Derrick Rose made an appearance at a Chicago Bulls charity function on Wednesday night and the point guard seemed to be in good spirits. Since tearing the meniscus in his right knee in November, Rose has maintained a low profile when it comes to addressing the media.
But when asked about the possibility of suiting up this season, the former MVP says playing hasn’t crossed his mind.
"I haven't even had a chance to think about it," Rose said. "I'm just worrying about my next stage in this process and that's running right now. I'm on the AlterG (an anti-gravity treadmill). Hopefully be running without it pretty soon.”
Rose has been shooting around before games and has resumed traveling with the team on the road, leading some to speculate that he could possibly make a comeback this season. But both he and the organization are more concerned with a full recovery as opposed to a rush back to the court.
“It feels normal right now, but I know it's not there,” Rose said of his right knee. “I just come in six days a week and do all my work. And I'll see how far it will take me when I step back on the court.”
Rose does plan to participate in the Team USA minicamp in Las Vegas this summer. He was one of 28 players chosen for the national team pool which will compete in the FIBA World Cup in September and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
"If my leg is feeling healthy and I'm there, I'm all in,” he said. “Of course I want to play for that team. Playing for that team (at the 2010 FIBA World Championships) helped the (2010-11) year I won MVP, just getting in a groove. So I'm excited if I'm able to play in it."
