Riddled with a series of knee injuries, Derrick Rose has started only 100 games since the 2011-12 season.
He was the league’s youngest MVP in 2011 and made a comeback from two knee surgeries last season. He started just 51 games and missed time from yet another knee surgery.
But Bulls broadcaster Stacey King hasn’t lost faith in Rose’s ability, declaring Tuesday that Rose would return to “elite” form next season.
“I expect him to have a big year this year, I expect him to make the All-Star team, I expect him to be back to the elite player that we are used to seeing,” King said, via CSN Chicago. “I can’t wait to see him.”
Here’s more from CSN:
In the playoffs Rose averaged 20.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists in nearly 38 minutes per game, giving the Chicago native some momentum heading into the beginning of the Fred Hoiberg era. But King would rather Rose take time before training camp begins in September to rest his knees. Derrick knows his body. And me personally, I’d like to see him not play because this is an opportunity that the Bulls have a championship run in them and they need Derrick Rose healthy, he said. If Derrick Rose is healthy and he can play in Team USA, I would say go. But over the last couple of years he’s had those major injuries that have cost him some time.
The Sun-Times’ own Rick Morrissey went one step further, writing Rose should sit out from the Team USA minicamp no matter what.
After all, the only way Rose can have an elite season will be if he stays healthy first.
