NBA hardwood, with Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski telling reporters on Tuesday he expects the Chicago Bulls All-Star guard to be on hand in Vegas in eight short weeks to compete for a spot on the Team USA squad set to play in the World Cup this summer.
“We expect him to be there that last week of July when we’re choosing the team,” Krzyzewski told ESPN. “He can’t make the team unless he’s ready to go full bore. And knowing Derrick I would think he’ll be ready, and hopefully he’ll be 100 percent.”
A pool of 28 All-Star caliber players will compete in the land of get-rich-schemes for the prize of a roster spot where only 12 will survive. And not one of them deserves it more than the hard-knock-life-affected Rose.
The 25-year-old Rose has played in just 49 games since his MVP season in 2010-11, suffering season-ending knee injuries in back-to-back seasons. But now all seems on course again, with Coach Tom Thibodeau recently telling reporters Rose is already scrimmaging and taking physical contact in varying pick-up games.
Through it all, the homegrown Bulls star has tried to remain true to all the other things that remain pertinent to him. Rose recently attended the funeral of a 14-year-Chicago girl shot to death in the crime ridden city as part of his ongoing crusade to rid his hometown of spiraling gang problems.
“With all this stuff that’s going on in this city, a kid from Englewood has something positive going on,” Rose famously opined for all to hear during his MVP acceptance speech, a proclamation seemingly meant to uplift others as much as celebrate himself.
The Bulls and Thibodeau, who is set to be an assistant on the USA Team, are already openly on board with Rose being a part of the process, with Thibodeau recently telling the media he feels it could be vital to Rose’s progression much like it proved to be during his MVP winning season.
“Oh, absolutely,” said Thibodeau. “If he’s healthy and he’s cleared — like I thought it was a great experience for him before in 2010. I know he’d like to do it. I know how USA Basketball feels about him. If he’s cleared to do it, I’d love to see him do it.”
To borrow a tagline from one of Rose’s biggest sponsors, the former league MVP seems all in as it relates to fulfilling his short time plans and long term vision. And it couldn’t happen to a man more deserving.
