Chicago Bulls Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson told The Chicago Tribune he and team superstar Derrick Rose were always in sync about his decision not to play this season and even compared how hard his star guard works out with the Michael Jordan once did.
The former league MVP found himself on the defensive for most of this season after electing to sit out the entire 2013 campaign, even after doctors had medically cleared him to play.
"It's the way of the world now, the social media, everything that goes on," Paxson told The Tribune of all the backlash against his star player. "Everybody wants to point a finger and blame and accuse and that kind of stuff. And the reality is, Derrick and us, we were all on the same page from the beginning. If he was ready to play mentally and physically, he was going to play. It didn't happen this year."
But in the long run, Paxson feels both Rose and the Bulls may be better for it.
"There's no question in my mind that the time he spent on his body this past year was the best thing he's ever done because I think he's learned that, to compete in an NBA season and absorb the physical contact that he does,” Paxson told The Tribune. “I think it's going to make him better and stronger. We're fortunate that we've got a kid who is still young and is dedicated to the job and wants to continue being a great player. I think he's going to come back bigger, stronger, better than ever."
Paxson said the team is now charting with Rose what his workout schedule will be this summer and if it will include pickup basketball. The former three-time champ added that Rose's workout regimen reminded him of the training regimen Jordan and trainer Tim Grover worked on when the team was successful in the 1990s.
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