Derrick Rose Says He Will Play in Season Opener

Chicago Bulls superstar point guard Derrick Rose is finally ready to hoop again — Rose is currently on a promotional tour through Europe, and while in Spain, Rose confirmed head coach Tom Thibodeau’s proclamation that he’s fully recovered from knee surgery. Rose says he will play on Opening Night (and he should suit up during the team’s preseason opener in Rio de Janeiro). Per HoopsHype: “At an adidas event this morning in Madrid (Spain), Bulls guard Derrick Rose said he fully expects to return to the court next October. ‘I should be able to play in the first game of season,’ Rose said. ‘I know I’m anxious right now to play. My health is everything right now, it’s 100 percent. But right now, the first game… I will definitely be playing it. We will play in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil [October 12], the first NBA game ever in Rio, so that’s going to be a big game not only for the Bulls but for the NBA. Just some minutes out there, see how it feels just to be back on the court and enjoy the experience.’ Rose, who last played a game on April 28 2012 after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee -had surgery on May 12-, said he has no idea how he’s going to feel when he hits the court again after so many months away. ‘I would say emotional but I’m not an emotional guy like that,’ Rose said. ‘I don’t know how I’m going to react actually when I step on the court or before the game. I know everybody is going to be watching … I’m just trying to prepare for it, go out there and see how it goes. I have a lot of confidence in myself.’ While the mental aspect was one of the things that kept him away last season, that’s no longer an issue now, according to the 2011 MVP. ‘(Mentally) I’m just strong as I’ve been,’ Rose said. ‘I had the time to think about what’s important in my life, getting better on the court, watching a lot of film with Thibs, asking him questions, talking to him about two times a week … So he’s been kind of a professor to me.’ […] ‘This next season is huge for us,’ Rose said. ‘We’re definitely a contender for the title this year. I’ve been talking to my guys, trying to be more vocal as a leader, just texting them, calling them, just trying to communicate with them to let them know that I will be there next year.'”