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Report: Rose to back up Irving in Team USA's World Cup opener vs. Finland

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Reuters

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will reportedly serve as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving's backup when Team USA opens its FIBA World Cup schedule on Saturday night against Finland.

Rose has looked like his old self in tune-ups for the event, nine months after suffering a torn meniscus in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 25-year-old knows he'll be asked repeatedly about his health as he recovers from the second of two major knee injuries that limited him to just 10 games over the past two seasons. Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season with a torn ACL in his left knee. 

"I know the questions are going to come and [are] going to be there the whole year, so I can’t get tired of it," Rose told Stein.

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