Chicago Bulls star and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose is not expected to be handcuffed while trying to make the 2014 FIBA World Cup team, according to Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski. Rose, who has played in 10 games over the past two seasons because of multiple knee injuries, is a member of the player pool from which Coach K's final roster will be selected.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says Derrick Rose must shake off rust
"He was our starting guard in 2010. I met with him a little bit yesterday," Krzyzewski told Yahoo! Sports. I know he's excited about being here. Physically, he's good. It's just a matter of how quickly you regain the instincts to compete and play at this level."
When Rose returned at the start of last season he was not the same force that he had been as the 2011 league MVP. He averaged 15.9 points per game, down almost four points from his career average, and shot just 35 percent from the field. His assists were way down as well-he handed out 4.3 a night during those 10 games as opposed to a career mark of 6.8. Then he tore his meniscus, and Chicago almost immediately ruled him out for the remainder of the year.
Despite the torn meniscus, and the previous torn ACL, Coach K said that Rose doesn't have any limits on him this summer.
"None at all. Again, he hasn't played against this competition [in a while]. We have to watch that. But no. He says he's ready to go. I haven't seen him play. These next few days I will see the new guys, see Derrick," Krzyzewski said.
"We put in part of our foundation for this system, but we have to give them the opportunity to play. The Select Team gives us an opportunity to compete and play more than just practice against each other."
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