Unlike in the past three years, Derrick Rose is heading into the coming NBA season seemingly healthy; but to make sure he is on the road to returning 100% healthy, skipping USA Basketball camp may have been a wise move for the former Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Rose could have easily spent time with other NBA stars who were present in Las Vegas recently and vie for a spot in Team USA for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Rose opted to sit this one out and the main reason is, of course, concerns for his health heading into the 2015–16 NBA season.
That and the fact that USA Basketball has a ton of younger guards already in attendance seem to make the pass worth taking, although everyone knows what a healthy Rose could bring to Team USA. He has already proven that before.
But now, the question is on whether or not Rose would have future cracks at possibly vying for a slot. This is in the scenario wherein Rose would have a sudden change of heart. Could he follow the in the footsteps of Kobe Bryant who could be an addition to Team USA despite not being at camp?
The difference, of course, is that Rose is a lot younger than Kobe Bryant. Outside his age, it is the real status of his knees that could be a concern.
Rose has been sidelined in the past three years due to recurring knee problems (anterior cruciate ligament), although he did make a surprise return in last year's NBA playoffs.
The workouts recently held in Las Vegas seem to have been actually made to see who which NBA players are interested in joining Team USA and get them on the same page before buckling down to work by next year.
For Rose, sitting out the Las Vegas gathering does seem to be a proper one; but as far as future considerations to join Team USA is concerned, don't count the Chicago Bulls star guard completely out just yet.
