Rose has played just 50 games in last three seasons due to variety of injuries.
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has been included in the 19-man Team USA roster for the World Cup of Basketball as he continues his recovery from injury.
The players will report to training camp in Las Vegas on July 19, and the Bulls star will particularly be under the spotlight as he looks to prove that he is ready to return to competitive action after his latest knee injury.
Three seasons ago, Rose suffered a torn ACL which forced him to miss the remainder of the playoffs that year and the following campaign, but after making his comeback last season, he suffered another injury in the other knee and missed the rest of the year again.
As a result, there are not only doubts over whether or not he will be able to return to playing at his previous high level, but ultimately there are question marks over whether he is even capable of dealing with the pressure and stress the game takes on his body.
Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski is confident that he is in great shape and will show signs of the Rose of old, but in a star-studded roster it is unlikely to effect how well the national team does on the whole in Spain later this summer.
Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, James Harden and Anthony Davis are survivors of the triumphant Olympic team from London 2012, while DeMar DeRozan and Chandler Parsons are newcomers.
The rest of the roster: Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (Golden State), Kyrie Irving(Cleveland), Blake Griffin (Clippers), Paul George (Indiana), Damian Lillard (Portland),Gordon Hayward (Utah), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Bradley Beal (Washington),Andre Drummond (Detroit), Kenneth Faried (Denver) and Kyle Korver (Atlanta).
The likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul have all decided against participating in order to rest this summer as they will likely return to the international fold for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.
Meanwhile, Krzyzewski is still confident that the tournament will be a “launching pad” for Rose to have a great season in the NBA, as the 25-year-old will undoubtedly be an integral part of the franchise’s hopes of winning a championship next year.
Having moved to sign Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and re-signing Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls have added significant depth to an already strong roster, and although they will likely use the amnesty provision on Carlos Boozer, they are considered much stronger than last year but will need Rose to lead the way.
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