Diminished Return

Remember Derrick Rose? Former NBA MVP, star of the Chicago Bulls, and an electrifying talent. Yes, that guy. Over a year ago, he went down with a torn ACL in game 1 of a first round playoff series. Fans and media types alike, missed his presence on the court, his absence leaving a noticeable void in the NBA.

His return was marked as a major event from the beginning. In the summer following his season-ending injury, Adidas (his primary sponsor) began the ad campaign titled "#thereturn". It was certainly a form of encouragement, but it didn't help with the requisite patience needed for a long term injury like an ACL.

This past March, the Chicago Bulls announced that Rose was cleared to play by team doctors. Reports came out that Rose was practicing with teammates and beginning to dominate. Although, the Chicago star wouldn't participate in real games against other teams. He simply didn't feel ready, and lacked the confidence in his body to compete. Suddenly, an appreciation for Derrick's game became a demand for his performance from media members. One of the most humble stars the league has seen in years getting lambasted by people paid to watch, observe, and (generally) assume.

Prior to Rose's big knee injury, he played through a variety of injuries. His back, ankles, and hamstrings all ached him in seasons past. What earned him an (interesting) MVP award in the first place was his ability to carry his team while key teammates (Deng, Noah, Boozer) fell to nagging injuries. He had maladies of his own that he constantly played through so as not to disappoint his team. I can't bring myself to question the heart of a player that has already shown so much in the past.

What good would a return now do anyway? Return to action in the midst of playoff competition? Return to face the defending champions? The Bulls front office needs to return the train of thought that full disclosure of Rose's injury was a good idea.

The organization used the press as an added means of pressure on their young star. This is the same organization that cleared Omer Asik to play on a broken leg in the '11 playoffs. They cleared Luol Deng to play on a stress fracture that put him out for months in '09. Is it any surprise Rose is deciding to wait until he's absolutely sure?

Derrick has shown that he takes pride in his craft, so none of us should try to gauge or pretend we know his pain. I wouldn't want a player that attacks the rim with such ferocity and fearlessness to return playing tentatively. Since we all want the return, let's be patient and allow it to be a strong one.