Rose returns to Cavs, begins ankle rehab

It's not over for Derrick Rose.

The veteran point guard is back with the Cleveland Cavaliers and is set to begin rehabbing his sprained left ankle under the supervision of team doctors, the club announced Monday.

"This has been a very challenging and difficult time for Derrick," general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. "We will continue to provide him with support and have patience as he re-joins his teammates and works his way back on to the court."

Rose, 29, took an excused absence from the club to re-evaluate his NBA future due to the physical and mental burden of all the injuries that have derailed his career since being named the youngest MVP in league history in 2011.

He last played on Nov. 7, and appears set to return to action once medically cleared. When that happens, it's likely his role will differ significantly from a month ago.

The three-time All-Star averaged 14.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his first seven starts with the Cavaliers, who went 4-3 over that span. Since then, the club has won 11 consecutive games with Dwyane Wade as the primary playmaker behind LeBron James. Isaiah Thomas is also nearing his return from his hip injury, and should claim the starting one-spot in a few weeks.

Rose inked a one-year, veteran's minimum deal with Cleveland this past offseason. Had he decided to retire, he would've lost a reported $80 million in Adidas endorsement money.