Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says Derrick Rose will play normal minutes in the preseason

Tom Thibodeau plans to use Derrick Rose regularly in the preseason. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said star point guard Derrick Rose will begin the preseason by playing normal minutes with the starting rotation, according to an ESPNChicago.com report.

Thibodeau said he expects Rose to play in eight-minute shifts with the rest of the starters once the preseason begins and Thibodeau will add to Rose's minutes depending on how Rose's knee reacting to the minutes. Rose missed all of last season after undergoing ACL surgery on May 12, 2012 but Rose recently said he will be ready for the first game of the season.

Thibodeau said he he expects Rose to have some rust in his return to the Bulls but pointed out that Rose has spent a lot of time working on his shooting. The Bulls will play the first-ever NBA game in Brazil when they travel to Rio for a preseason game against the Washington Wizards on October 12.

Thibodeau commented on Rose's return:

"He'll play like he normally would in the preseason. Usually we start off with eight-minute segments for the starters, first and third period, and we'll build from there. We'll see what he can handle. I think there's going to be some rust initially, but I fully expect him to get back to (being) the player we all know that he is."