Derrick Rose has been battling knee injuries for three years now, with a meniscus tear as the latest setback to a once stellar career. Yet this time there might be some good news, as the procedure he will undergo has a rehabilitation time of 3-8 weeks, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
Derrick Rose could return to the court this season, per report
There will be no definitive timeline until after the surgery, but Rose could be back in 3-8 weeks.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Bulls announced Rose will undergo a meniscectomy on his knee, which means only the damaged part of the tendon will be removed. This was one of the options presented here. The team did not offer a timetable for his return.
The procedure is similar to the one Eric Bledsoe underwent last year. The Suns point guard missed two-and-a-half months with the injury. It’s unclear if the damaged section of Rose’s meniscus is smaller than Bledsoe’s.
If Rose misses the full eight weeks, he could be back for the second round of the playoffs. The Bulls may still advance from the first round and could integrate Rose in the conference semifinals. Of course, Rose could choose to be careful and sit the season out, which wouldn’t be surprising considering his injury history.
Jimmy Butler is hopeful that Rose will return, while coach Tom Thibodeau is preaching patience:
“He’s high-spirited,” Butler said. “I think we’re all optimistic about (a Rose return this season). We all want him back and I’m sure he’s going to try to get back as soon as possible.”
“We have to have patience,” Thibodeau said. “We just have to take it day by day.”
Rose is averaging 18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the Bulls. His explosiveness wasn't all the way back and his newfound predilection for three-pointers was hurting his efficiency as a scorer, but he was having a good season after barely playing the past two years before the new injury was announced. Rose was told after his last surgery that "a future tear was possible, if not likely," which may have softened the blow.
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