Rose sets goal of being NBA's best player
Miami, the Lakers and Oklahoma City haven't necessarily cornered the market on NBA star power.
At Bulls media day on Monday, third-year guard Derrick Rose made it clear he's set lofty goals for his career.
"Why can't I be MVP of the league? Why can't I be the best player in the league?" Rose asked. "I think I've worked hard. I think I've dedicated myself to the game and sacrificed a lot of things at a young age."
During the summer, Rose helped Team USA capture the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships. That team was led by the league's fast-rising young star, Thunder forward Kevin Durant.
"It made me feel good to be back on a winning team," Rose said. "I hadn't won a championship since high school, so I've seen what it takes a little bit to win a championship. Guys were dedicated, working hard every day."
Another popular topic among media questioners was trade rumors involving Denver's Carmelo Anthony. There has been no evidence the Bulls are at the forefront of such talks, so there weren't many meaningful answers.
General manager Gar Forman shed no light on the issue, while center Joakim Noah didn't get caught up in the hypothetical.
"Right now I'm still here," he said. "I'm very excited about two-a-days. Well, not very excited, but I'm excited for it."