Bulls' Derrick Rose 'most likely out' for playoffs

Derrick Rose is "most likely out" for the 2013 playoffs. (Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters on Saturday that All-Star guard Derrick Rose will "most likely" sit out the 2013 playoffs as he continues to rehabilitate from a knee injury suffered during the 2012 playoffs.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Thibodeau still left the door slightly open for a return.

Tom Thibodeau moved the closest to declaring Derrick Rose out for the season Saturday morning when he said the Bulls' star is "most likely out" moving forward in the postseason.

"But you never know," Thibodeau said. "The playoffs are stretched out too, so you have to factor that in. Who knows another week from now where he is? You always want to leave that possibility open."

The Bulls, the Eastern Conference's No. 5 seed, open the playoffs with a first-round playoff series against the Nets. Game 1 is set for Saturday in Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Rose, 24, tore his left ACL during Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against the 76ers in April 2012. He returned to full-contact practices with his teammates in January after taking part in more limited practice sessions in December.

Video of Rose dunking recently surfaced and his rehabilitation was painstakingly chronicled in a national video ad campaign from Adidas. He recently disputed that he and the Bulls were at odds over the timeline for his return to the court after it was reported in March that he had received medical clearance to play.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Rose probably wouldn't return until training camp in the fall.

Without Rose, Chicago finished the regular season with a record of 45-37.