Chicago Bulls superstar guard Derrick Rose said at an Adidas event in Madrid, Spain Monday he expects to be back for the first game of the season this fall, according to HoopsHype.com.
"I should be able to play in the first game," Rose said. "I know I'm anxious right now to play. My health is everything right now, it's 100 percent. But right now, the first game... I definitely will be playing it."
Since tearing his left ACL on April, 28 2012 during a first round playoff game, the most Rose has done on a court is participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages. He isn’t absolutely sure how it will feel to return to regular action.
"I would say emotional but I'm not an emotional guy like that," Rose said. "I don't know how I'm going to react actually when I step on the court or before the game. I know everybody is going to be watching... I'm just trying to prepare for it, go out there and see how it goes. I have a lot of confidence in myself."
Last season Rose was cleared by doctors to play but never stepped onto the floor. This angered some fans, who were anxiously waiting for Rose to come back during the playoffs. The Bulls never fully declared him out for the rest of the post season. It was obvious Rose was not mentally ready to return to action. However now, it’s a different story.
"(Mentally) I'm just strong as I've been," Rose said. "I had the time to think about what's important in my life, getting better on the court, watching a lot of film with Thibs, asking him questions, talking to him about two times a week... So he's been kind of a professor to me."
The 2010-2011 MVP said he is looking forward to this season and expects big things from his team.
"This next season is huge for us," Rose said. "We're definitely a contender for the title this year. I've been talking to my guys, trying to be more vocal as a leader, just texting them, calling them, just trying to communicate with them to let them know that I will be there next year."
"The team did the best they could bringing players that play hard and people fit the system,” Rose added. “Last year we made it to the second round of the playoffs, so this year the goal is to get further."
Throughout the recovery process Rose’s team showed him support. According to ESPNChicago.com his coach Tom Thibodeau said back in June , “It was a smart decision to wait. If you're not quite sure, and you're going to err, err on the side of caution. That's what he did. And now he feels great.”
Among the Bulls’ preseason games will be a trip to Brazil to play the Washington Wizards on October 12.
"We will play in Rio de Janerio in Brazil, the first NBA game ever in Rio, so that's going to be a big game not only for the Bulls but for the NBA. Just some minutes out there, see how it feels just to be back on the court and enjoy the experience."
