Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose has played in only four games this season, but that doesn't bother him. The 26-year-old said he is more worried about the longevity of his career than playing in every game this season, according to ESPN.
After being bothered with injuries the last two seasons, Rose has a new perspective on his career. No longer is he concerned about playing in all 82 games; instead, he wants to do whatever helps to preserve his body for a long NBA career - even if that means sitting out games.
"I'm good, man," Rose said, via ESPN, when asked how satisfied he is with his game. "I felt like I've been managing myself pretty good. I know a lot of people get mad when they see me sit out or whatever, but I think a lot of people don't understand that ... when I sit out it's not because of this year.
"I'm thinking about long term. I'm thinking about after I'm done with basketball. Having graduations to go to, having meetings to go to, I don't want to be in my meetings all sore or be at my son's graduation all sore just because of something I did in the past. [I'm] just learning to be smart."
Rose played the first two games of the season before spraining both ankles on Oct. 31 against Cleveland. He missed the next two games before returning on Nov. 4 against Milwaukee, only to re-aggravate the injuries. Rose played on Monday in Chicago's 102-91 win against Detroit, but he admitted he still doesn't feel 100 percent.
"I think I'm close," said Rose, who recorded 24 points and seven assists in the win. "It's just getting game-time reps. Everything you see that I'm doing now - adding the midrange, adding the floater - I'm missing them right now, but at least I'm getting up [those] shots."
Chicago visits Toronto on Thursday.
