While the Chicago Bulls remain very supportive of Derrick Rose's continued participation with Team USA for the upcoming FIBA World Cup in Spain, fans are getting concerned that perhaps the All-Star player may be exposing himself to another injury just when he's finally healed.
According to columnist Stephen Babb of Bleacher Report, the 25-year-old former MVP, appears to be bent on proving himself on the court after missing most of the previous season to recover from a knee problem. In fact, based on his performances at practice, Rose doesn't seem to be just easing his way back into the game, but is showing that he can play at elite level immediately.
However, after what happened to Paul George recently and 2014 MVP Kevin Durant's decision to withdraw from the team, both fans and sports commentators are doubtful whether Rose, who is a very valuable players to the Bulls if they want to win in the next season, should be participating at all.
"You have to be an idiot owner to let your players particiapte in international hoops... I don't care if your country is calling. Hang up. Your NBA team pays you millions. That's who you work for. Tell Uncle Sam and Coach K to find some college kids who aren't the difference between an NBA championship and a waste of time," said Steve Rosenbloom, in a column on the Chicago Tribune.
There are two sides to a coin, as the saying goes.
ESPN writes that Team USA coach, Mike Krzyzewski, has been raving about the Bulls point guard's comeback since the start of the training camp, praising Rose's ability to dive back in and impressively at that. "He really created an air of excitement for the team because we are all anxious to see who he was right now. And who he is is very, very good. We're ecstatic about it and so happy for him," he said.
Washington Post columnist, Thomas Johnson, recommends that intead of going all out, Rose should adjust his game so that he is able to fully perform in Spain but still reserve enough power for the next NBA season. Johnson points out Tony Parker and Chris Paul as examples of players who became "more probing than powerful" and who took more calculated instead of physical drives and shots.
On his end, Rose says he is fully committed to being in Team USA, according to another Chicago Tribune article, although whether he is changing his mind after George's big injury is still unknown. Speaking to the paper, he said: "I'm really trying to make it. I sat out for two years. It's a chance for me to work on my whole body. Get my legs strong. Get my upper body strong. Just take advantage of it... Being in practice, being in the meetings, it made me feel like a basketball player again."
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