After all the wait, the old Derrick Rose is back, according to ESPN.
Well, that's how Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau feels about Rose's speed and explosiveness, saying it's back to where it was during his MVP season.
"Watching the way he's moving now, there's a confidence," Thibodeau said. "[Reporters] may not have been able to see the total work he was putting in. But he was putting in an enormous amount of work each and every day. He just never got to the explosiveness he was comfortable with. I think he's there now. He feels great, and that's the most important thing."
Rose missed the entire season last year as he continued rehabbing from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in last year's playoffs. He was medically cleared and started practice in five-on-five situations in February and was even rumored to making a late season return that even carried over into the playoffs.
As rumors of a playoff return spread, Rose's absence on the court infuriated many apart of the teams fan base and led to criticism during the Bulls' postseason run.
"The kid was being totally honest," Thibodeau said. "At the end of the day, you have to respect that. He wanted to be out there very badly. But no one knew when he would be ready, including him. It was a smart decision to wait. If you're not quite sure, and you're going to err, err on the side of caution. That's what he did. And now he feels great."
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