Nov 21, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Nate Robinson (10) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Derrick Rose is saying all the right things.
Even though, after two knee surgeries in two seasons, there’s little Rose can say to sway the public’s perception of the former-MVP he’s still mouthing what someone in his situation should be.
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He’s showing just the right amount of confidence that doesn’t come off as arrogant, and the perfect amount that doesn’t come off as underwhelming.
One thing’s for sure, with every passing day and the more he continues to see the court, the more that confidence begins to grow into mere circumstance.
The more we, and Rose most importantly, see him make strides in his game on the court, the more our perception of him will make those same strides off the court — on social media and in and around water cooler conversations.
And at the moment, Rose should have all the confidence — and the only confidence. Rose hasn’t done anything in the past two years that would indicate otherwise. At this point, Chicago Bulls fans don’t even have confidence in the former all-star. Why should they?
"[ESPN]Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose says his confidence is ‘through the roof’ and he’s looking forward to proving his doubters wrong this season as he tries to make his way back from a two serious knee injuries.Rose, who has played just 10 games in the last two season because of a torn ACL in his left knee in April 2012 and a torn meniscus in his right knee in November 2013, is confident that he will return to being the player he was before the injuries occurred."
We’ll see Rose again in August during the FIBA World Cup in Spain. We just don’t know which Rose we’re going to see.
Are we going to see the hesitant Rose that we saw for 10 games last season, before being sidelined with a torn meniscus in his right knee, or are we going to see the pre-ACL injury Rose.
It’s quite possible that the answer to that question is: neither.
"[via ESPN Chicago]“I’m there, man,” Rose said, when asked how close he was to playing like his old self. “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.”“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.”"
There’s a great possibility that we’re going to see a different Rose than what we’ve seen thus far in his career — the new Derrick Rose. One that shouldn’t have to meet any lofty expectations and one that won’t have to.
But one that will continue to have confidence “through the roof.” An unlikely confidence to the average joe, but the necessary confidence of a professional athlete. Despite going through two knee surgeries.
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