The Chicago Bulls are the ones to blame for all of the backlash Derrick Rose received, because they are the ones that leaked the information regarding his being cleared to play before he was ready.
The Bulls are in retreat mode now, and trying to clean up their mess, and most importantly Rose’s reputation. Bulls Vice President John Paxson was on WSCR-AM 670 The Score, and defended Rose not playing, and most importantly, not being mentally ready to play this season.
“It’s the way of the world now, the social media, everything that goes on,” Paxson said. “Everybody wants to point a finger and blame and accuse and that kind of stuff. And the reality is, Derrick and us, we were all on the same page from the beginning. If he was ready to play mentally and physically, he was going to play. It didn’t happen this year…
“There’s no question in my mind that the time he spent on his body this past year was the best thing he’s ever done because I think he’s learned that, to compete in an NBA season and absorb the physical contact that he does, what he’s done during this rehab has benefitted him greatly. I think it’s going to make him better and stronger.”
It’s a pointless debate from here on out. Rose should come back stronger with a better jump shot, a year of rest on his body, and a hunger that can’t be calculated or debated about.
Rose has a chip on his shoulder, and that will take the Bulls farther than anything else next season.