Derrick Rose is back and it couldn’t come at a better time as Team USA prepares for World Cup competition at the end of the summer.
Rose is expected to be an integral part of USA basketball. Mike Krzyzewski was in Chicago recently and checked in on the Bulls star to see how he was progressing.
Kryzewski told the Chicago Tribune that Rose wants to be a special basketball player.
“Tom told me first how hard he’s working and the speed he’s working at,” Krzyzewski said by phone Monday. “When you’re coming back from an injury, you have to prepare to play — run, shoot, push the ball. Derrick wants to be special. And he has been. This has been a difficult time for him but he’s handled it well. We’re hoping this summer can be a springboard for him.”
Krzyzewski said it’s too early to speculate whether Rose can make the team that will compete in Spain’s World Cup of Basketball in September.
“I haven’t seen him play,” Krzyzewski said. “If he’s up to par physically, it’s a matter of how he interacts 5-on-5. We’re anxious to see him play. He was a key player for us in Instanbul. He’s so unselfish and will do anything to help the team.”