Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose focused on future
Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose has identified a patient approach as key to his return from a career threatening injury
Last Updated: 18/11/13 1:37pm
The 22-year-old - who was the youngest ever winner of the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2011 - tore his anterior cruciate ligament playing against Philadelphia in April 2012.
But the Bulls point guard is now nearly back to full fitness and looking ahead to the start of the new season in the Autumn after taking a year out from the game to complete his recovery.
"It's fine, I'm doing rehab right now, I'm on the court and I'm just happy to be back out there with my team-mates," Rose told Sky Sports News.
"I'm not a selfish person but I'm 24 and I have to think about my future - this game is going to go on with me or without me and if I go out there and if I re-injure my knee I would be the only person having to deal with that.
"Taking that into consideration I knew I had to take my time and I'm back healthy right now."
Rose believes the Bulls will again be in the mix for honours when the play-offs come around and thinks they have developed as a team in his absence.
"They found a way to win without me and that's going to help us next season," he added.
"And with them working out how to win without me, we're going to be a dangerous team."
