Derrick Rose: 'I feel great, man. I'm on a mission'
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose continues to turn heads at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas, Nev.
John Calipari, Rose's former college coach in Memphis, was the latest to fawn over him, as Rose evidently looks very much like the player who won the 2010-11 MVP Award.
"Injuries, no one wants to go through that, but they do one of two things," Calipari said, via ESPN. "They make you stronger or they break you down, and it's pretty obvious what it's done to him."
Calipari said to Rose: "You look great. Your explosiveness is even maybe beyond where it was, which is scary. You're doing great."
Rose responded: "I'm on a mission."
ESPN's Nick Friedell has more on Rose and why his confidence is so high:
Rose's confidence is buoyed by the fact that the 25-year-old has spent countless hours in the gym over the past two seasons getting his body back in order. He said he is taking better care of his body now than at any other point during his career and is motivated by the fact that so many people are doubting whether he can return to an elite level.
Calipari said Rose did the right thing by taking his time to come back. It's easy to forget that the first-overall pick in 2008 will turn only 26 in October.
Indiana Pacer Paul George also showered Rose with praise, referencing 2010-11:
He looks better. He looks like he's coming off the MVP year. He's really been aggressive. He's been flying across the court. We've seen him last year in the regular season; it still looked like he was holding back a little bit. It doesn't look like that here. I think he's just healthy. His body is feeling good. His legs is feeling good, and he's healthy in camp.
Don't trust George? Rose will tell you himself:
I feel great, man. I don't have any aches. My body, knock on wood, I feel good, man. For real. I'm really taking care of my body. I really feel like a pro.
Rose is drawing inspiration from Russell Westbrook, who's had knee surgeries and is still playing at a high level:
When you see somebody like Russ go out there and play the way he's been playing, especially last year having two knee surgeries, like three actually, it gives you a little bit of confidence. But at the same time, I know I put a lot of consistent work in the entire summer. And as long as I'm being consistent, I know that it's going to pay off.
Rose and his Team USA coaches and teammates aren't the only ones who are excited. So are we. A healthy Derrick Rose is good for the NBA, the Chicago Bulls, and the Eastern Conference. A healthy, 26-year-old Derrick Rose is good for basketball.