USA - Rose patient, working hard on recovery

CHICAGO (NBA/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It's hard to imagine anyone not pulling for Derrick Rose.

The Chicago Bulls playmaker, who followed up a gold-medal win with Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in 2010 with an MVP Award winning performance the very next season,
suffered MCL and ACL injuries in this year's play-off series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Bulls not only lost their hugely popular point guard, but so did the American Olympic squad.

Since having surgery, Rose has been in rehab in the hope of making a complete recovery and returning this season.

Just how difficult the past several months have been for Rose was there for all to see this week when he broke down in tears at a public engagement in Washington, D.C.

There is little doubt that Rose loves the game.

"When I tell you that you've got to learn how to walk again, I really do mean that," Rose said in interview published on the Bulls website.

"You probably don't see people until they've started walking again and you just assume that they started walking right after the surgery.

"But after my surgery, I wasn't able to bend my leg at all.

"For me, just to bend my leg was a blessing. Now, to see me on the bike right now as I'm doing this interview, it really amazes me."

Rose is fighting through adversity.

He wants to be the same explosive player that he was before getting hurt.

If anything, he'll be stronger mentally.

"I appreciate everything-bending my leg, getting rid of my crutches and braces, sleeping without the brace," Rose said.

"I could go on and on, but I know where I've come from and I'll never forget that.

"That's why I say it's going to make me a better player."

Rose has plenty of time to get back to the form that should see him make the USA squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, though that isn't at the front of his thoughts right now.

He's taking his recovery one day at a time.

"I'm staying patient," he said.

"That's the biggest thing with this rehab and it's what has helped me the most."

FIBA