Bulls guard Derrick Rose: 'I'm way more explosive now'

Bulls guard Derrick Rose said he feels more explosive and can jump higher.  (Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is putting the entire NBA on notice.

Rose said after last's night game, in which he scored 22 points in 22 minutes, that he feels more explosive, adding five inches to his vertical jump during the time he was out of basketball rehabbing his injured left knee.

"I think I'm way more explosive now," Rose said.  "Like getting to the rim. I think I can take contact a little bit better. And as far as jumping-wise, I think I can jump even higher. They tested my vertical -- I increased it by 5 inches. I just didn't show it yet because there's no need to."

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Rose played in just his third game in the past 18 months and says he is not worried about his knee anymore.

"The biggest thing is after you have an ACL or any injury, it's the mental part," Rose said. "And for me not to think about anything no more and actually be reacting to the defense and the offense, it feels great knowing that I'm safe. I don't have to worry about anything at all, even if I go to the hole and get contact and fall any type of way, that I could easily get up and bounce right back and play the way that I normally know how to play."