Derrick Rose has been one of the most impressive players in the first three days of USA Basketball's training camp in Las Vegas, and his college coach knows why the Chicago Bulls superstar managed to turn heads in the minicamp.

In an interview with ESPN, John Calipari, who coached Rose in Memphis, said that that his former player is motivated to prove his doubters wrong and the former Most Valuable Player told him that the he is on a mission to become the best player in the world again.

Rose has only played in 10 games over the past two seasons after sustaining an ACL tear in his left knee in 2012 and a torn meniscus in his right knee last year.

Calipari said that injuries could either make a player stronger or lose his confidence. And in Rose's case, the Kentucky Wildcats coach said that it made the All-Star point guard move motivated to succeed.

"Injuries, no one wants to go through that, but they do one of two things," Calipari said. "They make you stronger or they break you down, and it's pretty obvious what it's done to him."

Calipari added that Rose's confidence stemmed from his hardwork and dedication in his rehabilitation along with his goal to silence his critics, who are expressing doubts about his capability to regain his old form.

"And that's how he is," Calipari said of Rose's dedication. "That's why he's a great teammate. That's why players want to play with him. Everybody wanted him to come back on their own timetable, but they can joke about it and say what they want. When you look at him now, he did the right thing for himself and [the Chicago Bulls]."

Rose, who averaged 15.9 points to go along with 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 10 games last season, echoed Calipari's statement, saying that he is not feeling any pain in both knees after a thorough rehab since the second half of last season.

"I feel great, man," Rose said. "I don't have any aches. My body, knock on wood, I feel good, man. For real. I'm really taking care of my body. I really feel like a pro."

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