Derrick Rose: Speculation Over Whether He Can Adjust Post-Injury

This April 15, 2012 file photo shows Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose during an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, in Auburn Hills, Mich. Rose is out for the season. The team said Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, that Rose had successful surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. Rose was hurt Friday night, Nov. 22, 2013, at Portland. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Derrick Rose, the injured point guard for the Chicago Bulls, likely won’t have to change his game when he comes back from his knee injury next season, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Thibodeau said that Rose will likely find a way to work with his teammates and won’t have to change up his play style.

With Rose out for the better part of two seasons, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson have both made improvements in their game overall.

Thibodeau was asked about a potential change on Friday if Rose will have to make adjustments.

“No, not necessarily,” Thibodeau told ESPN.

“And I always believe this: Great players will always figure it out. So I think it adds to what we already have. I think Derrick and Joakim have always had great chemistry,” he said.

That chemistry, he added, gives the Bulls “a little more flexibility.”

Thibodeau said, “There’s things that we can do and were starting to do that with him when he was playing two years ago. But that’s one of the advantages of a guy like Derrick. Derrick can play on the ball, off the ball, and he does both very effectively. So I don’t see that being a problem. If anything it’s a plus.”

Regarding Rose’s rehabilitation, Thibodeau said that “he’s a long ways away from practicing and playing. So it’s more in general terms right now.”

“We talk a lot about what’s going on in the game and what he sees and what our opponents are doing and things like that,” Thibodeau added. “But he’s been engaged with (what’s going on). He’s in a good place right now.”

According to the Chicago Tribune on Feb. 12, Rose said that he’s trying to make progress.

“I haven’t even had a chance to think about it,” Rose told the Tribune at the time on if he’s done for the remainder of the season. “I’m just worrying about my next stage in this process and that’s running right now. I’m on the AlterG (an anti-gravity treadmill). Hopefully be running without it pretty soon.”

He added: “I’m not keeping (a return) open. I just said right now I’m not thinking about it. I’m not running yet. When I get off the AlterG, that’s when I'll consider coming back or not.”