Rose training with Team USA ahead of the World Cup later this summer…
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has revealed that his confidence is “through the roof” as he continues his latest comeback from a knee injury.
Rose has played just 10 games in the past two seasons due to a torn ACL in 2012 and then a torn meniscus in November last year.
However, he is confident that he will be able to prove his doubters wrong next season and is targeting a spot on the Team USA roster for the World Cup to help him regain his rhythm and competitive edge.
“I’m there, man,” Rose said, when asked how close he is to playing like his old self, ESPN reports.
“I’m not worried about that. My confidence is very high, and that’s the only thing you might see this year — that my confidence level is through the roof.”
Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant Tom Thibodeau were both delighted with the progress that Rose is making and are reassured by the fact that he has not suffered any setbacks thus far.
The 25-year-old has spent a significant amount of time over the past two years working on his body and improving his all-round game, and he believes that the hard work that he has put in will ultimately pay off as he still has time on his side and has not wavered in his belief that he is a “special player”.
“I really think I’m a special player in my mind,” Rose said. “And I still have youth — I’m only 25. Just doing everything I’m supposed to do in rehab, just strengthening everything, taking it one day at a time and getting the most out of every day. That’s why I’ve been preparing for this moment, really.”
Rose conceded that he may have pushed too hard on his return last season in an attempt to prove people wrong, however he insists that he will not be making the same mistake again as Thibodeau believes that he is starting to adjust to the speed of the game and is letting the game come to him as opposed to forcing it.
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