Derrick Rose Return Update: Rose Ready to Compete in USA Basketball Camp in Las Vegas
As he works towards his NBA return, Derrick Rose is set to participate in the USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas on Monday, where the Chicago Bulls superstar will look to book a spot on the national team that will compete in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
Rose, who has only played in 10 games over the past two NBA seasons, will be one of the 19 players who will undergo a five-day minicamp starting this week.
Bulls head coach and Team USA assistant coach Tom Thibodeau said that the superstar point guard is ready to compete for a roster spot and he is also hoping that the 25-year-old's possible stint with the national team will help him regain his old form.
"This is the next step," Thibodeau said via Chicago Tribune. "Derrick has handled every step to this point the right way. The last time he participated in USA Basketball, he followed that with his MVP season. So we're hoping he can use this time productively."
Previous reports indicated that Rose is expected to take one of the point guard slots in the 12-man roster as long as he can prove that he is healthy.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski are looking for players with previous international basketball experience, but Rose will also face stiff competition.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, the Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard, the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving and Washington Wizards guard John Wall are expected to give Rose a run for his money.
Bulls teammate Joakim Noah expressed confidence that the former Most Valuable Player will be playing at a high level, saying that Rose has been working hard to regain his form coming off surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
"I think he's in very good spirits," Noah said of Rose via ESPN Chicago. "I think he's very excited about getting back onto the court. As an athlete, the hardest thing you can go through is injuries. He's obviously had to go through a lot the last couple years, but he's been extremely focused and I'm excited for him to get back onto the court, see what he does in the world championships, and then get ready for a big season."
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