Derrick Rose To Undergo 3rd Knee Surgery In 3 Years

Chicago Bulls point guard and 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose has a meniscus tear in his right knee which will require surgery.

Derrick Rose will undergo knee surgery — again.

Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP, has a meniscus tear in his right knee, per a Feb. 24 press release on the Chicago Bulls’ official website:

“Derrick Rose reported today with right-knee pain. An exam and subsequent MRI confirmed a medial meniscus tear of the right knee. 

“Surgery will be scheduled, after which a timeline for his return will be determined.”

According to The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley, it is the same knee which required medial mensicus surgery last season. Rose had to undergo the procedure just 10 games into the 2013-14 NBA season. He sat out the rest of the year. 

This is also Rose’s third knee surgery since the 2012 posteason, per Cowley.

BREAKING: Derrick Rose will undergo surgery for meniscus tear in right knee. pic.twitter.com/NDmjfn8rqN— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2015

The Chicago-Sun Times report says the prognosis for Rose’s return still remains uncertain. However, Cowley’s source, citing the general feeling within the Bulls organization, told him Rose is almost a sure bet to be sidelined for the rest of the 2014-15 NBA season.

ESPN revealed on Tuesday that the Bulls decided to have Rose’s meniscus tear repaired instead of taking out the damaged part to extend his NBA career. It’s also unclear when exactly he injured his right knee again.

Rose had been averaging 18.4 points and 5.0 assists prior to his latest injury. Cowley says the Bulls point guard has had an up-and-down season, as exemplified by him missing Chicago’s first practice since the All-Star break due to “travel plans gone bad.”

During the three-game span since the break, Rose shot just 8 for 34 for a paltry 24 percent. He also averaged 3.3 turnovers per contest, per The Chicago Sun-Times. The ESPN update cites Rose’s atrocious 1-for-13 shooting in an 87-71 Bulls win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 23.

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t the least bit surprised with how Rose’s season turned out. He told Cowley he “expected it to be bumpy…He’s been out a long time.”

Cowley notes Rose was more successful this year whenever he drove more to the basket instead of settling for jumpers. Whenever he decided to take it to the hoop more aggressively, good things happened. He scored 23 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings and followed that up with 30 points and seven assists against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Man feel bad for D.Rose! Keep your head up homie and stay strong G!— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 25, 2015

In spite of the obvious rust Rose has had, Thibodeau told Cowley he eventually expects his superstar guard to regain the deadly form that has made him one of the NBA’s elite at his position:

“I think you’re always faced with the challenge of…he’s getting used to a long season again. You want everyone to play with high energy every game and I think he’s still getting used to that. When you’re out that long, it takes some time.

“I’m sure he’s going to be back in a good rhythm, like he was right before the break. I think that’s coming.

“The only thing that he can do is put everything he has into each and every day. I think it would be premature to put a lid on it. Who says he can’t come back and be great again? I think he can.”

On this note, CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill says the Bulls could possibly look into Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook’s recovery from a torn right lateral miniscus last season as a measuring stick for Rose’s own recovery. Westbrook had to undergo surgery thrice during the 2013-14 NBA campaign. He was out from Dec. 27, 2013 to Feb. 13, 2014. 

Westbrook bounced back from that setback to average 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists in last year’s playoffs. This season, he’s been averaging career bests of 26.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists, per ESPN stats. 

Goodwill, who touted Westbrook’s comeback as “a source of optimism” for Rose and the Bulls, spoke with the Oklahoma City Thunder guard in the aftermath of his team’s 105-92 win over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Feb. 24. Westbrook said,”I just heard it, man. I was real speechless. It’s so tough for a guy (Rose) like that, that plays so hard to have to go through it again and again and again.”

The 26-year-old Rose has averaged 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists in his six-year NBA career, per ESPN stats. 

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