Derrick Rose Return: Why Is He Still Not Playing For The Chicago Bulls?

The wait for Derrick Rose’s return seems to be never ending.

The Chicago Bulls have gone the entire season without their best player. Rose tore his ACL in last year’s playoffs, and hasn’t played in a game since.

It’s not that Rose hasn’t been medically cleared to take the court. Doctors told the point guard some time ago that he could suit up for the team. He was cleared for full-court scrimmages in February, getting fans excited about his potential return.

Rose, though, remains on the sidelines. The 2013 NBA playoff are less than a month away and the former MVP has yet to set a date for his comeback.

Why is Rose still not playing for the Bulls?

Despite the medical reports, Rose doesn’t feel like he is completely ready to be back on the court. He has stated that he won’t play until he is “110 percent” healthy, and hasn’t ruled out missing the entire season.

Entering their Wednesday night contest with the Miami Heat, Chicago has just 13 games left on the schedule. The Bulls currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and will likely need Rose if they plan on making any type of serious run to the NBA Finals.

The Bulls postseason predicament doesn’t look like it will affect when Rose decides to return. He has repeatedly said that he has no idea when he’ll come back.

“It could be tomorrow where I feel I can play next game,” Rose said last week. “Nobody knows but God.”

After undergoing knee surgery about 11 months ago, Rose isn’t experiencing much pain in the area. The point guard has stated that he feels “normal soreness” after pushing himself.

One issue that has concerned Rose is his hamstrings. The 24-year-old initially complained about pain in his legs once he started taking full contact in practice. That was listed as one reason why he was having problems dunking off his left knee.

The pain that Rose has felt might be enough for him to play through. However, the mental part of returning from the injury might be his biggest obstacle.

“Sometimes, you kind of think a little bit while I’m out there, and that’s how I know when I’ll be ready to play,” he said.

Before his injury, Rose was considered one of the best players in the league. In 39 games last season, he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per game.