Tim Fuller – USA TODAY Sports
With Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau named to the USA Basketball coaching staff on Monday, could Derrick Rose really be far behind?
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo revealed on Monday that they are paving the road for Rose’s return to USA Basketball for the 2014 Basketball World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Rose played for the 2010 World Championships in Istanbul, helping his team bring home the gold medal. “He helped us considerably,”Colangelo said. He added, “Had he not been injured, he would have very likely been a member of the roster for the (2012) Olympics.”
The injury of which Colangelo was referencing was the ACL tear Rose suffered during Game 1 of the NBA playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers in April 2012. The injury caused Rose to miss the entire 2012-13 season with the Bulls.
Recently, Bulls VP John Paxson revealed on WSCR-AM The Score, that part of Rose’s continuing rehab might include pickup games with other NBA players while training in California during the summer. “We’re in the process of sitting down and meeting with Derrick and his representatives and mapping out his offseason,” Paxson announced to listeners.
With members of the Bulls headed to Vegas to participate in the upcoming NBA Summer League, and Team USA mini-camp also set to get underway next month, Rose’s appearance, especially at the latter, may not be such a long shot.
Colangelo indicated that Rose might be invited to Vegas just to get a feel for the group.
Stay tuned for more on the saga of Rose’s return to basketball action.
Hollie M. Woods is a writer for Rant Sports covering the Chicago Bulls and the NBA. “Like” her on Facebook.
