In an interview posted on Bulls.com, Derrick Rose finally speaks definitively on why he made the decision to sit out all of last season. Rose says he had no intentions of suiting up, even though he was seen practicing towards the end of the season and his name was repeated throughout the playoffs as his Bulls teammates put together a strong run.
While doctors cleared him to play in spring, D. Rose felt the need to continue rehabbing his ACL injury. “I’m not a selfish guy at all, but having this injury and going through what I had to go through and being smart, it’s something that I had to be selfish with,” he said. “I couldn’t worry about anyone else but myself and my health.”
So, what about all that practice he was seen putting in – which only served to draw even more ire from fans and sports pundits? “When you’re in practice, it’s not in game-type speed,” Rose explained. “Game-type experience is totally different.”
Does this change anyone’s perspective on his decision to not play? Tough question to answer but hopefully it becomes water under the bridge if Rose manages to return to pre-injury form once the season begins in October.
Cred: Eye On Basketball