Rose: I'm not done. I'm never going to stop
After walking on crutches into the media room at the United Center, Derrick Rose sat down and did his best to put a positive spin on his latest knee surgery.
“I'm not done,” Rose said when asked if he had a message for his fans. “I know He's preparing me for something bigger. Of course right now you're living in the moment and you don't understand certain things.
“But I think if I was to look 10 years from now, just being in the future looking back, I think this is going to be minor. It's something that just happened. I'm never going to stop. I could tear or hurt myself 10 more times — I'm never going to stop, ever.”
Rose tore medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee in the third quarter of a game at Portland on Nov. 22. He had surgery to repair the damage three days later in Chicago. By repairing the ligament, Rose should have a longer rehab and a much better long-term prognosis for a healthy knee.
The Bulls called the surgery season-ending, but Rose refused to rule out returning late this season. Of course, any prediction at this point is just a guess.
“If I'm healthy and the situation is right, I'm going to be back playing,” Rose said. “If I'm healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course I'll be out there playing. If it's something different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there's no need.”
Rose said he spent the first week after the surgery in his home. Now he's doing physical therapy sessions in the mornings with Bulls director of sports performance Jennifer Swanson. He hasn't begun the full rehab process.
Rose also said he's planning to sit on the bench during games this season. He didn't last year until the playoffs. He might consider trying to play for Team USA in the world championships next summer if he feels healthy, and hasn't yet spoken in depth to good buddy Russell Westbrook, who had a similar injury in last year's playoffs and is now back on the court.
Rose's best one-liner came after he was asked what he'd say to people who think the Bulls should move on without him since he's suffered two major injuries in less than two years.
“You could be a fool if you want to,” he said after a long pause. “Serious. I know I'm going to be all right.”
Here are some of the questions Rose answered during Thursday's news conference:
Q: What were your immediate thoughts after the injury occurred?
A: “I was just hoping it wasn't an ACL. At first, that was my biggest concern. They went in the back and actually tested my ACL and said everything was fine there and they were worried about my meniscus. I'm just happy it wasn't the ACL again. With this injury, I'm able to get back on the court a lot quicker and I'm able to move around a lot more, so this should be an easier process.”
Q: Was it disappointing that you were just starting to round into shape after ACL surgery?
A: “That's what's heartbreaking. I think I put two good games together (before the injury). I think the way that I performed, I was coming back to myself. It was just a matter of time I was going to catch my rhythm.”
Q: Do you believe this was a freak injury?
A: “I think the ACL, I wasn't taking care of my body like I was supposed to. So of course, I could blame that on not taking care of my body. For this one to happen just from me turning and running back down the court, there's nothing I can say about it; nothing I can do about it except take it, be strong and I'll be back in a couple months.”
Q: Is winning a championship now lower on your priority list?
A: “(Heck) no. I think that's the only thing I'm missing is a championship. You can have the awards, all the individual stuff. I think my career is going to be judged by championships. That's the only thing I'm caring about right now.”
Q: Is it tough knowing you might miss another chance to compete against Miami in the playoffs?
A: “I think about it, but at the same time, I have to deal with the reality. I have an injury. I'm rebuilding my leg all over again. Of course you think about it right when it happens. You feel frustrated. But for me, it's a bigger picture. I just know He has something big for me.”
Q: Are you planning your rehab process yet?
A: “I'm starting to pick up yoga and starting to swim a little bit more. I'm a guy, I'm always tight. My body's always tight, my hips are always tight. Getting that conditioning in the pool, staying loose, and yoga with flexibility and clearing your mind, I think it's going to help me become a better athlete.”
Q: Will it be difficult to be around your teammates again?
A: “It's super-hard being out there with the guys. In training camp, you have so many goals you want to achieve as a team. You go through so many hard practices with your teammates and go through so much stuff with them. It's kind of like you can't be a part of it anymore. Of course I'll be around, but going through the wars with them, being on the court, talking basketball with them — all that stuff is over.
“It's hard, I can complain and pout about it, but that's not going to do anything. I've got time before I come back. I'd rather smile than be sad.”
Ÿ Follow Mike's Bulls reports on Twitter @McGrawDHBulls.