Unclear at this stage as to whether he will play in exhibition game on Wednesday night…
Chicago Bulls and Team USA point guard Derrick Rose sat out practice for the second consecutive day but it is merely precautionary in order to give him time to rest.
The 25-year-old has dominated the headlines with his impressive form through training camp this summer and in exhibition games, but having played just 10 games in the past two seasons, USA Basketball are keen not to rush him.
According to ESPN sources, Rose complained of knee soreness after Saturday’s win against Brazil in Chicago, and as a result he has requested extra time to recover.
While that will concern Bulls fans, coach Mike Krzyzewski has suggested that the plan all along was to give Rose additional time off ahead of a long summer as it is only natural that he would start to feel the strain of such intense workouts after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“We’re gonna give him a couple days off because he’s been going so hard,” Krzyzewski said during the interview, which he gave en route to Team USA’s all-day trip Monday to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Rose tore the ACL in his left knee back in April 2012 before suffering a torn medial meniscus in his right knee in November last year and he had been out of competitive action until his return against the Brazilians.
While he is expected to form part of the core starting five on the roster at the FIBA World Cup in Spain this summer, he reassured all concerned that he is happy with his progress and knows that he must be sensible with such a long schedule ahead.
“I didn’t do anything today. I just got treatment and today is just really another rest day. I’m really, really happy with where I am right now as far as health-wise. I’m just trying to take my time and get rest. We have a long schedule ahead of us, and I’m just trying to get as much rest as possible.”
Team USA’s first game of the tournament is against Finland in Bilbao on August 30, with the World Cup running through until September 14.
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