While Team USA has cut John Wall, Bradley Beal and Paul Millsap already from the roster that will compete in the 2014 FIBA World Cup already Derrick Rose, who has played in just 10 NBA games over the past two seasons, remains. That's because after suffering a torn ACL followed by a torn meniscus, Rose is resembling an "elite" player once again.
"It takes an exceptional person, which is why we're talking about Derrick," Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
"I think he's exceptional in every way. He went right at it. The first defensive exchange in the camp, he was all over the ball handler, moving his feet, attacking him. There was a buzz right away because it was basically his saying, 'Look, I'm not just back. I'm back at a level that's elite.'"
During a week in which most of the focus is on Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, who sustained a gruesome broken leg during a televised scrimmage that will force him to miss all of the 2014-15 season, Rose's progress is on the positive end of the spectrum.
"Derrick was sensational the whole week," Krzyzewski said. "He really did that every day, how fast and strong and decisive he was. He really created an air of excitement for the team because we all were anxious to see who he was right now. And who he is is very, very good. We're ecstatic about it and so happy for him."
With Rose's injury history, it may be surprising to some that the Bulls are allowing him to participate in international play. The games are highly competitive, and the injury risk is just as high as an NBA game, as George proved. Rose's coach, Tom Thibodeau, is an assistant to Krzyzewski on the Team USA staff however, and thinks the experience now is good for him.
""One of the great things they do is the way they pace the team. "There's days where there is no contact at all. ... We never went past two hours, and oftentimes it was an hour and a half. There was not a lot of contact. I think it's good for Derrick. It's great for him, actually."
I think it's ideal for him in this particular case."
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