If anyone knows about Chicago and it’s hardcore Bulls fans, it’s Phil Jackson. And if you are a Chicago sports fan, when Phil talks, you listen. During this past season, it seemed everyone and their mama had an opinion about what Derrick Rose should do. Everyone wanted to compare what Adrian Peterson did coming back from the same ACL injury in his knee, or how Iman Shumpert, who injured his ACL literally the same day as Derrick Rose last year, was able to come back earlier this season and play. Rose took a different path and decided he was not ready to return, and I agree with his decision. He still has 10-15 years of high level basketball left and millions and millions of more dollars to worry about. Why risk blowing his future completely if he did not feel ready. Phil had quite a bit to say on the topic as well, check it out after the jump.
@IamJOE357
According to ESPN Chicago, Phil was quoted on the radio saying,
Leave him alone. This is a guy who hopefully … still has another 10 years to play. Let’s not put him in under duress that may not be the right time. He needs to have a training camp and go through the process of gearing up for another season the right way.
And then also in regards to comparing Rose to Shumpert, Phil hit it right on the head.
I think Shumpert had the injury almost at the same time and almost the same injury, but it’s a totally different person. Shumpert has been in and out of the lineup and he had some situations with it. But he’s also a guy that’s not the franchise guy.
He is right, all athletes, and people in general for that matter, do not recover the same way, or at the same speed. If Rose was not confident in his ability, he would of been no good for the Bulls to be on the court anyway because he wouldn’t have played up to his high standards. Not too mention I am sorry to break the news, but even if Rose had came back, this current Bulls team will never win the chip anyway, they need to get Rose a little more help. On the good side however, now he will return next season at 100% strength and make another run at the MVP again.