Derrick Rose: 'I Know I'm Going To Win A Championship Soon'
By Cody Westerlund-
CHICAGO (CBS) – Taking the podium at Bulls media day on Monday afternoon at the new Advocate Center amidst his second comeback in as many years from major knee surgery, Derrick Rose acknowledged that he'll always have to deal with doubters and questions about his health.
A couple minutes later, he then he issued the strongest words of the day from anyone in the Bulls' organization after a season of roster revamping that included the addition of Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott.
"We know we have an opportunity ahead of us," Rose said. "It may not be this year, it may not be the next year, whatever. But I know I'm going to win a championship soon. I'm not worried about (the doubters)."
On a day when the Bulls brass spent ample time focusing on the renewed depth ("We've addressed skill and shooting," general manager Gar Forman said) and complimenting the improved Eastern Conference ("You can't overlook a team like Brooklyn," coach Tom Thibodeau said in only a way he can), Rose was still the main topic.
He'll always be, given his MVP past, hometown hero status and devastating health setbacks. He fully understands all that after playing in just 10 games the past two seasons, a stretch during which he said "patience" was the greatest lesson he learned.
"I just want to be healthy," Rose said, while admitting the MVP of four years ago seems so far in the distant past. "That's the only thing I'm worrying about now. I could care less about the awards. I could care less about any accolades or whatever. I just want to go out there and win games."
Rose making shots and returning to his dangerous offensive self would help Chicago nab those victories, but his shooting touch hasn't returned. In nine games for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup in late August and September, Rose shot just 25 percent from the field and 5 percent from 3-point range.
Yet a day before the start of training camp, that's of little concern for Forman, Thibodeau or Rose, who says he feels great and is willing to play "as many minutes as they want me to play." Chicago has no plans currently to restrict his minutes, though the team still figures to be cautious.
"I'm not worried about that," Rose said. "I try to take every negative aspect of my life and try to make it a positive … I tried to go out there every night and shoot it. It just didn't go down. That's part of basketball.
"Taking 20 shots (with the Bulls), I think I should be able to find a little rhythm."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
