D-Rose Knee-ver Catches a Break

     When the NBA season started on October 29^th, fans were very eager for the first game, which featured the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat. Why? Derrick Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP and 3-time NBA all-star, was playing his first game since a season-ending ACL tear during Game 1 of the first round of that year’s playoffs. ACL tears are serious injuries, particularly for basketball players. Before a modern surgery tactic was formulated for dealing with these painful injuries, they were career ending. While football player Adrian Peterson and Robert Griffin III came back from ACL tears roughly 9 months after the injury, Rose chose to sit out a whole year and a half of basketball. In basketball, players are constantly jumping and making quick cuts across the court, placing more stress on the knee than football and other sports. Rose wanted to take the time for his knee to completely heal, and even get better at basketball, instead of rushing back and risking further injury. Unfortunately for Rose, and Bulls fans, all the extra prep couldn’t prevent what happened on November 22^nd against the Portland Trail Blazers.

            Without Rose, the Bulls were still a good team. In the ’12-’13 season they earned a spot in the playoffs, and had a key win over the Miami Heat to break their win streak of 20+ games. Add Derrick Rose back into the mix? The Bulls had the potential to go very far this year, and Rose seemed like his old self in just the 2^nd game this year, sinking a floater as time expired to beat the New York Knicks, 82-81. But Rose just couldn’t seem to catch a break on that November night. Once again, Rose suffered a knee injury, this time on his right knee. The next morning, it was confirmed that Rose torn the meniscus in his right knee, and that he would be out for the remainder of the season.

            Rose underwent successful surgery in late November, and is recovering well, physically. Emotionally? "I know how much work he has put into his rehab and the type of person and player he is," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "So I feel for him because of all the things that he does and what they mean to our team."

            For the Bulls management, this is a nightmare. The front office decided to keep the team, which included talented (and expensive) players Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Luol Deng, intact going into this season, knowing Rose would be back and that they had a serious shot at the championship, despite some monetary concerns. With Deng set to become an unrestricted free agent next year, and Boozer likely to pursue other options as well, it’s nearly impossible that Rose will have the same level of talent surrounding him when he comes back from his most recent injury, barring any setbacks.

            While the situation looks grim, it’s not completely desolate. “He’s still going to be Derrick,” said Deng. “He still is going to work hard and come back even better.”