Derrick Rose on Monday spoke publicly for the first time about a lawsuit filed against him alleging he and two friends drugged and raped a woman.
“I will be proven innocent,” Rose said. “It’s not true. I take it as motivation."
Rose added that he's "moved on" since reports of the lawsuit first surfaced.
“Oh yeah, I’ve been moved on,’’ Rose said. “This whole summer I had tunnel vision. My mindset was just making sure that I was working out every day, and spending as much time as possible with my son. And focusing on those two things. Making sure my family is financially stable, as far as seeing all the money that they’re passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon, and it’s not for me. It’s for P.J. and his future, so that’s what I’m thinking about now.’’
Bulls General Manager Gar Forman also addressed the suit, saying Rose has “our full support.”
“We understand there's a process that he has to go through,” he said. “Derrick is part of our family.”
The comments came during the team's media day Monday, one day before training camp is scheduled to begin.
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The unidentified woman, who says she dated Rose from 2011 to 2013, claimed in the suit she was drugged at a Beverly Hills home and later attacked at her apartment.
There is no criminal investigation into the woman’s claims. The accusations come only from the civil lawsuit.
Rose denied the woman's claims in a statement he released last month.
"I am just focusing on staying healthy and getting ready for the season," he said. "I am not going to comment other than to say - I know the truth, and am confident I will be proven innocent.”
