Derrick Rose not waiting until next season to return, OK with limit restriction

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose said he’s not putting off his return to next season and that he’s simply keeping his options open.

by Kevin Zimmerman

Apr 7, 2013, 5:27 PM UTC

USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose told the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson that he's not putting off his return to next season. Rather, he's keeping his options open.

Additionally, Rose said his recovery from last season’s ACL injury isn’t predicated upon being able to immediately return to the court without restrictions to his minutes.

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Rose said of any limit restrictions. “Of course I want to play more. But it’s not that big. I’m going to play whenever I’m ready. I don’t care if it’s 15 or 40 (minutes). I just love the game too much. Like I said, I’m just waiting and praying about it. And hopefully I’ll be out there soon.”

One of the main theories behind the slow recovery of the Bulls’ MVP point guard was based on the grounds that Rose’s style of play requires he is able to play at his usual attacking, aggressive and physical style. To do so immediately would mean he’d have no more hurdles to overcome. But the most recent comments regarding any minute restrictions mean that isn’t quite the case.

Rose has said he wants to be mentally capable as much as physically, and since he returned to scrimmages on Feb. 18, it appears he’s yet to find complete confidence in that regard as well.

However, it has been only 11 months since Rose’s surgery to repair his torn ACL, which is still within the initial return date that was vaguely set at eight to 12 months.

Chicago, which plays the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, will have six games remaining after this weekend, making a Rose return less and less likely. The Bulls are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a game and a half between themselves and the teams both above and below them in the standings.