The last time Derrick Rose played basketball on the United Center floor, he wasn’t able to walk off under his own power after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on a routine drive to the basket.
Now, almost 17-months later, D. Rose is excited about playing basketball again at the UC.
"I’ve been thinking about it a lot, especially at night in bed," Rose said to CSN Chicago on playing in the United Center again, which is expected to happen on Wednesday night when the Bulls take on the Detroit Pistons. "Thinking about all the games we played, thinking about what I could have done in those games differently, and I’m excited to get back on the court in the UC. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on that court."
Fans were hoping the scene depicted in ‘The Return’ commercial of D. Rose coming out through the tunnel to the roar of the United Center faithful would’ve come last season, and the fact that it didn’t left many disenchanted with the South Side native.
But in typical Derrick Rose fashion, he understands people’s frustration that it didn’t happen the way anyone thought it would, but he wouldn’t change a thing.
"I think it was a great commercial," Rose said. "I wouldn’t take it back for anything. I tried my hardest to get back on the court every game. Every practice, I was really trying to push myself just to get back there, get back on the floor as quick as possible. It just didn’t happen last year and like I said, I had to worry about my health. That was the No. 1 issue. This year I hope that commercial comes true where I brighten everybody’s day and they’ll be tuned in."
It’s a safe bet that on Wednesday night, everyone will be.
