It never got personal with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose may never be best of friends, but both players indicated on Friday that the idea they were enemies was never the case.

The Sun-Times reported last season that the problem between the two never got personal. The big obstacle was that Butler had no respect for Rose’s work ethic.

The hope from the organization was for the two to get together in Los Angeles last offseason and workout together. Butler was even excited about it, insisting, “You get a different respect from someone when you can see the work they do, and they see the work you do.’’

Rose, however, was traded before they could meet up, and it never happened. And while Rose said there wasn’t a ton of dialogue between himself and Butler since last season ended, they have run into each other.

“I went to one of their USA games in LA and I saw him at a Dodgers game,’’ Rose said. “There’s no bad blood between nobody with the franchise or nobody on that team. It was never that. It’s funny to see how people just try to make up things with us just losing games.’’

Perspective

Rose said he was never “stung’’ by the trade that sent him to the Knicks last summer, but definitely surprised.

“If anything, it was surprising,’’ Rose said. “Coming from my hometown and just the fact of being traded, it’s a process that sucks. But it comes along with the business.’’

One man up

The Bulls were without Michael Carter-Williams (knee) and Doug McDermott (concussion) in the loss to Boston on Wednesday, but at least got McDermott back against the Knicks.

McDermott came off the bench against New York in his usual rotation spot, and according to coach Fred Hoiberg, has felt fine since suffering the shot to the head against Brooklyn.