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Derrick Rose: Team USA, injuries and his unexpected journey

By Bryce Olin

Jul 30, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Derrick Rose fields questions from reporters following a team practice at Mendenhall Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Derrick Rose fields questions from reporters following a team practice at Mendenhall Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 22, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) yells at the officials and is given a technical foul during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 98-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) yells at the officials and is given a technical foul during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 98-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

The journey for Derrick Rose hasn’t been quite as long or as treacherous as it was for Bilbo Baggins. Rose also didn’t find the most powerful ring in the history of rings or steal a bunch of treasure from a dragon. At least, no one is reporting that’s what Rose was doing in his two years away from playing in the NBA.

Since Rose tore his ACL in the first game of the 2010-11 playoffs, it’s been a rough road back for Rose, or it had been until Rose showed up to the Team USA training camp in Las Vegas.

Before his first knee injury, Rose was at the pinnacle of basketball. There was no debate that he was in the conversation for the best player in the league. In 2009-10, his second NBA season, Rose was an All-Star. In 2010-11, his third season, Rose was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. He was only 22, and the youngest MVP the league had ever seen.

In the same season, Rose also led the Bulls to 62 wins and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Bulls fell to the Miami Heat and “Big 3” in the Eastern Conference Finals. One thing was clear, though: The sky was the limit for Rose.

Then, it all came crashing down.

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