Tom Thibodeau on Derrick Rose's knee injury: 'It's so unfair'
Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters Wednesday that Derrick Rose's latest knee injury is "unfair" because he has been through so much already.
On Tuesday, the Bulls announced that Rose will need surgery to repair a tear in the meniscus in his right knee. A timetable for his return will be determined after the surgery.
It will be Rose's third knee surgery since he tore his ACL during the first round of the 2012 playoffs. He also tore the meniscus in his right knee in November 2013 and missed the rest of the season. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported that two sources close to Rose have not ruled out a return this season.
• MANNIX: Derrick Rose's injury clouds Bulls' future
In 46 games this season, Rose has averaged 18.4 points, 5.0 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting just 40.7 percent from the field.
Thibodeau said he has been in communication with Rose since the diagnosis.
"As you can imagine, it's not an easy thing to deal with," Thibodeau said. "Our reality is that the games are going to keep coming. We've been through it before."
• NBA players tweet support for injured Derrick Rose
Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich called the news "devastating, and center Pau Gasol said it was "heartbreaking," according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade had his meniscus removed while he was in college, but has since said that he wishes he had opted to have it repaired instead. Removal has a shorter recovery time. Wade also said he feels bad for Rose, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
“I was sick for him,” Wade said. “I think for the basketball world, everyone is rooting for Derrick to get back on the court and be the player that we all became accustomed to him being. But more so you just don't want to see players go through injuries, especially him with what he's dealt with."
• DOLLINGER: Bulls at No. 10 in latest Power Rankings
Free agent point guard Nate Robinson, who filled in for Rose during the 2012-2013 season, is interested in signing with the team, according to USA Today's Sam Amick.
The Bulls are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 36-21 record.
- Paul Palladino
